“Speak from your heart,” says the former Innu chief when investigating the child protection system
Exactly thirty-one years to the day after the death of his five children, former Innu leader Gregory Rich made an impassioned plea to participants in a survey examining the child protection system’s treatment of his people.
“I lost my children in a house fire and 31 years has been very tough for us,” Rich said while examining Innu’s treatment, experiences and outcomes in the child protection system
“I’m not here to make a political statement. I just want to encourage the participants in the research to share everything that happened to them in the past because it’s really important for the future generations and the current generations.”
Rich, who was not scheduled for the inquest for February 14, thanked the detectives for allowing him to participate in the inquest and speak with the participants.
“I understand how participants feel when they lose a child to this department [child protection services] and I want to encourage them to speak from the heart and not be afraid to speak up in this investigation,” he said.
Rich and his wife Agathe were not at home on February 14, 1992 when their five children and a friend died alone.
The tragedy brought international attention to conditions in Davis Inlet and eventually led to the community’s relocation to Natuashish in 2002.
Rich has previously spoken about his struggle to overcome substance abuse and grief when he became Natuashish’s boss in 2013.
In 2017 he became Grand Chief of the Innu nation.
“I’m a former chief and I’m a former grand chief and I’ve fought really hard with provincial and federal governments, so I’m very honored to be here today to be part of this investigation,” he said.
Report expected by October
The inquiry, which began Monday with opening remarks from its three commissioners, examines the impact of the child protection system on Innu children, families and communities.
Commissioners James Igloliorte, Anastasia Qupee and Mike Devine expect the investigation will result in Innu taking on child protection and ultimately self-determination.
The inquiry is expected to hold hearings and public meetings in Labrador for several months. It will also investigate six deaths.
The commissioners are due to submit a report by October.
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