Suicide inquiry results released

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In June of 1984, Richard Cardinal was found hanging from a tree with a rope around his neck. Cardinal was a ward of the government, a foster child. So, too, was the 16-year-old Pamela Soosay who was discovered last August hanging from a tree on the Samson Indian Reserve with an electric cord wrapped around her neck.

An official inquiry into the cause, manner and circumstances of Soosay's death now hangs in the balance following a hearing in Wetaskiwin on April 7. The inquiry judge, Douglas Crowe heard testimony and has reserved decision on the matter.

As was the case with Cardinal's death, evidence given at Soosay's inquiry has raised a number of questions regarding the care and custody of wards of the government.

Soosay, a permanent ward since 1983, had been living with her boyfriend who, it is said, would beat her at times when they were drinking. "She lived in fear," said her cousin Leroy Soosay when contacted by Windspeaker. He claimed it was her way of a repulsive situation.

Crowe expressed concern about Soosay not being contacted for several months by those responsible for her care. Her case worker, Catherine Rowbotham and Band child welfare worker Doreen Johnson testified that there had been some difficulty in making contact with Soosay. "I'm pretty sure they (her friends) used to hide her," said Johnson.

Rowbotham's supervisor, Joyce Crandall, informed our paper that Soosay's sister, Shelley, admitted to hiding people in the bush when social workers would come out to the reserve.

"It's a hide and seek thing," said Crandall. "Sometimes they don't mind seeing us and other days, they want nothing to do with us."

Rowbotham testified that department policy requires that their wards be visited at least once a month but that she only managed to see Soosay four times in 12 months. Records indicate that she did not have any contact with the deceased Soosay for a five month period.

Judge Crowe also expressed regard over the fact that Soosay had not been living in a department approved home. Apparently, Soosay had been living with foster parents in town but longed to be with relatives on the reserve. Arrangements were made for her to stay with relatives but she was not always where she was supposed to have been.

Dr. Herbert Sohn of the Children's Guardian office said that Johnson thought that Mrs. Eagles, with whom Soosay stayed for several months, was "a good guardian a good influence didn't have any reason to worry about Pamela Soosay." While living with the Eagles, Soosay was staying common-law with a young man.

Sohn explains away any wrongdoing on the part of Rowbotham because, (a) she was unable to contact Soosay, and (b) the situation did not appear to be a crisis in the estimation of the case worker.

Sohn, Rowbotham and Johnson all claim that there are quite a number of youth on the reserve that live common-law and that such is "not unusual."

What appears to amaze some people is the truancy of Soosay from school from age 14 to 16. Sections 142 and 143 of the School Act are quite explicit about compulsory attendance up to age 16. Howe is it that a child can be absent from classes for two years and unaccounted for?

The only exceptions in which a child such as Soosay could have been excused from classes over any extended period of time are: (a) due to illness or other unavoidable causes, (b) if suspended or expelled, (c) in a special case where a proper officer of the board, in consultation with the pupil's parents and consent of the principal, excuses the child.

Certainly, there are questions surrounding the fatality of Soosay. These are being weighed by Judge Crowe who will render his decision and possible recommendations at a futue date. That could be tomorrow, next week or next month.

Social Services Minister Connie Osterman has stated that her office is looking into the matter and will "come down hard" if there were breaches of procedure in Soosay's case.

She has been infomed that some social workers find it difficult to deal with Natives on reserves. She hope that the gradual takeover of child welfare by the Bands will prove to be one means of resolving similar problems.

Osterman's executive assistant Jim Dau also agrees that Bands are in a better position to deal with their own people. "Bands around the province are more interested in having responsibility for their own kids because they figure they can do it better and we agree," he said.

A step in this direction began last month when the Yellowhead Tribal Council signed an agreement with the provincial and federal governments which is putting the control of child welfare programs into the hands of five Alberta Indian Bands.

Dau said that the minister's office now awaits the decision of the judge and that her office will "then take whatever actions are necessary to take once we have that decision."

Rowbotham was unavailable for comment.

In the meantime, another human life has been lost.