5 years after Eishia Hudson, 16, was shot by a police officer, hope remains for systemic change

Josh Crabb · CBC News

· Posted: Apr 08, 2025 6:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 8 minutes ago

Five years aft Eishia Hudson's deadly brushwood with Winnipeg police, an advocator and a First Nations person privation to marque definite the 16-year-old is not forgotten and privation alteration to forestall the aforesaid happening from happening again. 

Hudson was a subordinate of Berens River First Nation who was fatally changeable by an serviceman connected April 8, 2020, pursuing a pursuit successful which constabulary accidental Hudson was driving a stolen conveyance that had been progressive successful a liquor store robbery.

"She died successful specified a tragic way," said Sherry Gott, the Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth.

Her bureau released a peculiar study honouring Hudson successful June 2023 titled Memengwaa Wiidoodaagewin, the Ojibway words for Butterfly Project.

"I anticipation for systemic alteration erstwhile it comes to her."

Manitoba's main aesculapian examiner called an inquest successful March 2021 to analyse the circumstances of Hudson's decease and what, if anything, tin beryllium done to forestall akin deaths successful the future. 

No dates person been acceptable much than 4 years aft the inquest was announced.

"The provincial tribunal is alert that it has been 5 years since Eishia Hudson died successful tragic circumstances," said an emailed connection to CBC from Provincial Court of Manitoba Chief Judge Ryan Rolston.

He added the tribunal is besides alert "the hold of the inquest into her decease has taken a toll connected her loved ones who question closure." 

Hudson could 'brighten a room'

Born successful Winnipeg successful June 2003, Hudson was remembered successful the advocate's study for her "ability to brighten a country with her humour and laughter."

Part of the inquest volition analyse Hudson's engagement with the kid payment strategy and — while she was ne'er charged with a transgression — previous encounters with police. 

Hudson did not ever person the enactment she needed from the Manitoba authorities and schoolhouse systems earlier her death, the study released by the Manitoba Advocate found.

That report, which made 4 recommendations to the government, is expected to beryllium submitted to the inquest.

Manitoba's Independent Investigation Unit, the province's constabulary watchdog, announced successful January 2021 that the Crown was not recommending charges against the serviceman who changeable Hudson.

The main aesculapian examiner tin telephone an inquest nether the Fatality Inquiries Act if they person crushed to judge a idiosyncratic died "as a effect of an enactment oregon omission of a bid serviceman successful the people of duty."

A justice successful an inquest submits a study and tin urge "changes successful the programs, policies and practices of government" that whitethorn assistance forestall akin deaths from happening successful the future, according to the provincial court. However, the inquest process cannot find culpability with respect to a death, the state says.

Chief Judge Rolston said the tribunal has been dealing with an antithetic measurement of caller inquests on with a backlog of cases that had to beryllium enactment connected intermission due to the fact that of the coronavirus outbreak.

"Unfortunately, the inquest into the decease of Ms. Hudson has been delayed partially owed to scheduling issues that arose from the COVID pandemic," Rolston said.

He said details are inactive being finalized successful the inquest into Hudson's death, which see uncovering a venue ample capable to accommodate precocious nationalist interest.

Inquest volition analyse relation of systemic racism

The inquest, which volition beryllium heard by Judge Margaret Wiebe, volition effort to find if systemic racism played a relation successful her death, Wiebe announced successful a written determination successful May 2024.

"Eishia was identified arsenic an Indigenous idiosyncratic during the incidental with WPS connected the time of her death," Wiebe wrote. "What effect oregon influence, if any, this had connected the decisions and actions of the WPS volition signifier portion of the factual matrix of this case."

Assembly Grand Chief Kyra Wilson said erstwhile she hears Hudson's name, she thinks of a young First Nations pistillate who mislaid her beingness excessively early.

"I besides deliberation astir her household and the nonaccomplishment they've had to woody with for a fewer years now," Wilson said. 

"I inactive consciousness bittersweet for them and what occurred."

The AMC's First Nations Family Advocate Office is engaged preparing for its engagement successful the inquest.

Wilson said members of a younker advisory radical person shared their ain experiences with the kid payment and justness systems which are being enactment into a study to taxable to the inquest. 

"I cognize that [the inquest] will hap and erstwhile we look astatine specified a analyzable system, specified arsenic justice, kid welfare, there's a batch to reappraisal and to sermon and we request to marque definite we are taking our clip looking astatine systemic change," the expansive main said.   

Winnipeg constabulary declined a petition for remark from CBC, saying it's due to the fact that the substance is inactive earlier the courts.

Gott said not capable has changed since Hudson's decease and that concerns her.

"We cognize that younker are overrepresented successful each systems successful Manitoba, including the justness system, truthful yea I americium worried."