Family of Indigenous teen who died in group home calls for public inquiry

The family of17-year-old Traevon Chalifoux-Desjarlaisis calling for a public inquiry to find out what happenedin the days beforeand after his death at a group home in Abbotsford, B.C.

The body of the Cree youthwas found in his bedroom closet in the home, four days after he had been reported missing.

The group home that Chalifoux-Desjarlais died in was under the authority ofXyolhemeylh, also called the Fraser Valley Aboriginal Children and Family Services Society an agency that is delegated underthe Ministry of Children and Family Development.

He was there under a voluntary custody arrangement, an agreement with a parent and an agency to have a child in care temporarily.

"Words can't convey whathappenedfor Traevon, for [his mother] Samantha, for the family, and really for all of us following this," said lawyerSarah Rauch, whois pressingfor a public inquiry on behalf of the family.

Rauch, who has represented other Indigenous parents who have accusedthe Ministry of Children and Family Development of systemic racism, saidshe has written letters asking for information fromthe police, the delegated agency and the ministry.

"Silence is not acceptable here," she said at a news conference Thursday.

'We are pursuing everything'

Chalifoux-Desjarlais'smother's aunt, who by Cree custom is his great-grandmother, called his death a nightmare.

"A loss of any life is devastating," saidTheresa Campiouat the news conference.

"We have trusted people both through the agency and the government to help us,to take care of this, to take care of our child,andthat didn't happen,and we want to know why," Campiousaid.

Chalifoux-Desjarlais's motherSamantha Chalifoux kept in regular contact with him until he was reported missing by the agency on Sept.14. His bodywas found in the closet four days later.

Rauch says the public inquiry, largely a fact-finding mission to seek transparency around what institutions may have failedChalifoux-Desjarlais, is just the first step.

"We are pursuing everything," Rauch said.

"A public inquiry is a way to get the information we need.It doesn't mean we are not interesting in holding people accountable as others have said, this needs to charge and we will do whatever it takes," Rauch said.

'This case is our top priority':children and youth representative

The BC Coroners Service is investigating to determine cause of death and any contributing factors. Indigenous leaders say an autopsy was ordered after First Nations leaders spoke out.

B.C.'sRepresentative for Children and Youth Jennifer Charlesworthsays she is also conducting a review in tandem with the coroner's investigation.

"Let's be really clear, this caseis our top priority, because [Chalifoux-Desjarlais's death] is so tragic and it brings up so many questions as to what happened to this young man and what was happening in his residence," Charlesworthtold the CBC.

Shesaid she has informedChalifoux-Desjarlais's family that her office is now doing a comprehensive review of the case, and is getting access to the records whileChalifoux-Desjarlais was in care.

Charlesworthsays she isn't able to comment on the role of the delegated agency or the Ministry of Children and Family Development in this case due to the current election campaign, but she can prepare for an investigation.

Deputy Minister of Children and FamilyDevelopmentAllison Bondsaid the death of any youth in care will prompt a case review, and that review would be provided to B.C.'s representative for children and youth, who has the discretion to pursue further review or an investigation.