Investigation into toddlers' deaths begins

Friday, February 1, 2008  

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police has begun an investigation into the death of two young girls on the Yellow Quill First Nation in Saskatchewan.

Three-year-old Kaydance Pauchay and her one-year-old Santana Pauchay were found frozen to death in a field on Tuesday. Authorities are trying to figure out how the girls ended up there.

The initial focus appears to be on the girls' father, Christopher Pauchay. The 25-year-old was showed up at a neighbors' door early Tuesday morning with a severe case of hypothermia and frostbite. His daughters weren't with him and only later was it determined that they were missing.

Overnight temperatures were well below -30C (-22F) and the girls were found wearing nothing more than diapers and some t-shirts. Pauchay himself was wearing a light layer of clothing.

Pauchay remains in the hospital where he is recovering. Authorities say it will be several days before they know whether anyone might face charges.

Pauchay's mother has said her son might have been drinking. Reserve residents voted in 2005 to ban alcohol but somehow the resolution was never sent to the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs for final approval.

Kaydance and Santana are being buried on Saturday. The community is holding a meeting today to discuss the deaths.

Get the Story:
No decision yet on charges in child deaths, RCMP says (CBC 1/31)
Sask. reserve where 2 sisters died tried to ban alcohol: chief (CBC 1/31)
Yellow Quill nearly became 'dry' reserve (The National Post 2/1)
Community looks for answers in death of two sisters (The National Post 2/1)
Family copes with guilt, anger over girls' deaths (The Calgary Herald 2/1)
Focus now on father of dead children (The Edmonton Journal 2/1)
Frostbitten dad sought neighbour's help (The Vancouver Sun 2/1)
Bylaw alone won't help: officer (The Vancouver Sun 2/1)
Reserve in ‘sad situation’ (CP 2/1)

Opinions:
Comment by Mindelle Jacobs (The Edmonton Sun 2/1)
Naomi Lakritz: Something good needs to come from this tragedy (The Calgary Herald 2/1)
John Gormley: No excuse for Yellow Quill deaths (The Saskatoon StarPhoenix 2/1)

Two young girls found dead on Saskatchewan reserve (1/31)