FSIN demands Regina youth shelter's board resign after death of 17-year-old

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.

CEO responds

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.

"In general, we do, we would have that information and we would address it as required."

Regarding the demand for his resignation, Dudar said he would like a chance to speak with Chief Cameron.

"To have Chief Cameron call for my resignation carries a significant amount of weight," Dudar said.

"I am confident in the work that we're doing at Street Culture and I would appreciate a chance to sit down and talk to Chief Cameron about these matters and proceed, you know, in the best way that we can together."

As for the employees coming forward, Dudar said SCP takes the allegations seriously.

"We investigate each of them when they're brought to our attention and we would take the appropriate action as per our policies," Dudar said.

Family wants answers

The girl's father, David Severight, unfolded a blanket with her face depicted on it while speaking at FSIN's news conference on Tuesday.

David said his daughter ran away from school one day and then her mother got a call that she "was in the safest place in the world," but the next time he saw her, she was dead.

"They [brought] her back in the box. They gave us no answers. We didn't know nothing and it still affects us to this day," David said.

"We just want answers. [She] can't just [have] died for nothing."

Dudar said he has not been in contact with the family since the girl's death because of an ongoing third-party review being conducted by the Saskatchewan Health Authority and the Ministry of Social Services, which hasn't concluded yet.

The Ministry of Social Services did not confirm with CBC whether it was conducting an investigation, but did say that when an incident involving a youth occurs, the ministry conducts an internal review to determine changes to practices and policies to prevent something similar from happening again.

"These internal reviews are then shared with the Advocate for Children and Youth and the Coroner's Service. Both offices may also choose to conduct a review and make recommendations to the ministry," it stated in an email.

If you or someone you know is struggling, here's where to look for help:

• Canada's Suicide Crisis Helpline: Call or text 988.

• Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868. Text 686868. Live chat counselling on the website.

• Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention: Find a 24-hour crisis centre.

This guide from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health outlines how to talk about suicide with someone you're worried about.