The jury at the public inquest into the death of Waylon Starr has made eight recommendations, all aimed at the Reginal Correctional Center.
Starr of the Star Blanket Cree Nation was found alone and unresponsive in his cell on August 24, 2017.
The jury’s top recommendation is to allow an inmate access to an elder or spiritual advisor in a timely fashion.
Starr’s family claimed that Waylon requested to see an elder days before his death, but did not see one.
“I am really happy about the elder coming in, because some people have very close connections with elders. I know my son really appreciated his elders,” Vera Starr, Waylon’s mother said following the conclusion of the inquest.
The jury ruled the official cause of death was asphyxiation from hanging in a manner of suicide.
The jury recommends inmates get screened for suicide and conduct a review of staff cultural appropriation training.
During the inquest there was confusion among corrections officers on the acceptable time period an inmate can cover their cell windows for privacy. Three witnesses gave varying answers, with the jury saying there should be one policy.
A positive recommendation viewed by Vera Starr is to allow a family member concerned for an inmate’s well-being to report that directly to prison officials to prevent serious situations.
The family says it does not feel confident changes will be made.
“My confidence level is kind of low right now because it seems so unreal,” Vera Starr stated. “I want to see someone held accountable, because somebody shouldn’t be pleading to talk to an elder. They [prison officials] are not taking them [inmates] seriously enough. They should take them seriously when they admit they tried to commit suicide the day before.”
(Photo: Vera Starr (center) talks with family member following the inquest in Regina. By Dan Jones)