Writhing in pain, an Inuk teen in state care asked for help. Instead he was put in isolation

WARNING: This story contains distressing details.

Last April, in the middle of the night, an Inuk teen woke up writhing in pain.

At first, the sensation felt like it was coming from his stomach, but it soon began emanating from his groin.

According to sources, one of his testicles was so twisted it would need to be removed.

But that only came later, after a night spent in agony at a Batshaw Youth and Family Centres detention facility in Prévost, north of Montreal.

The account of what transpired is based on interviews with people familiar with the case, put in touch with CBC News by a local advocacy group, the Center for Research-Action on Race Relations. They spoke on condition that they not be named.

The case builds on troubling questions about the level of care provided to Indigenous youth in state care.

It is now the subject of an investigation by the Quebec Human Rights and Youth Rights Commission.

The teen, who is originally from a community in northern Quebec, cannot be identified because he is in youth protection.

That night, in pain, he rang a bell to get help from the staff member on site, sources told CBC.

He was given an over-the-counter painkiller and ice, and told to go back to bed.

The pain only got worse and he banged against the wall and yelled to get attention, asking for someone to call 911.

Instead, he was put in a basement isolation unit for several hours, where he vomited from the pain.

Finally, at around 7 or 8 a.m., he was taken to hospital in handcuffs. He had surgery several hours later.