Family of Indigenous youth who died in care calls on province for answers, accountability
Chantelle Williams’s death becomes a focus during question period in the Legislature Wednesday
The family of Chantelle Williams, an Indigenous teen who died while in provincial care earlier this year, gathered in B.C.'s capital city on Wednesday, calling for answers and accountability.
As CBC News first reported, 18-year-old Williams died in hospital on Jan. 28 after being found unresponsive on a sidewalk in sub-zero temperatures only a few blocks from her group home in Port Alberni, B.C.
Members of her family believe she may have frozen to death.
The teen was in the guardianship care of Usma Nuu-chah-nulth Family and Child Services, a delegated agency of the Ministry of Children and Family Development, and living in a contracted group home operated by Inside Out Care Corporation.
The B.C. Coroners Service has not yet released Williams's official cause of death, and said its investigation is ongoing.
Family say they were told by an Usma representative that Williams died of natural causes.
"That's not right," said Williams's grandfather, George Nookemus, speaking alongside other members of Williams's family in the B.C. Legislature.
"I'm still wondering, asking and I never get answers … how she died and why she was in the hospital and why didn't they keep her in the hospital and why didn't they find her earlier."
Williams's brother, Justin Nookemus, described his sister as a "young, smart girl."
"She was very friendly, she would feed people when they were hungry," he said. "She wrote poetry. She loved beef dip. She had so much to live for."
Heated exchange
Williams's death became a focus during a heated question period in the Legislature later Wednesday.
Conservative critic for Children and Family Development Amelia Boultbee took aim at her counterpart, Minister Jodie Wickens, calling for the immediate implementation of recommendations made by B.C.'s Representative for Children and Youth, who advocates and reports on the welfare of children, youth and young adults in the province.
Wickens responded by offering condolences to Williams's family.
"Your loss is devastating. I am sorry. Your family member mattered. She was important. And what has happened was unfair," she said.
She said that under the Child, Family and Community Services Act, she cannot publicly share information that she obtains under that act. However, she said that in general, anytime a child dies in care, a "comprehensive review" is done, with input from the coroner's service and police, and they work with families whenever possible.
"Throughout that process my expectation is that we provide families with support, that we pay for funerals, that we provide food support and counselling support," she said.
Boultbee claimed 103 children died while in government care last year, a number that was quickly refuted by Wickens, who said that 14 children died in care in 2024. She said the other 89 were receiving services through the province, such as speech therapy or counselling, but were not under the care of the ministry.
Reviews are done in all deaths of children in government care, and recommendations are followed up on, Wickens said.
"We take these deaths very seriously," she added.
Wickens said she had cleared her schedule for the afternoon and offered to meet with Williams's family.
Following Boultbee's questions, Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA Scott McInnis, a member of the Conservative Party, continued to press the issue.
"The minister stands here and talks about money, action plans and working on it. Meanwhile, children are still vanishing from care," he said. "How many more children will B.C. lose before this government treats them like they actually matter?"
Wickens reiterated the ministry is implementing all recommendations made by the Representative for Children and Youth in order to improve outcomes for B.C. children.
"There is nothing more important to me than the safety and well-being of every single child in this province," said Wickens, a mother of two teens.
Conservative MLA for Chilliwack-Cultus Lake, Áʼa꞉líya Warbus, called on the premier to speak directly to Williams's family, with answers as to why she died.
Premier David Eby, speaking to both the family and to other members of the legislative assembly, said Williams's death will be investigated independently.
"This was a precious child. She shouldn't have died," he said. "Anytime that a child dies in care, it is a failure."
The B.C. Conservatives are calling for a coroner's inquest into Williams's death.
"The Conservative Party of B.C. is deeply concerned about prevailing systemic issues within the provincial child welfare system and the lack of sufficient oversight of care providers," a statement from the party reads.
"We are committed to seeking justice for Chantelle and we urge the NDP government to release a coroner's inquest to ensure that the truth is told and those that are responsible for this tragedy can be held to account."
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