This following is a statement issued by Grand Chief Gregory Rich, Innu Nation, following the death of an Innu child in care of child protection services. Wally Rich (15) died by suicide on May 22nd, 2020, at a group home while under the care of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Department of Children, Seniors and Social Development (CSSD). Wally was buried in his home community of Natuashish, NL on Monday June 1, 2020.
For years, Innu have witnessed the child protection system fail – fail to support our Innu families when they need help; fail to understand the true needs of Innu children; fail to listen closely enough to the Innu staff, leaders and extended family members who know and love our children best.
Wally Rich died in the care of child protection services in this province, but he is not the first Innu victim of the system. We do not forget other youth who came through that system, youth like Thunderheart Tshakapesh, James Poker and Kirby Mistenapeo who were in the child protection system prior to taking their lives. It was their deaths that contributed to our call three years ago for an inquiry into the treatment of Innu in the child protection system.
Innu people are still waiting for that inquiry. Our communities have a right to know whether other Innu children have died in care, had attempted suicide while in care or died by suicide following release from provincial institutions. We fear that Wally Rich’s death is the tip of the iceberg and the lack of information about what happens to our children while they are in care is why the inquiry remains a priority for our people.
It has been three years since the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador committed to us to hold an inquiry into the treatment of Innu youth in care. Later, the federal government committed to participate and provide financial support. Yet despite those commitments, the appointment of commissioners has not occurred. The inquiry is still left outstanding, leaving Innu families without answers.
In the meantime, Innu lives continue to be lost. We have lost more young people still struggling to find their way, including, among others, Jacob Collins who died at the Labrador Correctional Centre earlier this year. And now Wally Rich, who died at the CSSD-approved group home facility in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador, away from his family and community.
Innu Nation is seeking answers from provincial officials on circumstances leading up to the death of Wally Rich, the Child Death Review Committee investigation required under provincial law will not be enough. That process is a closed Committee process that to our knowledge does not involve any Innu. It is not transparent, and would not hear from the family or others. The Inquiry is essential.
As Innu people, we are working hard to bring about change. In 2017, Innu began offering Innu Prevention Services. We have developed an ‘Innu Care Approach’, opened four new placement facilities in the past two years to care for more Innu children within Innu communities, we have concluded a ‘Working Relationship Agreement’ with the department of CSSD, and have had Innu representation on the development of and changes to new provincial legislation. This year, we took a major step towards developing an Innu Law in child, youth and family services under federal legislation. We are committed to transforming this system; every single element of the Innu strategy for change is underway except for the inquiry.
With the support of federal and provincial partners, we have made progress. Yet the progress we have made will not take away the need for answers. It will not take away the need for accountability. It will not take away the need for truth and for reconciliation, and most assuredly, it will not take away the need for the promised inquiry.
