Nadine Machiskinic's family questions 'police policing police'

Delores Stevenson is skeptical about theRCMP review of the police investigation into her niece's death.

"I don't have a whole lot of confidence within the justice system and police investigatingpolice, especially when there's a lack of communication," she said at a Monday news conference.

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

Nadine Machiskinic, anIndigenousmother of four, died after she fell 10storeysdown a laundry chute at the Delta Hotel in Regina on Jan. 10, 2015.

It's very hard to have faith when the relationship is broken and there's no trust.- DeloresStevenson

Stevenson was notified of the independent review by RCMPlast Thursday, but hasn't heard from the Regina Police Service, which conducted the initial investigation. She said she plans to meet withRCMP in the coming weeks to discuss the process.

Stevenson questioned the idea of "police policing police."

"It's very hard to have faith when the relationship is broken and there's no trust," she said.

However, she said, "It's an opportunity for the justice system to build that relationship with Indigenous communities, and that goes all along the lines of communication."

Stevenson has criticized the way authorities handled the case, allegingthat Machiskinic was treated differently because of her race.

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"Because she was an Indigenous woman, her life didn't matter," she said.

"It was presumed that Nadine, an Indigenous woman, walked into the Delta Hotel, went into the laundry room, passed out or possibly overdosed."

The investigation review was requested by Evan Bray, chief of Regina's police, who told CBC News he made the request in response to the criticisms levelled by Stevenson and family.

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The police weren't notified of Machiskinic's death for 60 hours. By that time, staff had cleaned the area where her body was found and Machiskinic'spersonal effects, like her purse, werelikely thrown out.

Due to an error, it took six months for policeto send toxicological samples taken during Machiskinic'sautopsyfor testing at an RCMPforensiclab.

• Regina police 'breakdowns' in Nadine Machiskinic case not a 'one-off problem'

Bray said he hopes the review brings comfort toMachiskinic'sfamily.

Call for civilian oversightboard

Also at the news conference was Richelle Dubois,the mother of 14-year-old Haven Dubois, who died in Regina in May 2015. She, too,hasbeen highly critical of the police investigation into the death.

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"The Public Complaints Commission was not effective in either of these cases, in my opinion," said Michelle Stewart, a member oftheCoalition for Civilian Oversight, who teaches in the department of justice studies at the University of Regina.

She noted the Saskatchewan Public Complaints Commission (a five-person government-appointed body thatinvestigatesand reviews complaints against municipal police) is housed within the provincialMinistry of Justice. Shesaidmany Indigenous people lack confidence in the justice system.

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"What does it mean to tell them to go to the Ministry of Justice, to go to the so-called civilian branch of it to undertake an investigation of a police matter?" she said.

"We have to overhaul that system so that families can find a mechanism to go to when they have questions in cases like this."

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