Inquest into Cree teenager's death in B.C. group home ends with 18 recommendations
Warning: This story contains a description of a teenager's suicide.
The coroner's inquest into the death of Cree teenager Traevon Desjarlais has ended with the jury delivering 18 recommendations, including several aimed at keeping Indigenous children in care more closely connected with their communities.
Authorities found Desjarlais's body hanging in the closet of a group home in B.C.'s Fraser Valley on Sept. 18, 2020, four days after he was reported missing. The inquest heard the 17-year-old had died of suicide by asphyxiation.
One recommendation from the inquest jury was to implement a policy ensuring group home staff are aware that missing children are to be reported to police immediately.
A number of other recommendations were focused on fostering cultural connections for Indigenous children in care, with jurors noting staff at the facility where Desjarlais was living had "little-to-no cultural awareness" and "no knowledge or understanding of colonization."
"The best outcome for Indigenous children in care is to have a sense of belonging to community and family," the jurors said in their unanimous verdict.
The recommendations called for expediting previously announced legislative changes from B.C.'s Ministry of Children and Family Development that would place greater emphasis on family-based care, and to divert resources away from contracted staff-led residential services.
The jurors also called for more Indigenous collaboration when assessing care placements, more qualified Indigenous staff providing direct services, and for Elders to be contracted into homes where Indigenous children are living.
In addition, the jury recommended alternative therapies be offered to children in care such as the use of therapy animals like horses and dogs.
After the recommendations were read, one of the jurors said to Traevon’s mom, “Our hearts are with you as you move forward.”
Sarah Rauch, a lawyer for Traevon’s mom, said it had been a difficult inquest.
“Overall, I’m pleased and we’re pleased with the jury’s careful thought and consideration to the systemic issues at play here and the factual day-to-day issues at play as well,” Rauch said.
But she said she didn’t know if the recommendations would be implemented and whether they could save another young person’s life.
“I wish I could say, 'yes' but I’m not sure,” she said.
“Who listens to these recommendations and then what do they do?
An aunt to Traevon’s told CTV News she doesn’t think anything will come of the recommendations.
During the inquest, jurors learned that 70 per cent of children in care in B.C. are indigenous.
Coroner's inquests are fact-finding exercises that hear evidence and witness accounts, but do not lay blame. Once concluded, jurors can make recommendations aimed at preventing future tragedies from occurring under similar circumstances.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs to start for Canucks in Game 1 vs. Oilers
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Canucks as Vancouver kicks off a second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.