SASKATOON — Family members of Jaali Weenie-Sutherland say the health-care system failed the 24-year-old mother, who died last month following complications related to preeclampsia that relatives believe could have been treated earlier.
Family members, supporters and Indigenous leaders gathered Monday morning for a press conference at Wanuskewin Heritage Park, honouring Weenie-Sutherland’s life while calling for accountability, transparency and systemic reforms in health care for Indigenous women.
Weenie-Sutherland died on April 26, shortly after giving birth to her daughter, Raya. According to the family, she had been taken to Rosthern Hospital after experiencing severe pain, breathing difficulties and coughing up blood, all while not yet being in labour.
She was later rushed to Royal University Hospital’s emergency department in Saskatoon, where relatives allege warning signs were ignored for hours before her condition worsened. Medical personnel decided to transfer her to Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital.
At Jim Pattison, Weenie-Sutherland remained in an observation room for about 13 to 14 hours before going into labour and delivering her baby girl, but later died in less than two hours. She died on April 26, and the family held a funeral a few days later with relatives and friends.
Jaye Cameron, who spoke on behalf of the family, described what happened to Weenie-Sutherland as part of health-care failures and systemic racism affecting Indigenous women after she was diagnosed with preeclampsia after arriving at RUH.
“She was struggling, and she wasn’t heard. Her mom tried to advocate for her. Her partner tried to advocate for her. Her sister tried to advocate for her. Health care is not safe for Indigenous people until it’s free from racism,” she said.
Cameron added that she and her cousin Wilson Sutherland, Jaali’s father, are working with the First Nation Health Ombudsperson’s Office and the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations to bring the issue not only to the provincial level but also nationally.
“Justice for Jaali is not only about one case. It’s about ending a pattern. We are going to challenge the Crown on the Medicine Chest [clause] and make sure we're protecting our people in hospitals. Also, the Treaty rights to health,” said Cameron.
The Medicine Chest clause is a provision in Treaty 6, signed in 1876, and in other Numbered Treaties, in which the Crown agreed to maintain a medicine chest at the house of each Indian Agent for the use and benefit of First Nations.
She also called for an independent and transparent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Weenie-Sutherland’s death, as well as accountability from health-care providers, stronger maternal health-care protocols and mandatory cultural safety and trauma-informed care training throughout the health-care system.
Blayne Morin, Weenie-Sutherland’s partner and the father of baby Raya, fought back tears and was emotional in describing her as a caring and compassionate person who was deeply devoted to family, kind toward friends and relatives, and loved animals and the small moments they shared.
“She would always be there to give a listening ear. She wouldn’t judge. She would listen and try to help people through whatever they were going through. We were so nervous and excited to become parents to our beautiful baby daughter, Raya,” said Morin.
Morin remembered their walks along the river, late-night snack runs, watching movies together and her excitement upon learning that she was going to become a mother. He added that they planned to raise their daughter differently, breaking cycles of intergenerational trauma while exposing their child to travel, ceremonies and strong family values.
He also reflected on Weenie-Sutherland’s dedication to her studies. She had nearly completed her social work degree and was expected to graduate next month, where her family now plans to attend the ceremony and accept her degree posthumously.
Cynthia Weenie, Jaali’s mother, described her daughter as loving, family-oriented and full of dreams for the future. Through tears, she spoke about the life experiences they were supposed to share after baby Raya's birth.
“She [Weenie-Sutherland] was my baby girl. We were supposed to embark on this journey together — mother, daughter and granddaughter. Now we can’t,” said Weenie, who spoke painfully about singing family songs and lullabies to her granddaughter without her daughter present.
