Health and Social Services Minister Tracy-Anne McPhee has expressed her gratitude to those involved in this month’s coroner’s inquest into the deaths of four women in Whitehorse.

The deaths of Josephine Elizabeth Hager, Darla Skookum, Cassandra Warville and Myranda Tizya-Charlie took place in 2022 and 2023 at the Whitehorse Emergency Shelter.

The Alexander Street facility is managed by Connective, formerly the John Howard Society.

The coroner’s jury, which reported last Thursday, found all four deaths were accidental.

It made a series of recommendations pertaining to a review of how shelter staff handle visitors suffering from substance abuse and more effective training for staff members.

The jury also called for a greater emphasis on hiring Indigenous staff members. (The Council of Yukon First Nations is involved in the shelter’s operation.)

On Friday, McPhee called the proceedings a “diligent – and very difficult – examination of these heartbreaking incidents.

“Thank you to the family members and friends who testified about the loss of their loved ones. My heart goes out to you,” she said.

“I know that you have wonderful memories of your mothers, sisters, aunties and friends that were not part of the evidence presented in the inquest.

“Thank you to the staff and witnesses who testified about their experiences and participated in the inquest,” the minister added.

“And a special thank you to the jury who paid close attention throughout the inquest and provided their thoughtful recommendations to bring forward the change that will help prevent such tragedies from happening again.”

The jury has urged representatives of the government and of Connective to meet with family members of the four women who died in the coming weeks to discuss their perceptions of the inquest.

“The work carried out in this inquest is essential in our ongoing efforts to protect the most vulnerable among us and help ensure such tragedies are not repeated,” McPhee said.

“The Government of Yukon will now begin the process to thoroughly assess the recommendations and will provide an update bringing forward a plan for implementing the actions that will be taken as a result.

“We reaffirm our resolve to address the broader issues of substance use and homelessness that contribute to such crises,” she said.

‘We continue to work to enhance our health and social services systems to help prevent future harm and provide a network of support that upholds our community values of compassion and respect,” McPhee added.

“Together, we strive to honour the memory of those we have lost by committing to meaningful change that protects and uplifts every member of our community.”

The Yukon Advisory Committee on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit+ People has issued a statement this morning.

The committee said it “acknowledges the families and communities impacted by the coroner’s inquest these past three weeks. We recognize the re-traumatization and grief that this has brought back for so many, and we extend our support and prayers to all of those who have been deeply impacted by the loss of a family and community member.

“We also acknowledge the incredible efforts of all organizations and individuals providing support before, during and after the proceedings.”

Although the scope of the inquest was limited, the committee said, “the pathways that led us here are well-documented in Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and the Implementation Plan for Changing the Story to Upholding Dignity and Justice: Yukon’s MMIWG2S+ Strategy.

“We cannot ignore the race and gender of the four women who died and the larger systemic factors surrounding these deaths. There is much work to do towards gender equity and truth and reconciliation,” the committee added.

It said it anticipates “conducting a thorough review of the jury’s recommendations, as well as hearing the recommendations from Indigenous women’s organizations, and family members when they are ready.

“We are committed to considering how these recommendations can be incorporated into the Implementation Plan for Changing the Story to Upholding Dignity and Justice: Yukon’s MMIWG2S+ Strategy.

“It is our sincerest hope that we all learn from these heartbreaking deaths and that we move forward with much more knowledge, unity and compassion and with the bravery needed to incorporate important change.”