Human rights commission launches investigation into treatment of Inuit children at Batshaw

Quebec's human rights commission has launched an investigation following a CBC News report that Inuit children were discouraged from speaking their own language while in youth protection.

The commission is also looking into allegations, reported by CBC News, thatInuit children who are transferred from Nunavik to youth protection facilities in Montreal often don't have a social worker who can meet with them face to face and advocate for their needs.

The lack of oversight leaves them in a kind of "no man's land" without proper support, according to Nakuset, executive director of theNative Women's Shelter of Montreal.

The commission announced the investigation intothe CIUSSS de l'Ouest-de-l'le-de-Montral, which oversees BatshawYouth and Family Services, in a news release on Friday.

Thepurpose of the investigation,according to the statement, is "to verify whether the rights of these young people have been respected and, if necessary, to have the situation corrected."

The commission declined a request for an interview.

Batshawdenies allegations

Last week, CBC News reported that at least three Quebec group homes or rehabilitation centres for youth stand accused of discouragingIndigenous children from speaking their languages and, in some cases, punishingthem for doing it.

At two Montreal group homes, under the jurisdiction of Batshaw Youth and Family Services and the CIUSSS de l'Ouest-de-l'le-de-Montral, several youth were told they could not speak Inuktitut amongthemselves, according toa person with knowledge of the Batshaw's operations.

Batshawhas denied the allegations.

On Friday, Nakusetsaid she was "thrilled" to learned the commission was looking into the matter.

"I'm feeling very optimistic and really, really good," she said.

A spokesperson for CIUSSS del'Ouest-de-l'le-de-Montral said in an email Friday the aim of the agency is to "provide quality services to the children, youth and families they serve."

"The Batshaw Centresare recognized for their openness to diversity and their ethnocultural skills," the statement said.

Read our feature report on Nakuset and her sistershere: