By Jorge Barrera
APTN National News
Manitoba RCMP investigators are probing the death of a 19-year-old man from Cross Lake who is also the nephew of Elder Raymond Robinson, one of two men who had been fasting alongside Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence in Ottawa.
The RCMP’s D division serious crimes unit has travelled to Cross Lake to investigate the death of Austin Monias, who was pronounced dead on arrival at the local nursing station after he was found at a home during a party early Sunday morning.
Robinson was contemplating ending his fast as a result of the death, but decided to continue. He spent Sunday night in a hotel in solitude.
On Monday he told APTN National News he wouldn’t stop.
“Going to finish what I set out to do,” he said.
News of the death quickly spread.
“It is a tragedy, it is a tragic loss,” said Cross Lake First Nation Chief Garrison Settee.
Settee said that an ambulance was called to the house and Monias was rushed to the nursing station.
The events unfolded at about 7:30 a.m. Sunday, he said.
RCMP spokeswoman Line Karpish said that the RCMP is investigating the death and the force flew in additional resources to assist local officers.
“I know there is a death in Cross Lake that we are investigating and we have units on the ground,” said Karpish.
Robinson joined Spence in Ottawa on Dec. 31, 2012, and began his hunger strike on Dec. 12, a day after the Attawapiskat chief swore off solid food.
A third faster, Jean Sock from Elsipogtog First Nation in New Brunswick, ended his fast on Jan. 14 to be with his mother who is gravely ill with cancer.
@jorgebarrera
My deepest sympathies to Elder Robinson and his family.
Sad news