Nellie Angutiguluk's death ruled a homicide
Police found body of 29-year-old inside apartment in Côte-des-Neiges in May
The suspicious death of a 29-year-old woman in May has now been ruled a homicide.
The body of Nellie Angutiguluk, an Inuit woman originally from Nunavik, was found inside an apartment in Côte-des-Neiges on May 18.
"Investigators are reaching out to the public in order to connect with anyone who has information about the victim, Miss Angutiguluk," said Montreal Police Const. Abdullah Emran.
Angutiguluk was a regular visitor at The Open Door, a drop-in centre in downtown Montreal.
The organization's director, Caleb Clark, said staff members were shocked when she died, because despite problems with addiction, she wasn't living on the street and seemed to be doing well.
"Every time she came into the centre, she was wanting prayer and spiritual counseling," Clark said.
"The majority of our actions were based around her faith."
Angutiguluk also used the services at Chez Doris, a women's drop-in centre, which held a memorial for her shortly after her death.
"She was quiet and a nice young lady," said Tina Pisuktie, who works with the Inuit Program at Chez Doris.
"We were very shocked to hear of her death, and if there was foul play, we are happy the police are taking the incident seriously."
'More needs to be done'
Police set up a command post outside the apartment on De Nancy Street. They are asking anyone with information about Angutiguluk or her death to contact police or Info Crime.
Rachel Deutsch, Cabot Square project manager with the Montreal Urban Aboriginal Community Strategy Network, said she's happy the police are taking this case seriously.
She hopes they treat Angutiguluk's family with respect.
Last month, police committed to new training and a protocol to handle cases of missing and murdered indigenous women under an agreement signed with the the city's aboriginal community.
"What we are asking for is special considerations, in light of the fact that one in six female victims of homicide is aboriginal, more needs to be done when an aboriginal woman is missing or murdered," she said.