Simeon Tsakapesh asks why inquiry on Innu children in foster care hasn't begun
Innu Nation and province said they would make every effort to have inquiry initiated by Sept. 30
Former Innu Nation deputy Grand Chief Simeon Tsakapesh is dismayed the inquiry into Innu children in foster care hasn't gone ahead yet.
The inquiry was originally announced by the provincial government and then Innu Nation Grand Chief Anastasia Qupee, with both saying they would make every effort to have the inquiry initiated by Sept. 30, 2017.
"I need some answers because I lost my son over their system so I need to know," Tsakapesh said at a mental health awareness event in Happy Valley Goose Bay on Wednesday.
Tsakapesh called for the inquiry after his son Thunderheart Napeu Tsakapesh died by suicide in May.
"I'm not going to stop. I'm going to start putting posters on their government buildings and give them a message," he said. "Me and my wife are going to do that because I need to know why my son died in their own system."
Simeon Tsakapesh said it's taking too long to begin inquiry into treatment of Innu children in care at event in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/hvgb?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#hvgb</a> today <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbcnl?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#cbcnl</a> <a href="https://t.co/FvV5B2gUiR">pic.twitter.com/FvV5B2gUiR</a>
—@JacobBarkerCBCToo many lost
In a written statement, Innu Nation Grand Chief Gregory Rich, who was elected in August, said it is important for the inquiry to begin soon because "Innu families have lost too many youth and children to the child welfare system."
Rich said they are waiting for a response from the federal government right now regarding its participation in the inquiry.
"The federal government funds these services for First Nations on reserve so their role in this process is important," the statement read.
"We hope that the Trudeau government is looking closely at this and that Canada acts on our request to join this Inquiry soon so that we can collectively and quickly move forward with an approach that works for all parties."
Earlier this summer Indigenous and Northern affairs minister Carolyn Bennett said the federal government will play a role in the inquiry, but that that role would be determined by the needs of the province and Innu Nation.