Homeless Indigenous man found dead in Montreal
Posted February 20, 2025 5:10 pm.
Last Updated March 3, 2025 4:39 pm.
An Indigenous man’s body was found at indoor metro entrance in downtown Montreal on Wednesday night.
Nakuset of the Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal and David Chapman of Resilience Montreal tell CityNews that Daniel Kasudluak, who was in his 40s, was homeless and used Resilience Montreal’s services.
Kasudluak was found near the Atwater metro entrance of a shopping mall.
“I found out this morning because some of the clients who use our service informed us,” said Chapman, who says he knew the man for a decade.
“One of our regular clients came by and said he saw him being worked on when the ambulance arrived when he went to see him.”
“He’s very kind hearted, didn’t like to bother people, you know and respectful. He showed a lot of respect towards us,” said Maggie Chittspattio, lead intervention worker, Resilience Montreal.
Kasudluak was waiting to get services from Projets Autochtones du Québec (PAQ), Chapman said, adding his addiction issues were “pretty severe.”
“He was place number 11 on the list for PAQ,” Chapman said. “You say that doesn’t sound too bad. But there’s only eight spots in the program.
“So it would have been a bit of a wait before he got in.”
“He was happy, ‘but I will make it,’ he would say and unfortunately he didn’t make it because you know 11th on the list,” added Chittspattio.
Montreal police say that Kasudluak suffered heart failure at the entrance to the Atwater metro and was rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The Coroner’s Office says they were notified of the death and that an investigation to determine the cause and circumstances is underway.
“This investigation has been entrusted to Coroner Dr. Maxime Richer. At the conclusion of his investigation, the coroner will prepare a report in which he will outline the identity of the deceased, the date and place of death, and the probable causes and circumstances surrounding the death. If he deems it appropriate, he may also make recommendations, which are preventive measures designed to protect human life and avoid deaths in similar circumstances. We are unable to provide further information about the cause and circumstances of death. The coroner’s investigative process is confidential until the release of his final report, which is public,” writes Jake Lamotta Granato, Communications and Media Relations Manager for the Quebec Coroner’s Office in an email to CityNews.
More managed addiction programs
Chapman says earlier this week, Nakuset was discussing the importance of having more managed addiction programs.
“The fact that while we have one, it’s very small and there’s a waiting list,” Chapman said. “And it’s going to lead to people dying. And literally two days later — even one day later, we’re taking about last night — literally one day later, that came to pass.”
“If you don’t have culturally safe spaces, people will die,” Nakuset added.
The man’s death comes as a nearly two-week-long public consultation on homelessness and social cohabitation is underway in Montreal.
The event, organized by the Office de consultation publique de Montréal (OCPM), features citizens, researchers, social workers, merchants, and representatives from various organizations.
The goal is to find solutions to ensure better social cohabitation and a more harmonious integration of resources for people experiencing homelessness.
Among the participants are people who are experiencing or have experienced homelessness, organizations such as the Réseau d’aide aux personnes seul et itinérantes de Montréal (RAPSIM), the Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal, Centraide, the STM, Montreal Downtown, the Movement to End Homelessness in Montreal, and the Collective for the Defense of Mental Health Rights of Montreal.
“While we’re talking about cohabitation, and no one wants one in their neighbourhood,” Chapman said. “While living with homelessness around does complicate life, if you don’t have resources for homeless people, then they end up dead.
“And that’s the balance. Are we happy to live in a society that because of a shortage of resources, homeless people end up dead?
“Can we not be resolute in treating all human beings with dignity? Full stop. Even if that means some inconveniences for us?”
In a written statement to CityNews, Quebec’s Ministry of Health and Social Services says that between 2021 and 2026 $420 million has been allocated to address homelessness that includes nearly $17 million dollars aimed at reducing First Nations and Inuit homelessness.
Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante acknowledged Friday that the Indigenous community is often over-represented in shelters in the city – and reinforced that addressing homelessness is a combined effort with the province.
“I truly believe that this has to be a state effort, it has to be a Quebec effort,” said Plante.
“For our dear friend, our brother, he won’t be forgotten for sure. I think he left this world and voiced himself and I hope this is going to be taken seriously,” said Chittspattio.
