Probe continues into death of infant, family sickness on Stoney Nakoda First Nation

Ten patients remain in hospital with flu-like symptoms after being transported by ambulances from a home on the Stoney Nakoda First Nation on Wednesday.

The Cochrane RCMP detachment and the RCMP major crimes unit continue to investigate the death of an infant at the house. Mounties said Thursday the child who died was a four-month-old girl. An autopsy has been scheduled for Friday in Calgary.

Two adult siblings of the fourmonth-old have been released from hospital, while 10 siblings remain in hospital in stable condition, including a two-year-old girl who is in serious but stable condition, said Cpl. Curtis Peters.

Nakoda and Alberta Health Services paramedics responded to the home on the Wesley First Nation — one of three bands that form the Stoney Nakoda Nation — to assess and transport up to 15 patients, EMS spokesman Adam Loria said Thursday. The fourmonth-old was pronounced dead at the scene.

Rob Lahache, CEO of the Wesley First Nation, said officials are still trying to determine what sent the family members to hospital with respiratory symptoms.

“There’s going to be ongoing medical tests,” he said. “They don’t know what it is yet.”

Lahache noted there has been a severe cold with respiratory symptoms that has been affecting some community members for up to four weeks, and others have been sick with the flu.

“As we know, serious viral infections, lung infections and influenza affect the young (and) affect the elderly,” he said.

Premier Rachel Notley said Thursday her “heart breaks” over the death of the infant and the suffering of the other children.

“Our thoughts are with the family, community and front-line workers,” she said on Twitter.

Lahache said various agencies will be involved in investigating the incident.

“We just want every appropriate agency to have their time to conduct a thorough investigation, and then we want to know what the results were, so we know what to do moving forward,” he said.

Following the investigation, the community will need a chance to grieve, he added.

“It is a tight-knit community,” he said. “There is a cohesion here that doesn’t seem to exist in outside communities. Everybody knows everybody, so when something tragic occurs, it’s felt.”

Immunization programs are delivered in First Nations communities across the country, Indigenous Services Canada said.