Agency to investigate death of teen under its care

The Aboriginal agency that had responsibility for a 17-year-old Indigenous youth who was found dead in a care home in the Fraser Valley says it has launched an internal review into his death.

The agency — the Fraser Valley Aboriginal Children and Family Service Society, also known as Xyolhemeylh — said it will also co-operate fully with all external investigations.

“We trust that findings from an investigative review will give the grieving family and agency staff answers, comfort and understanding,” said a statement from the agency with the names of Sto:lo Tribal Council president Doug Kelly, Xyolhemeylh board of directors president Marion Mussell, and Sto:lo Nation chiefs council president David Jimmie.

The agency, established by the Sto:lo in 1992 to provide services to Indigenous people throughout the Fraser Valley, confirmed that a youth who died in September in a group home was under its care.

“We are saddened, and on behalf or our agency we send love, prayers and condolences to the family, caregivers and the community,” said the statement.

The male youth, who isn't being named by the family, First Nations leaders or police, was found hanged in the closet of his bedroom, according to information made public Tuesday by the family through First Nation leaders.

The youth had been hanging in the closet for at least four days before being found, according to the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, the First Nations Summit, the B.C. Assembly of First Nations and the Indigenous Bar Association of Canada.

The B.C. First Nation leaders had demanded a “full-and-thorough ” investigation as they believed that no probe was to take place.

The B.C. Coroners Service has said it's investigating the death to determine the facts, and an autopsy will be carried out.

The Abbotsford police have said an investigation has been concluded and no criminality is suspected.