'Speak from your heart,' says former Innu chief at inquiry into child protection system

WARNING: This story contains distressing details.

Thirty-one years,to the day,after the deaths of his five children, former Innuchief Gregory Rich made an impassioned plea to participants at an inquiry examining his people'streatment by the child protection system.

"I lost my children in a house fire, and 31 years havebeen very hard for us," said Rich speakingat theInquiry into the Treatment, Experiences and Outcomes of Innu in the Child Protection System

"I'm not here to make a political statement. Ijust want to encourage the participants in the inquiry to share everything of what has happened in the past to thembecause it's really important for the future generations and the current generations."

Rich, who was not on the inquiry's schedule for Feb. 14, thanked the commissioners for allowing him to address the inquiryand speak to people taking part.

"I understand how participantsfeel losing a child to this department [child protection services] and I want to encourage themto speak from the heart and not be afraid of talking at this inquiry,"' he said.

Rich and his wife, Agathe, weren't at home on Feb. 14, 1992, when their five children and a friend died alone.

The tragedy brought international attention to conditionsin DavisInletand eventually led to the relocation of the community to Natuashish in 2002.

Rich has spoken about his struggleto overcome substance abuse and grief before, when he became Natuashish's chief in 2013.

He went on to become the grandchief of the Innu Nation in 2017.

"I'm a former chief and I'm a former grand chief and I fought real hard with the provincial and federal governments so I'm very honoured to be here today to be part of this inquiry," he said.

Report expected by October

The inquiry, which began Monday with opening remarks from its three commissioners is examining the impactofthe child protection system on Innu children, families and communities.

Commissioners James Igloliorte, Anastasia Qupee and Mike Devineexpect the inquiry will lead to the Innu taking over child protection and, ultimately, self-determination.

The inquiry is expected to hold hearings and public gatherings in Labrador for several months. It will also investigate six deaths.

The commissionersare scheduled to file a report by October.

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