Teen put into foster care 18 times, inquest hears

An inquest looking into a 14-year-old girl's suicide in Winnipeg was told on Tuesday that she had spent her short life being bounced between foster homes, group homes, a drug treatment facility and her biological parents.

Tracia Owen's body was found hanging in a garage on Victor Street in Winnipeg's West End on Aug. 24, 2005.

The inquest, which began Monday, was ordered by the province's chief medical officer to find out whether drugs or sexual exploitation were factors in her death. It will also look at how child welfare services monitored the girl's life.

Her father, Leonard Bushie, testified Tuesday that he and the girl's mother struggled with alcoholism.

Owen was moved to three separate foster homes before she was four months old. In her life, she was seized and returned to the family home on the Little Grand Rapids First Nation a total of 18 times. She had spent time at a drug treatment facility and lived in a number of group homes, the inquest heard.

The head of the child welfare agency that was responsible for Tracia's care said it would not move a child that many times today.

Michael Bear, executive director of the Southeast Child and Family Services, testified that while his organization has evolved since it took over responsibility for First Nations children's welfare both on and off reserves, it doesstruggle with a lack of resources.

Bear added that more foster placements are needed outside of the city of Winnipeg.

The inquest is scheduled to run until April.