The Inquest of Ruthann Quequish

According to Law (2024), the inquest into Ruthann Quequish’s death led to 42 recommendations aimed at improving health care in remote First Nations communities. Ruthann died in 2017 from untreated diabetic ketoacidosis, which led to a verdict of "undetermined" means of death. 

The inquest revealed significant issues in the health-care system, including neglect, racism, and underfunding.

Key recommendations include:

• Improving Local Health Care: Increased autonomy for Kingfisher Lake over its health services and ensuring consistent staffing at the community's nursing station.
• Enhanced Medical Support: Establishing "doctor pods" for better physician co
  verage and continuity of care.
• Better Infrastructure: Developing a new nursing station with expanded services and specialized care.
• Health Records and Communication: Creating a single electronic medical record system and ensuring comprehensive patient profiles.

After the inquest, Sol Mamakwa criticized the systemic issues exposed by the inquest into Ruthann Quequish's death, stating, “It’s not by accident. I say that because that’s the way the systems of colonialism, the systems of oppression are designed. They’re working exactly the way they’re designed to, which is to take away the rights of the people of the North. … When you live it on a daily basis, you just begin to accept that’s just the way things are, that this is normal. But it’s not” (Browning, 2024)  

As reported by Browning (2024), NAN Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler expressed deep dissatisfaction with the inquest’s findings and the state of the healthcare system. He criticized the “undetermined” means of death verdict, highlighting how Ruthann Quequish’s repeated neglect when seeking care is indicative of systemic issues. Fiddler argued that this neglect reflects a deeply rooted racism within the healthcare system, stating, “How many times did Ruthann go to the nursing station with the same condition with the same symptoms and was sent home? To me that speaks to just how racist this health-care system that we're still subject to is." Fiddler further condemned the failure to address systemic issues, attributing them to colonial and racist policies originating from the Indian Act. According to Fiddler, these outdated policies and chronic underfunding are central to why Ruthann died and why others remain at risk (Browning, 2024).

In my eyes, it is both powerful and disheartening to confront the idea that the systemic failures revealed by the inquest into Ruthann Quequish’s death may not be mere coincidences or oversights, but rather deliberate outcomes of entrenched policies. 

I agree with the sentiment that the system appears to be working exactly as it was designed—to perpetuate inequities and maintain control. This perspective is underscored by the inquest’s findings: the repeated neglect Ruthann faced, the lack of adequate resources, and the ongoing impact of colonial policies all point to a system that is deeply flawed and systematically biased.

Despite this,  revealing severe deficiencies in care, produced recommendations that were notably focused on the immediate needs of Kingfisher Lake First Nation. While these recommendations are a valuable step toward improving health care in that community, they fall short of addressing the broader, systemic issues that impact many other remote Indigenous communities. 

By concentrating solely on the specific context of Ruthann Quequish’s case, the recommendations missed an opportunity to create a more comprehensive framework for reform. Many other Indigenous populations, including Inuit and Métis communities, face similar challenges but were not considered in this process. Expanding the recommendations to encompass a wider range of communities could have provided a stronger mandate for systemic change and a more inclusive approach to addressing the entrenched inequities within the healthcare system. I am hopeful that when the government responds to the recommendations they take a more broad approach. 

Overall, I find the recommendations resulting from the inquest into Ruthann Quequish’s death to be a positive step forward in addressing the immediate needs of Kingfisher Lake First Nation. These recommendations hold promise for significant improvements in health care and community autonomy, which are essential for the well-being of the residents. I am also heartened that Ruthann’s family had the opportunity to share their story and have their voices heard throughout this process.

References:

Law, S. (2024, August 19). Inquest for First Nation woman yields 42 recommendations to improve remote health care. CBC News. 

Browning, O. (2024, August 17). Jury assigns no blame in 2017 death of Ruthann Quequish. TBNewsWatch.