Chelsea Poorman’s remains were found on April 22, more than a year and a half after she disappeared. Indigenous voices have denounced the description of his death as “not suspicious” in the results of the Provincial Coroners ’Office inquest released by Vancouver police on May 6.
The cause of death of the 24 -year -old woman could not be determined and some Indigenous organizations are calling for a full investigation into the cases of disappearance and death of Indigenous women.
Chelsea Poorman grew up in Regina, her family is from Kawacatoose First Nation in Saskatchewan. He had two sisters. Chelsea Poorman dreamed of becoming a makeup artist, fashion designer, or musician and was known for bringing hot coffee to people living on the streets when the temperature dropped in Regina.
On Tuesday, the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations, which represents 74 First Nations in Saskatchewan, called on Vancouver police to fully investigate his death and apologize to his family.
Chef Bobby Cameron said: Chelsea’s family deserves to know the truth about what happened to their son and sister. It was natural and right in the agreement to be protected by the police across Canada, and they failed.
Sheila Poorman, Chelsea’s mother, believes police failed to deal with her son’s disappearance as urgently as necessary, even after they warned that her daughter had a physical disability and brain damage that resulted in a car accident in 2014.
Sheila Poorman filed a missing person report with Vancouver police on Sept. 7, 2020, and was concerned that the public notice of missing was only released 10 days later.
” It just seems [que la police] does not care. I felt like Chelsea was worthless to anyone. “
End of investigation
Although her son’s body was found on April 22, police did not notify Sheila Poorman until two weeks later. He said that after telling reporters that the case was closed, police told him privately that they would continue their investigation.
They apologize behind closed doors. It’s just hard to hear the words they say to the media about ending the case. […] you know not suspicious and no foul playhe says.
For the Union of British Columbia Native Chiefs (UBCIC), the sudden halt to the Vancouver police investigation is symbolic of the complete crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.
The Vancouver police version is likely Chelsea Poorman died the night she disappeared at or near the property where she was found. Sheila Poorman said that at the time of the discovery, her daughter had lost several fingers and part of her skull, details not disclosed by police.
Chelsea Poorman’s cell phone was not found on her body and was traced to Victory Square in downtown Vancouver. The neighborhood where the maiden was found, located about 6 km from the city center and the place where she was last seen, is one of the richest in Canada.
Not enough evidence
Vancouver police say the investigation into Chelsea Poorman’s death and disappearance is underway detailed and complexbut nothing insufficient evidence to suggest that his death was the result of a crime.
Sergeant Steve Addison, media liaison for Vancouver police, said at a news conference that the cause of his death is unlikely to be known.
In a statement Thursday, the British Columbia First Nations Justice Council said angry. “There are more unanswered questions than answered surrounding the circumstances of his death due to the lack of a full Vancouver Police Department investigation,” the statement read.
Annita McPhee, Board Member, Tribute to Journalists Who Investigate No One the stories of these women will not be disclosed and added that it is the duty of law enforcement to fully investigate a death, if the coroner declares to the family that the body is incomplete and there is no explanation as to why, then an investigation must be conducted.
” Because of the history of [l’Enquête nationale sur les femmes et les filles autochtones disparues et assassinées] in Canada, we must consider the disappearance and death of all Indigenous women and girls suspicious until the full investigation is decided. “
For Board Chairman Doug White to assume that Chelsea Poorman’s death was not suspicious in a hurry. He denounced a dismissive police approach regarding Aboriginal women, who are already present in the investigation of serial killer Robert Pickton.
With information from Michelle Ghoussoub
Source: Radio-Canada
