Carmacks woman died at shelter after being placed face down inquest hears – APTN News
Apr 17, 2024
A First Nations woman died at the Whitehorse emergency shelter last year after staff put her to bed lying face down on her stomach an inquest into her death learned.
Darla Skookum, 52, a member of the Little Salmon/Carmacks First Nation, died while accessing services at the shelter. She was pronounced dead on April 16, 2023.
Her death, along with three other First Nations women, are the focus of an inquest underway this month.
Family members described Skookum as a kind, generous person who loved her children and family.
“Darla loved life and treated everyone with respect and kindness no matter who they were. She loved everyone,” said her sister Veronica Burgess. “She always had a smile on her face.”
CCTV footage from the evening of Skookum’s death shows her sitting in a lounge along with other shelter clients.
