The jury in a public inquest into the death of a woman in Quesnel has made its recommendations to the RCMP’s Deputy Commissioner.
It calls for the creation of an Indigenous support position that is on call 24/7 for when an Indigenous person has been taken into custody.
The supportive role would assist the person in custody if they were refusing medical treatment or generally feeling untrusting of first responders and not cooperating.
The idea is that it would ensure the individual has a non-uniformed, civilian employee to build a connection with and support a more culturally safe environment when required.
40-year old Nadine Marcy Solonas was the victim of an assault at a hotel in the 800 block of Front Street back in October of 2017.
Court documents show that she declined medical attention but a police check revealed that she had breached a court imposed condition so she was taken into custody.
Solonas was then released on a promise to appear in court to paramedics who then took her to the hospital where the extent of her injuries were revealed.
Solonas was flown to Vancouver and died in hospital the following day from a blunt force head injury.
Her death has been classified as a homicide.