Family and friends of Jaali Sutherland-Weenie are calling for accountability from the health-care system after the young Indigenous woman died in hospital following a severe pregnancy complication.

“The family is obviously devastated, but they are also resolute,” family spokesperson Jaye Cameron said at a news conference Monday.

“They want answers and accountability and change.”

Sutherland-Weenie was 36 weeks pregnant when she started experiencing severe back pain and vomiting on April 25.

The 24-year-old, who is from Beardy’s & Okemasis Cree Nation, went to the Rosthern hospital, then was sent to Saskatoon, her family says.

She was admitted to the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital, where her family said she was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia. The blood pressure condition affects about five per cent of pregnant women; in severe cases, it can cause death.

Her family said she was kept in an observation room for about 14 hours before being taken to a labour and delivery room, on April 26. Less than two hours later, she died. Her baby girl survived.

Sutherland-Weenie’s family said they haven’t been given the results of the autopsy so they don’t know the official cause of death, but they blame the health-care system for failing to save her life.

Cameron said they are calling for a full, independent and transparent investigation into what happened.

She said the family believes Sutherland-Weenie would have been treated differently if she were not Indigenous, but declined to explain further.

“The family wants everybody to understand this is not an isolated tragedy,” Cameron said.

“Indigenous women continue to face systematic barriers in health care, where they should be feeling safe.”

Blayne Morin, Sutherland-Weenie’s partner, said she worked hard to finish university and did just that, completing her bachelor’s degree in Indigenous social work at the First Nations University of Canada. 

Her family will be accepting the diploma on her behalf at convocation next month, he said.

Morin thanked everyone who has been supporting him and the baby, who is healthy and home with him.

“We will continue to seek understanding, accountability and meaningful change, so that no other family has to go through what I’m going through, and all of us [are going through],” he said.

Health authority investigating

The Saskatchewan Health Authority declined an interview request, but issued a statement saying they extended their condolences to the family and community.

“Any maternal death during labour or delivery is immediately investigated as a critical incident. This process is underway,” the health authority said.

It said it was not able to comment on specific clinical details out of respect for the patient and to protect personal health information.