Ombudsman will probe 2015 death
Death was ruled accidental but family of Indigenous teen suspects foul play
More than two years after 14-yearold Haven Dubois was found dead in a creek outside Regina, Saskatchewan’s ombudsman will probe whether law enforcement followed proper protocol when investigating the Indigenous teen’s death.
His grandmother, Constance Dubois, said she has little hope that the process will answer all the questions she’s had since her grandson died in May 2015.
“I’m not very optimistic that it’s going to give us the answers we’re looking for,” she told reporters Monday at a news conference at the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) headquarters in Saskatoon.
The provincial coroner’s office ruled the death accidental, but Constance Dubois said she believes foul play was involved. When she viewed her grandson’s body in hospital, she saw cuts on his face and grass stains on his back, which suggested to her that he had been dragged into the creek, she said, adding she also couldn’t find his wallet or jewelry and believes they may have been stolen.
The FSIN special investigative unit is looking into the case. FSIN Vice-Chief Heather Bear said the coroner’s office needs to act with a higher degree of integrity when it comes to ruling deaths of young Indigenous people as accidental.
Since Haven’s body was found in the creek, his family has been trying to get more information about the investigation into his death from the Regina police and coroner’s office, but Constance said they have not been satisfied with the responses. The family has also organized vigils and runs, and camped outside the Regina police station to remind people that questions surrounding Haven’s death remain unanswered. They want the cause of his death classified as “undetermined” rather than accidental.
Regina police have said they followed up on all information they received about Haven’s death and are confident in the investigation.
Constance said it has been challenging to get information from authorities.
“I can’t even tell you how frustrating it is. Sleepless nights, nightmares, mileage,” she said. “The whole attitude of indifference that you run up against. Haven was just a number to them … It’s been entirely frustrating right from the get-go.”
Pasqua First Nation Chief Matthew Peigan attended Monday’s media event and said he supports the Dubois family in their quest for answers. He said “there’s always a trail of unfairness” when First Nations people deal with the justice system and he hopes the efforts of people like Haven’s family will help change that.