Tatiana Custer, who was born in La Ronge, passed away on Jan 3. (Facebook)

By Nigel Maxwell

Unanswered deaths

PAGC calls for full and transparent investigation into young mother’s in-custody death

Jan 11, 2024 | 3:00 PM

The Grand Chief of Prince Albert Grand Council (PAGC) says the death of a young Indigenous woman while she was in custody is very alarming.

Brian Hardlotte is responding to the Jan. 3 death of Tatiana Custer. The 23-year-old woman had been on remand at Pine Grove Correctional Centre, awaiting a bail hearing, and was initially found unresponsive in a common area of the facility. She was later declared deceased in hospital.

Speaking with family this week, Hardlotte confirmed they are feeling frustrated and want to know what happened at the institution.

“That’s supposed to be a safe place for them,” he said.

Custer’s former partner, Drexlyr Whitehead, was murdered in 2021. They had one child together. (Facebook)

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Custer’s funeral was scheduled to take place Thursday at Stanley Mission and the cause of her death remains under investigation.

“Only a prompt and thorough investigation, along with improved communication protocols, can prevent such failures in the future,” Hardlotte said, noting it’s his job as Grand Chief to ask questions for the family.

Hardlotte also expressed concern that neither the PAGC’s executive or justice department had been contacted by Prince Albert police, staff at Pine Grove, or the government.

“So that’s also very concerning to me because they know it’s our job and we are going to ask questions when things like this happen,” he said.

According to various social media posts this week, Custer’s friends and family have expressed surprise and deep remorse over her sudden passing and are equally wanting answers.

Hardlotte said the tragic case also highlights a larger issue, that being Indigenous people who have been incarcerated. Noting the calls for action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the work done by the PAGC women’s commission, Hardlotte said it’s obvious there’s a lot of work left to do.

“And the ony way we can fix and improve things in institutions is by working together with the provincial government, being transparent, and able to come together and try to help our young people and really improve the system,” he said.

According to a statement provided by the Ministry of Justice and Corrections, Stanley Mission RCMP notified the next of kin, listed on the individual’s file, on the evening of Jan. 3.

The statement re-confirmed that when an in-custody death occurs, the police service of jurisdiction and the Saskatchewan Coroners Service conduct an investigation.

“When the investigation is completed, a decision is made regarding an inquest as dictated under Section 20 of The Coroners Act, 1999,” it said.

The Ministry’s Investigative Services Unit is also conducting an investigation to assess the performance of staff and the adequacy of policies and procedures.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @nigelmaxwell