Mother says she wants justice for child who died in care

A grieving mother wants to hold Waywayseecappo Child and Family Services accountable after her four-year-old daughter died in care and her two toddlers were hospitalized with serious injuries.

“I just want justice for my little girl because she didn’t deserve nothing like that,” the mother from Waywayseecappo First Nation said by phone as she walked to Children’s Hospital in Winnipeg to see her surviving daughters, ages one and two.

“She was just a loving and happy baby girl,” the mother said, adding that her deceased daughter was supposed to start kindergarten this fall.

The Sun is not identifying the mother to protect the identity of the children, who remain in the care of Child and Family Services (CFS).

The Manitoba First Nations Police Service was called to a residence in Long Plain First Nation on Sunday at 7:45 a.m. for a report of a young child in medical distress with injuries, RCMP said in a news release Tuesday.

Paramedics and police officers tried to save the girl, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.

The other two girls were also found in the home, RCMP said. One of the girls was taken to hospital in critical condition and the other was in stable condition, police said.

Both girls were reported to be in stable condition on Tuesday.

As of Wednesday afternoon, no charges have been laid, an RCMP spokesperson said.

The investigation is in the early stages as the RCMP’s major crimes services unit continues to collect information from a “variety of sources,” including the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, RCMP said.

“Protecting the integrity of the ongoing investigation is our priority and thus we are limited as to the information we can provide at this time,” the spokesperson said.

The mother said her children were apprehended by CFS in October last year and she has been trying to regain custody of them since.

During a supervised visit in November in Brandon, she noticed her daughters were already “looking different” and seemed scared.

The last time she visited her daughters was in February.

“They had a black eye and bruising and small bodies, and I did tell my worker at the time,” the mother said.

“I phoned her, sent her the pictures right away, but they just didn’t do nothing about it.”

She sobbed as she described how her surviving children are “strong babies” who are now awake and eating solid foods in the hospital.

“They have old scars, old wounds, old fractures” and are “skin and bones,” she said.

“But they do have feeding tubes to give them extra help.”

The mother said her toddlers are smiling despite everything they’ve gone through and all she can do as she grieves is show them how much they are loved.

A spokesperson for Waywayseecappo CFS told the Sun on Wednesday the agency understands the public concern following the death of a child and will provide further information once they are lawfully able to.

“We’re deeply saddened by the death of a child, and our thoughts are with the child’s family and their loved ones, and all those affected by the tragedy,” said the spokesperson, who declined to provide their name.

“Our immediate focus is on supporting those affected and undertaking and co-operating fully with the required reviews, notifications or any investigations.”

The spokesperson said the agency has a legal obligation under CFS to protect the dignity and privacy of the children, so they wouldn’t provide any further details on the case.

Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine said in a statement on Wednesday that she’s unable to discuss the circumstances of the case as the RCMP complete their investigation. She said her department will be investigating the incident as well.

“I am deeply saddened by the tragic death of this young child,” she said.

“My thoughts are with the child’s family and loved ones as they navigate an unimaginable loss, and with the entire community grieving alongside them.”

Fontaine said she remains committed to working with the Southern First Nations Network of Care and all authorities to strengthen supports and ensure children and families receive the services they need.

» tadamski@brandonsun.com