Quebec Innu suicide inquest: First Nations chief hoping for action

A First Nations chiefon Quebec's North Shoresays he's hopeful a coroner's inquest into the suicide of an 18-year-old Innu woman the latest in a series of suicides inthe communitywill offer lessons to prevent further tragedies going forward.

NadeigeGuanish, the mother of a toddler,was found deadon Oct. 31 inUashat-Maliotenam,nearSept-les, Que.

"I hope that the coroner's inquest will shed light on this tragedy and the circumstances surrounding it,"Chief Mike McKenzietold a news conference on Monday.

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It wasn't Guanish's first attempt. And her suicidewas the fifth in the community of4,500in the past year.

Marie-LuceJourdain,Nadeige'saunt,saidher niece'sdeath "isa symptom of a larger problem that needs to be solved."

"We have to find solutions to make sure this doesn't happen again," she said.

More resources needed, chief says

McKenzie said the community needsbetter programs and health servicesto prevent suicides and promote a healthy lifestyle.

He also wants a task force of local, provincial and RCMP officers to crack down on the drug problem in the community. Sept-les is a hub for drug trafficking on the North Shore, he said.

Premier PhilippeCouillardsaid last Friday, after the government announced the inquest, thathe's hopeful it will offer lessons to prevent further tragedies going forward.

"We have to look closely at this case," he said recently."It's very worrisome."

'A lot of racism and bullying'

Stanley Vollant, an Innu surgeon from Pessamit, has visited the community of Uashat-Maliotenam several times.

Hesaid the situation is particularly difficult for young people.

"Uashat is very close to Sept-les, and there is a lot of racism and bullying among the kids, non-aboriginal and aboriginal kids, so the racism and bullying can be another factor ... that make[s] the youth unwell," Vollantsaid.

The inquest hasn't officially been called.

The coroner's office said Monday it must firstdecide who will preside overitand what its official mandate will be.