Awareness walk planned this weekend in honour of young pregnant mother who passed away in hospital

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“Her passing raises serious concerns about the care she received and reflects broader, ongoing experiences of Indigenous mothers in Canadian hospitals,” they said.

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According to information shared BOCN leadership, Sutherland-Weenie had been in the care of emergency responders and hospital systems for more than 30 hours. On the night of April 25, around 9:30 p.m., she was diagnosed with preeclampsia, a serious and life threatening pregnancy-related condition requiring urgent medical attention.

She, however, remained in the observation room until the afternoon of the following day.

“Jaali spent a total of 26 hours and 33 minutes in that space before being moved to Labour and Delivery at 3:44 PM on Sunday, April 26.”

She passed away at 5:15 p.m. Her young child survived and is now in the care of the father.

Leadership stated Jaali recently completed all requirements for a Bachelor of Indigenous Social Work degree at the First Nations University of Canada and was looking forward to convocation this month.

Chief Edwin Ananas said that there must be meaningful accountability and action to address discrimination that continues to put Indigenous mothers’ lives at risk within the healthcare system.

“Jaali deserved urgency, compassion, and respect, and that what happened to her must never be allowed to happen again,” he said.

Sunday’s walk will begin at 1 p.m. at the White Buffalo Youth Lodge and proceed to the River Landing Amphitheatre, where speakers will follow.

Organizers said this walk is not only for Jaali—it is for every Indigenous mother who has been dismissed or failed by a Canadian hospital.

Both the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) and the First Nations Health Ombudsperson Office (FNHOO) have also said what Jaali’s death is the result of systemic failures, ignorance, and ultimately discrimination.

An online fundraiser to support the family has to date raised over $7,000.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @nigelmaxwell