36 children in care or receiving services died last year

Saskatchewan's Ministry of Social Services has recorded the highest number of deaths of children in care or in receipt of services in over a decade.

Data from the ministry shows nine children died while in the care of the province or of a First Nations child and family services agency in 2020. Another 27 children died while their families were either receiving services, or had received services within the last 12 months.

The total of 36 deaths is up from 33 deaths recorded in 2019, and is the highest number of deaths reported since 2008.

Causes of death for the majority of the 2020 cases have yet to be determined. However, three were listed as accidental, while six were reported as having natural causes.

Joel Kilbride, executive director of program service and design in the Ministry of Social Service's child family programs unit, said in a statement that each death is reviewed internally, and the information is passed on to both the Saskatchewan Coroners Service and the Advocate for Children and Youth.

Kilbride noted that children in care and receiving services are among the most vulnerable, and many have complex medical needs.

“We continue to work with parents and caregivers on key issues such as safe sleeping practices and suicide intervention and prevention,” Kilbride added.

All but one of the 36 children who died were Indigenous.

Second Vice Chief David Pratt of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) said the rising number of deaths underscores the urgency for First Nations to take control of their own child welfare systems.

“We're very shocked and saddened by the numbers. Of course, any time we lose one child, it's an entire future lost,” he said.

Pratt added that several FSIN member nations are on the way to setting up their own child welfare systems under the provisions of federal bill C-92, which was passed in June 2019. He said he expects the work to be challenging, as First Nations seek to transform a system that's been in place since the 1950s.

Pratt stressed deaths of Indigenous children in care are a reflection of the effects of poverty, lack of housing, poor nutrition, generational trauma and other social determinants of health that disproportionately affect Indigenous people. Even so, he said he expects better outcomes in the coming years as First Nations take charge.

“I think we're going to see those numbers go down. Obviously the main goal is for us to keep our families together, keep our families healthy and dealing with parents' underlying trauma and keeping them connected to their community, their heritage and their culture.”