Fatality inquest begins into Winnipeg police shooting of 16-year-old Eishia Hudson
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WINNIPEG – The father of a girl shot by Winnipeg police has told a judge that he hopes her death is a catalyst in changing the way the justice system treats Indigenous youth.
The first day of a weeks-long fatality inquest into the shooting of 16-year-old Eishia Hudson began Monday.
The First Nations girl was shot on April 8, 2020, after police responded to reports of a liquor store robbery and chased a stolen Jeep. Police have said the stolen vehicle rammed into a police cruiser and other cars during the pursuit before shots were fired.
The inquest is to look at whether systemic racism played a role in the death and whether the use of force was appropriate. It doesn’t assign blame, but a judge can issue recommendations to help prevent similar deaths in the future.
“Her tragic loss has created and will continue to create change for other Indigenous youth,” Eishia’s father, William Hudson, told the inquest.
“Her name, her story and her spirit stand as a reminder for our young people that matter, that their lives be precious and protected. Our children deserve safety, love and a future.”
The inquest started with a prayer and a ceremonial song. Elders smudged relatives and counsel for the parties with standing: Eishia’s family, the Winnipeg Police Service, the First Nations Family Advocate Office and the Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth.
The inquest is set to hear from officers in the case, other teens in the vehicle, police representatives on cultural awareness training, use of force experts and witnesses about experiences First Nations youth have had with the justice system.
It’s also to hear from the child advocate’s office about its investigation into services Hudson was receiving.
Its 2023 report found Eishia, a member of Berens River First Nation, didn’t get consistent help from various government systems. She had spent time in care, was easily influenced by her peers and required specialized supports in school, it said.
The report also said Hudson’s paternal grandmother was forced to attend a day school, which greatly affected her father.
William Hudson described his daughter as someone who, “gave freely, cared deeply and loved unconditionally.”
“The dreams she would have chased in her life, she deserved to have,” he said as he wiped tears from his eyes.
Wearing a shirt with “Justice for Eishia,” Mary-Ann Hudson told the inquest that her sister wasn’t violent and had a way with words that made people feel wanted.
Sarah Fontaine, Eishia’s former girlfriend, said despite the teen’s rough upbringing, she was a helpful person who took care of her mother.
“Eishia should not be defined by one moment in her life. She was hard-working, determined and always optimistic even during her hard times,” said Fontaine.
Manitoba’s police watchdog recommended not charging the officer who shot the girl.
The Independent Investigation Unit said in a report that after police stopped and approached the Jeep, the officer fired believing the vehicle was trying to get away and harm police. It also said video taken by a driver stopped at a nearby traffic light showed officers were in danger.
The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs said it’s essential that the inquest be conducted with dignity, cultural awareness and a focus on system conditions that place Indigenous lives at risk.
“We definitely need changes within all different systems, especially justice,” Grand Chief Kyra Wilson said outside court.
“Really, what I would like to see is how is everyone coming together to ensure that we are supporting Indigenous and First Nations people, especially our young people.”
NDP member of Parliament Leah Gazan is offering her support to the family throughout the inquest. She said she hopes the court process brings them some closure.
“A lot of young people make mistakes and they learn from their mistakes. Unfortunately, in the case of Eishia Hudson, she wasn’t given that chance,” Gazan told reporters outside court.
The inquest is scheduled to run into March, with the potential of additional dates being added on.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 2, 2026.