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Elected leaders at Beardy’s and Okemasis’ Cree Nation say the death of a young woman at a hospital in Saskatoon was preventable, and they are calling a full, independent and transparent investigation.
In the meantime, a “Justice for Jaali Walk for Awareness of Preeclampsia” event will take place in Saskatoon on Sunday.
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Jaali Weenie-Sutherland died on April 26 at the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital in Saskatoon.
A statement released on Tuesday by Chief Edwin Ananas and the band’s council said the 24-year-old sought help for pregnancy-related complications, yet due to Canada’s failing health-care system, lost her life and leaves behind a baby girl.
“Her passing raises serious concerns about the care she received and reflects broader, ongoing experiences of Indigenous mothers in Canadian hospitals,” they statement read.
According to information shared by the Cree nation’s leadership, Weenie-Sutherland had been in the care of emergency responders and hospital systems for more than 30 hours before her death.
On the night of April 25, at around 9:30 p.m., she was diagnosed with preeclampsia, a serious and life-threatening pregnancy-related condition requiring urgent medical attention. But despite the diagnosis, she remained in the observation room until the afternoon of the following day.
“Jaali spent a total of 26 hours and 33 minutes in that space before being moved to Labour and Delivery at 3:44 PM on Sunday, April 26,” the statement read.
She passed away at 5:15 p.m. Her baby survived, and is now in the care of the father.
The Cree nation’s leaders said Weenie-Sutherland recently completed all requirements for a bachelor of Indigenous social work degree at the First Nations University of Canada, and was looking forward to her convocation this month.
Chief Edwin Ananas said there must be meaningful accountability and action to address discrimination that continues to put Indigenous mothers’ lives at risk within the health-care system.
“Jaali deserved urgency, compassion and respect, and that what happened to her must never be allowed to happen again,” he said.
Sunday’s walk will begin at 1 p.m. at the White Buffalo Youth Lodge and proceed to the River Landing Amphitheatre.
Organizers said this walk is not only for Weenie-Sutherland — it is for every Indigenous mother who has been dismissed or failed by a Canadian hospital.
Both the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations and the First Nations Health Ombudsperson Office have said Weenie-Sutherland’s death was the result of systemic failures, ignorance and, ultimately, discrimination.
An online fundraiser to support her family has raised more than $7,000 so far.
