The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs says the recent death of a six-month-old boy underscores the failures of the First Nations health care system.

No doctor was on duty when Chace Barkman became sick on the Garden Hill First Nation last month. After several visits to the nursing station on the reserve, he was finally airlifted to a hospital, where he later died.

"The nursing station system was used after World War Two was finished, and we're still using that existing system today," Chief David Harper told CBC News. "And it's not working."

Native leaders are calling for an inquest to investigate Chace's death. His twin brother is also sick and has been hospitalized.

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Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs calls for inquest into infant's death (CBC 3/31)