Families reach out of court settlements in Whitehorse shelter deaths case

Family members of two First Nations women who died at the Whitehorse emergency shelter have reached settlements in lawsuits they filed against the Yukon government and non-profit organization Connective. The two separate lawsuits were filed late last year by family members of Myranda Tizya-Charlie, 34, a Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation citizen who died at the shelter on Jan. 19, 2022, and Darla Skookum, 52, a citizen of the Little Salmon/Carmacks First Nation who died there on Apr. 16, 2023. The lawsuit involving Skookum’s death was filed by her sister, who serves as administrator of her estate. APTN News has confirmed the settlement regarding Tizya-Charlie was reached in May, while Skookum’s was finalized earlier this month. Lawyer George Filipovic said his clients decided a settlement outside of court was the best course of action. “With the tool that we had, which is the court system, both of my clients feel that we used the tool to the greatest extent that we could, and there was really no reason to proceed further,” he said. The Whitehorse Emergency Shelter in downtown Whitehorse. :Photo Vincent Bonnay/APTN Filipovic noted he was unable to share the details of the settlements as their terms are confidential. Last year, a coroner’s inquest examined the deaths of four First Nations women at the shelter, including Tizya-Charlie and Skookum. At the time of Tizya-Charlie’s death, the Yukon government ran the shelter, while Connective had taken over by the time Skookum died. The inquest ruled all of the women’s deaths were accidental and issued eight recommendations to improve policies and training for shelter staff. Filipovic said the families were motivated to launch lawsuits to ensure the recommendations were being followed. He said they also wanted to prevent future deaths. “I’m optimistic that in this case, we’ll see some real change,” he said. Representatives for both the government and Connective said in statements they were pleased the litigation had been resolved and negotiated settlements had been reached. “With this difficult process concluded, we remain focused on providing vital supports through our Yukon programs, and committed to honouring these tragic events by building on the changes we have already made and continuing to strengthen our service delivery,” said Chantal Genier, Connective’s director of Yukon operations and engagement. Read more:                        ‘My life will never be the same without her’: Yukon’s addictions crisis and the families left behind                        Family says Whitehorse inquest jury recommendations don’t go far enough Inquest findings Last year’s inquest illustrated the final hours of Tizya-Charlie’s life as a video recording showed her entering a shower room along with Cassandra Warville, 35, who was also a Vuntut Gwitchin citizen. Both women fatally overdosed in the room and were not discovered by shelter staff until nearly four hours later. The inquest also heard how staff did not administer naloxone to Tizya-Charlie, despite a paramedic on scene stating she had a faint pulse in her neck. The inquest also examined Skookum’s death. Video footage showed Skookum appearing incoherent and later unconscious in the hours leading up to her death. Skookum was placed into a wheelchair and put to bed by shelter staff. While putting her to bed, staff laid her face down into a pillow. No staff members came to check on her for several hours, and Skookum was discovered dead the next morning. A pathologist at the inquest determined she died from acute alcohol toxicity with contributions from cocaine and hydromorphone. The pathologist also noted her positioning face down on the pillow might have contributed to her death. Both statements of claim alleged the shelter operators were negligent in the women’s deaths and failed to uphold a duty of care to keep shelter guests safe. Bella Tizya, the mother of Tizya-Charlie who filed the lawsuit in her death, said she continues to grapple with extreme grief. She said she now attends counselling and is unable to work. “My life has changed overnight, and I’ve never been the same ever since,” she said. “Her life was taken too soon, and it’s really hard on me.” Tizya said she feels her daughter’s death could have been prevented, and she launched the lawsuit to raise awareness about her story. With the lawsuit now settled, she said she can focus on healing and moving forward. “I’m trying to get my life back.” Continue Reading