Terese Marie Mailhot. Photo from Facebook
Writer Terese Marie Mailhot takes a look at the tragic case of Paige, a 19-year-old Native woman whose death is being blamed on a lack of adequate youth services in British Columbia:
I'm Indian sick over the loss of a precious Indian girl named Paige. She was found overdosed in a public bathroom stall, according to the article, “B.C. Youth Representative Criticizes Province for Aboriginal Teen's Death,” which was featured in the Huffington Post. The article also states the girl had slipped through the fingers of authorities 17 times. Columnist, Laura Kane states that Paige “…was found unconscious on sidewalks and transit buses. Once, paramedics pulled her from a basement with a 14-year-old friend who was naked and covered in blood. A police officer warned she may be hurt or killed while drunk.” This isn't simply a problem for Native Americans born in Canada. According to the White House's 2014 Native Youth Report, “... among persons aged 12 or older, the rate of substance dependence or abuse was higher among American Indians/Alaska Natives than any other population group. … an estimated 38.7 percent of Native adolescents aged 12 to 17 years had a lifetime prevalence of illicit drug use. Compared with the national average … Native adolescents had the highest rates of … non-medical use of prescription-type psychotherapeutics.” They credit these disparities to the lack of genuine tribal control, lack of Native languages and culture within Native-serving institutions, and the insufficient systems of care to better address the needs of Native youth. According to Kane, “'Paige's files are rife with examples of situations in which workers seemed to throw up their hands and declare: 'What can we do?' rather than doing everything that was in their power.'” The wanton disregard for Indian life is creating a sense of fear, distrust, and anger among Indian women throughout North America. I see my nieces in every photo of an Indian woman who has gone missing, or was found dead in a river. I rock myself in tears, between these lines I write, at the thought of an Indian girl in the street or walking along a highway without a fierce protector.
Paige at various stages in her young life. Photos from B.C. Representative for Children and Youth ReportAccording to Kane, Paige had a devoted Aunt, who tried to work through the system to protect her, but the system failed her just like it does for many of our kids. In her adolescence, Paige had a keen look about her, as if she had seen the world in all its darkness and light. In her girlhood, she had a look of vulnerability and excitement. I've seen so many Indian girls fall through the cracks. Who of us hasn't met a street-smart Indian girl with intellect, whose spirit is vulnerable to exploitation and brutality. These young survivors are on the front-line of the socioeconomic war against us. They struggle every day, searching our eyes for respect, compassion, and protection. These women are my sisters. When I was in foster care, we stayed with non-Native families. Many of us were from broken homes, impoverished homes, homes with loving parents who were too damaged by the world, homes with no love and no regard, or homes where they had to be the mothers to themselves and their brothers.Get the Story:
Terese Marie Mailhot: 'Indian Sick' at the Loss of Little Girl (Indian Country Today 6/10) British Columbia Representative for Children and Youth Report:
Paige's Story: Abuse, Indifference and a Young Life Discarded (May 2015) Also Today:
First Nations chiefs demand investigation into B.C. aboriginal teen's death (CP 6/1)
Watchdog says B.C. teen who died of overdose lacked ‘minimal’ care (The Globe and Mail 5/15)
Death of B.C. aboriginal teen Paige blamed on 'brutal and cruel' support services (CBC 5/14)
Youth representative criticizes B.C. government for aboriginal teen's death (CP 5/14)
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