FSIN demands Regina youth shelter's board resign after death of 17-year-old
CBC
Warning: this story contains mention of suicide.
The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) says it wants answers and accountability from a Regina-based youth shelter after the death of a teen.
On Tuesday, FSIN said a 17-year-old girl died by suicide on Dec. 18, 2023, while in the care of the Street Culture Project (SCP) at its Tuhk Sih Nowin Youth Shelter.
SCP is an emergency youth shelter that was previously embroiled in controversies surrounding allegations of sexual assault and toxic-manipulative behaviour by management.
A 2020 CBC investigation heard from 16 people alleging abuse from SCP management dating back to the late 1990s.
According to the FSIN, the teenage girl made staff at SCP aware of her suicidal thoughts days before her death, and asked for counselling and psychiatric help. The FSIN said those calls for help "went unanswered."
At a news conference Tuesday, FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron called for SCP's board and its CEO Jeff Dudar to resign, and "hit the reset button" on the youth shelter.
The FSIN also said that multiple former and current staff members made a new wave of allegations against SCP. The complaints range from staff being fired for conflicts of interest to the SCP using Indigenous employees' information to apply for grants and employees being asked to take drugs by a supervisor.
Kaylita Favel, a former SCP employee, said a formal complaint was submitted to the Ministry of Social Services on Feb. 26.
The ministry confirmed to CBC that it is "following up" with SCP leadership regarding the allegations.
Cameron said FSIN, which represents 74 First Nations in the province, would be prepared to take legal action against SCP on the basis of discrimination and human rights.
In a phone interview with CBC, Dudar confirmed the girl was in SCP's care while she was staying at the shelter.
Asked if SCP was aware the teen was in immediate need of psychiatric help and counselling prior to her death, Dudar said he would not disclose personal health information. He also did not comment on what actions were taken with that knowledge.
"We have all the information and … the case management information with respect to all of our youth. We keep good records of, you know, the interactions and the needs of the youth in the shelter," Dudar said.
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