Kalle Benallie
ICT
LAS VEGAS — A First Nations man attending the Reservation Economic Summit in Las Vegas was struck and killed by an alleged impaired driver early Tuesday morning.
Geewadin Elliot, a Potawatomi citizen of the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation in southern Ontario, Canada, was in Las Vegas attending RES, as confirmed by the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development, event organizer.
NCAIED President and CEO Chris James and board Chair Derrick Watchman issued a joint statement that said that the National Center is “devastated by the tragic loss of Geewadin Elliott.”
“We send our condolences to the friends and family of Mr. Elliott. RES is a close-knit community, and a loss of one member of our broader family affects us all. Members of our team have been in contact with Mr. Elliott’s family and we are supporting them in any way that we can,” the statement said.
The multi-day conference started Monday at Caesars Palace.
Elliot, who was not identified in the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department press release but confirmed by the Clark County coroner’s office, was crossing Las Vegas Boulevard and Caesars Palace Drive on the Las Vegas Strip at approximately 2:17 a.m.
Video surveillance and evidence at the scene indicated he attempted to cross the street during a “do not walk” pedestrian signal when he was hit, according to police. Elliot was fatally struck by Brandon Kelekolio who was driving north toward Caesars Palace on a green traffic signal. Elliot died at the scene. He was 45.
Kelekolio showed signs of impairment and failed a sobriety test, according to police. He didn’t suffer any injuries and was taken into custody on suspicion of DUI-related charges, according to reports. The incident remains under investigation.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that court records show that Kelekolio also faces a misdemeanor DUI charge from December. That case has a court date scheduled for April 20, according to records.
Members of the Rama Police Service in Ontario posted on Facebook sending their condolences to Elliot’s friends and family. Elliot was a former Ontario Provincial Police and Rama Police Service Officer for 15 years.
Since 2019, he has worked at Aecon Utilities US as a senior manager, tribal relations and business development, according to his Linkedin profile. He used to serve on the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation tribal council.
Aecon Group Inc. posted on Facebook on National Indigenous Peoples Day in June 2022 with Elliot featured in a video.
“On #NationalIndigenousPeoplesDay we celebrate and recognize the unique heritage, diverse cultures and significant contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples. Watch here as Geewadin Elliott, Indigenous Relations Manager, shares ways you can get involved in today’s celebrations, and speaks about Aecon’s efforts and commitment to #reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples – led by Aecon’s leadership team, Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), and organization-wide efforts.”
Elliot’s death is the 30th traffic-related fatality in the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department’s jurisdiction for 2023.
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