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2mo ago

Family Demands Independent Probe After Indigenous Mother Dies During Delivery in Saskatoon

Family seeks autopsy results, an independent review, accountability following staff allegedly dismissing her severe pre-eclampsia symptoms

Jaye Cameron, left, speaks on behalf of Jaali Weenie-Sutherland’s family from left, partner Blayne Morin, sister Janelle Sutherland, mom Cynthia Weenie and dad Wilson Sutherland during a Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations news conference on May 25.
Blayne Morin was Jaali's common-law-husband and is the father of their surviving daughter.
A photo of Jaali Weenie-Sutherland on display at a Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations news conference on May 25. Her family is demanding justice for the 24-year-old Indigenous woman who died while giving birth at the Jim Pattison Children's Hospital on April 26, alleging their concerns about her health were dismissed by health care workers.
Jaali Sutherland-Weenie's partner Blayne Morin, left, and members of her family are calling for answers after the 24-year-old woman died in hospital.

Overview

  • Jaali Sutherland-Weenie died while giving birth at Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital on April 26 and her newborn daughter survived.
  • The family says she was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia after transfer from a Rosthern hospital and was kept in an observation room for about 14 hours before being moved to a labour and delivery room.
  • Relatives and a family spokesperson say staff dismissed warnings that she was in severe pain and having trouble breathing and that she deteriorated less than two hours after the transfer to delivery.
  • The Saskatchewan Health Authority says the death is being treated as a critical-incident and is under internal review but the autopsy results have not been released and the official cause is listed as unknown.
  • Community leaders and the family frame the case as part of broader barriers and racism faced by Indigenous women in maternal care and are calling for protocol changes, public findings and stronger tracking of maternal deaths.