MAPLE CREEK – A public inquest is scheduled for June 15–19 in Maple Creek into the death of Cassandra Fox, a Sweetgrass First Nation woman who died in custody in January 2023.
Fox was serving her sentence at the Okimaw Ohci Healing Lodge when she died.
On Nov. 21, 2022, Fox was sentenced in North Battleford Provincial Court to two years, six months and 29 days after pleading guilty to accessory after the fact to murder in Bradley Ham’s death. She was also convicted on charges of unauthorized possession of a firearm, possession of a prohibited weapon in a vehicle, possession of a weapon contrary to a probation order, and failing to comply with a court order.
Fox had originally been charged with first-degree murder but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of accessory.
During sentencing, Crown Prosecutor Jennifer Schmidt and defence lawyer Brian Pfefferle presented a joint submission. Pfefferle told the court Fox endured a “very troubled upbringing.” He said her mother attended Lebret Residential School, known for abuse, and struggled with addiction. Fox’s father died while she was incarcerated at Pine Grove Correctional Centre for women in Prince Albert, where Pfefferle said conditions were “over capacity” and Fox contracted COVID-19. He said Fox had significant Gladue factors.
Court heard that Ham, released from jail in October 2020, left Saskatoon in a blue Honda Civic. Fox’s co-accused, Jonathan Swiftwolfe, was seen driving the Honda with Ham in the front passenger seat and Fox in the rear. They were selling drugs.
Ham’s body was discovered near a grid road about 30 kilometres southeast of Glaslyn in November 2020. He died from blood loss due to gunshot wounds to his legs, hypothermia, and shock.
Swiftwolfe sentenced to nine years
Jonathan Swiftwolfe, of Moosomin First Nation, was sentenced to nine years in prison in February 2024 after pleading guilty to manslaughter. He had originally faced a first-degree murder charge. His lawyer told the court Swiftwolfe, a Westside Outlawz gang member, feared for his life if kept in prairie prisons due to gang activity and requested a transfer to British Columbia.
Indigenous advocate called for public inquiry
In 2023, a First Nations advocate urged Correctional Services of Canada [CSC] to launch a public inquiry into Cassandra Fox’s death at the healing lodge and provide more mental health support for Indigenous inmates.
“CAP continues to call on Correctional Services Canada to ensure adequate mental health supports is available, to end isolation and other practices listed as 'torture,' and to fulfill their obligations to ensure the safety of inmates under their care,” said then-Congress of Aboriginal Peoples (CAP) Vice Chief Kim Beaudin in 2023.
Beaudin said CSC inaction has fuelled what he called an epidemic of suicide among Indigenous inmates. He said during Fox's sentencing, the court heard she was the descendant of residential school survivors, struggled with addictions, and faced numerous serious Gladue factors.
Beaudin said Fox's death reflects a broader pattern of self-harm and suicides among Indigenous people in CSC institutions, citing the deaths of Kendal Campeau and Curtis McKenzie.
“Healing lodges were never meant to be CSC institutions,” added Beaudin. “They were meant to be operated by Indigenous communities themselves, to help heal the trauma of genocide and racism and discrimination. The continued refusal to properly fund Indigenous communities to operate Healing Lodges themselves undermines the whole purpose of this institution, and puts inmate lives at risk.”
