Sask. RCMP to review police probe into Nadine Machiskinic's death

Saskatchewan RCMPwill review the investigation by the Regina Police Serviceinto Nadine Machiskinic's death.

Police have not discovered any new information and the case isn't active.

Machiskinic, anIndigenous woman and mother of four, died after she fell 10storeysdown a laundry chute at the Delta Hotel in Regina on Jan. 10, 2015.

TheRCMPreview comes at the request of Reginapolice Chief Evan Bray.

"The family had some concerns with the police investigation," Braytold CBC News. "Once the review is done, we'll see if there's any recommendations or anything found that they suggest we could or should do different."

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He'shopeful the family will find comfort that an outside agency will conduct an independent review, which isin the preliminary stages.

Machiskinic's aunt, DeloresStevenson, says shereceived a call from an RCMP officer Thursday morning. He told her they were going to review the file.

Stevenson is skeptical of the review because of her experiences with the justice system.

"I don't really have confidence, but I mean I can hope for the best outcome," Stevenson said. "I would actually like to see the case reopened."

At the very least, she said, she desires results more satisfying than those that came from the coroner's inquest. It took 60 hours after Machiskinic's death for police to be notified. The delay was due to the initial belief thatMachiskinicdied from an overdose.

By the time policearrived, the area where Machiskinic wasfound within the hotel had been cleaned by staff.

Bray admits there were mistakes made during the investigation, like a delay in sending the toxicology samples away for testing.

"I've said quite publicly that while there were a couple of delays that happened during the investigation that were absolutely our fault it didn't change the outcome of the investigation," he said.

"This is just one way of being transparent and open and showing faith in the investigation."

Bray said a review like this is extremely rare, but it's a chance to give Machiskinic's relatives the closure they need.

"It's not very common, but to me it was an effort to try and reach out to the family in one last way."

Aunt calls for boycott of Delta Hotel

A two-year battle with authorities investigating the death of Nadine Machiskinic has frustrations boiling over for her aunt.

Stevenson spoke at the Assembly of First Nations' annual general meeting in Regina on Wednesday evening.

• Full coverage |How did a Regina mom fall 10 storeys down a laundry chute to her death?

Machiskinicwas spotted getting into an elevator with two men shortly before she fell down the laundry chute.It would be an entire year before police began looking for the men. They have not been located.

Nobody thought to consider anything except the stereotypes.- DeloresStevenson

"We want justice for Nadine and we still don't have answers. We're on an ongoing lawsuit with the Delta Hotel," Stevenson said.

Stevenson has called for a boycott of the hotel, where AFN is holding its regional caucus sessions as part of this week's event.

Delores Stevenson says there are still unanswered questions in the death of her niece

7 years ago

Duration 0:58

A two-year battle with authorities investigating the death of Nadine Machiskinic has frustrations boiling over for her aunt.

On Thursday, the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs released a statement supporting the boycott in a showing of solidarity for missing and murdered Indigenous women.

The statement said the handling of the circumstances surrounding Machiskinic's death was "troubling and wrong."

A spokesperson for the hotel declined comment.

Earlier this year, the jury for the coroner's inquest intoMachiskinic's deathconcluded her manner of death is "undetermined." That's contrary to the finding of a chief coroner, who concluded it was an accident.

At the time, Stevenson called for the police investigation to be reopened.

Stevenson said Wednesday she wants answers after hotel records, which could have potentially helped in the investigation, were incomplete when provided to police.

"Nobody thought to consider anything except the stereotypes," said Stevenson, whofelt her niece was disrespected and disregarded as a drunk Indigenous woman who wandered into the chute.

Bray is adamant Machiskinic'sIndigenous identity was not a factor in the delay.

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