Family of Indigenous youth who died in care calls on province for answers, accountability

The household of Chantelle Williams, an Indigenous teen who died portion successful provincial attraction earlier this year, gathered successful B.C.'s superior metropolis connected Wednesday, calling for answers and accountability.

As CBC News archetypal reported, 18-year-old Williams died successful infirmary connected Jan. 28 aft being recovered unresponsive connected a sidewalk successful sub-zero temperatures lone a fewer blocks from her radical location successful Port Alberni, B.C.

Members of her household judge she whitethorn person frozen to death. 

The teen was successful the guardianship attraction of Usma Nuu-chah-nulth Family and Child Services, a delegated bureau of the Ministry of Children and Family Development, and surviving successful a contracted radical location operated by Inside Out Care Corporation. 

The B.C. Coroners Service has not yet released Williams's authoritative origin of death, and said its probe is ongoing.

Family accidental they were told by an Usma typical that Williams died of earthy causes.  

"That's not right," said Williams's grandfather, George Nookemus, speaking alongside different members of Williams's household successful the B.C. Legislature. 

"I'm inactive wondering, asking and I ne'er get answers … however she died and wherefore she was successful the infirmary and wherefore didn't they support her successful the infirmary and wherefore didn't they find her earlier."

Williams's brother, Justin Nookemus, described his sister arsenic a "young, astute girl."

"She was precise friendly, she would provender radical erstwhile they were hungry," helium said. "She wrote poetry. She loved beef dip. She had truthful overmuch to unrecorded for."

Heated exchange

Williams's decease became a absorption during a heated Question Period successful the Legislature aboriginal Wednesday. 

Conservative professional for Children and Family Development Amelia Boultbee took purpose astatine her counterpart, Minister Jodie Wickens, calling for the contiguous implementation of recommendations made by B.C.'s Representative for Children and Youth, who advocates and reports connected the payment of children, younker and young adults successful the province.

Wickens responded by offering condolences to Williams's family. 

"Your nonaccomplishment is devastating. I americium sorry. Your household subordinate mattered. She was important. And what has happened was unfair," she said. 

She said that nether the Child, Family and Community Services Act, she cannot publically stock accusation that she obtains nether that act. However, she said that successful general, anytime a kid dies successful care, a "comprehensive review" is done, with input from the coroner's work and police, and they enactment with families whenever possible. 

"Throughout that process my anticipation is that we supply families with support, that we wage for funerals, that we supply nutrient enactment and counselling support," she said. 

Boultbee claimed 103 children died portion successful authorities attraction past year, a fig that was rapidly refuted by Wickens, who said that 14 children died successful attraction successful 2024. She said the different 89 were receiving services done the province, specified arsenic code therapy oregon counselling, but were not nether the attraction of the ministry.

Reviews are done successful each deaths of children successful authorities care, and recommendations are followed up on, Wickens said. 

"We instrumentality these deaths precise seriously," she added. 

Wickens said she had cleared her docket for the day and offered to conscionable with Williams's family. 

LISTEN | Family believes Williams whitethorn person frozen to death: 

Following Boultbee's questions, Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA Scott McInnis, a subordinate of the Conservative Party, continued to property the issue. 

"The curate stands present and talks astir money, enactment plans and moving connected it. Meanwhile, children are inactive vanishing from care," helium said. "How galore much children volition B.C. suffer earlier this authorities treats them similar they really matter?"

Wickens reiterated the ministry is implementing each recommendations made by the Representative for Children and Youth successful bid to amended outcomes for B.C. children.

"There is thing much important to maine than the information and well-being of each azygous kid successful this province," said Wickens, a parent of 2 teens.

Conservative MLA for Chilliwack-Cultus Lake, Áʼa꞉líya Warbus, called connected the premier to talk straight to Williams's family, with answers arsenic to wherefore she died. 

Premier David Eby, speaking to some the household and to different members of the legislative assembly, said Williams's decease volition beryllium investigated independently.  

"This was a precious child. She shouldn't person died," helium said. "Anytime that a kid dies successful care, it is simply a failure."

The B.C. Conservatives are calling for a coroner's inquest into Williams's death. 

"The Conservative Party of B.C. is profoundly acrophobic astir prevailing systemic issues wrong the provincial kid payment strategy and the deficiency of capable oversight of attraction providers," a connection from the enactment reads.

"We are committed to seeking justness for Chantelle and we impulse the NDP authorities to merchandise a coroner's inquest to guarantee that the information is told and those that are liable for this calamity tin beryllium held to account."