Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation on Coroner’s Inquest into deaths of Cassandra Warville, Myranda Tizya-Charlie, Josephine Hager and Darla Skookum at the Whitehorse Emergency Shelter

The Coroner’s Inquest into the deaths of Cassandra Warville, Myranda Tizya-Charlie, Josephine Hager and Darla Skookum at the Whitehorse Emergency Shelter concluded yesterday, April 25, 2024 with the jury reaching their final conclusions and recommendations.

Cassandra Warville and Myranda Tizya-Charlie were Citizens of Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation (VGFN) and beloved members of our families and our community who passed away on January 18 and 19, 2022. Josephine Hager, a Citizen of Selkirk First Nation, passed away on February 1, 2022 and Darla Skookum, a Citizen of Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation, passed away on April 16, 2022.

The inquest process is not intended to find fault with individuals or place blame, rather it is a way to ensure public scrutiny of the circumstances of deaths and to identify recommendations that will prevent similar deaths from occurring in the future if implemented.

Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation extends appreciation to the presiding coroner, the jurors, participants and the witnesses for their examination, recommendations and dedication to the process. We are hopeful that the eight recommendations in the final report will lead to positive changes and make a meaningful difference at the Whitehorse Emergency Shelter, and across the Yukon, for improving adequacy of services provided to First Nation citizens. We will continue to advocate for dignity and well-being of our Citizens, families and community as the focus moves to ensuring these recommendations are acted upon and implemented.

While this was a difficult time for our community and our families as we gained a greater understanding of what happened to our loved ones, it was an important process for our First Nation. We are proud of our community for coming together to continue to support each other and hold each other up.

Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation will also continue to come together as a community on how we too might do better for our citizens and improve services we provide to address the ongoing substance use emergency.

Chief Pauline Frost on behalf of Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation