Sask. Penitentiary placed guards on leave after alleged assault, FSIN says
According to the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN), four correctional officers were placed on leave after allegedly assaulting an inmate at Saskatchewan Penitentiary.
The FSIN says earlier in November, Kihiw Fourstar was taken to the prison's medical unit due to the alleged assault.
During a news conference in Saskatoon on Thursday, Darla Fourstar needed consoling after talking about the treatment of her son.
“My child wasn't in a safe place. It's a mother's worst nightmare," she said.
“He told me that out of nowhere they rushed into his cell and had beaten him, leaving him with a busted skull,” said Fourstar.
FSIN second vice-chief Dutch Lerat told reporters the organization conducted an investigation and believes the allegations are factual. He acknowledged the leadership at Saskatchewan Penitentiary and Correctional Service Canada (CSC) for their transparency and decisive actions.
“We have learned that prior to our involvement, the Saskatchewan Penitentiary leadership had already acted on this incident, initiating an investigation through the RCMP and placing the four guards on administrative leave,” Lerat said.
CTV News has reached out to CSC for comment.
Lerat says the incident reflects greater concerns about the treatment of Indigenous people in correctional centres.
“We have received complaints from inmates that detailed incidents of physical mental and physical abuse, denial of access for equitable treatment surrounding both mental and health issues,” he said.
Fourstar claims her son received more abuse from guards before being transferred to Stony Mountain Correctional Centre.
“Before leaving Sask. Pen, guards violently stripped him, and twisted his arms and legs touching the back of his head,” she said.
She says he’s also been denied medication for mental health issues.
“There's underpinning issues here that we have been lobbying for many decades to address,” said FSIN Executive Director of Justice Jason Stonechild.
“Systemic processes that can be viewed as systemic racism, and over-representation of First Nations people in custody.”
Fourstar says her son has been left feeling depressed and empty.
“It's hard for a mother to hear all this, and I hope that no one ever goes through what Kihiw went through,” she said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Prince William says wife Kate is 'doing well'
Prince William said on Friday his wife Kate was 'doing well' in a rare public comment about the Princess of Wales as she undergoes preventative chemotherapy for cancer.
BREAKING Canadian Blood Services apologizes to LGBTQ2S+ community for discriminatory blood donation policy
Canadian Blood Services issued an apology on Friday to the LGBTQ2S+ community for what it now admits was a harmful and discriminatory blood donation policy that prevented sexually active men who have sex with men and some trans people from donating blood and plasma.
BREAKING 'Just wait': Toronto mayor hints that WNBA team is coming to the city amid multiple reports
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow says that she is hopeful an announcement could be made soon amid multiple reports that a WNBA team is coming to Toronto in 2026.
Magnitude 4.2 earthquake reported off Vancouver Island's west coast
A 4.2-magnitude earthquake was recorded west of Vancouver Island early Friday morning.
Ontario coroner to investigate death of man who suffered cardiac arrest while waiting in ER
A provincial coroner will be investigating the death of 68-year-old David Lippert, who suffered a cardiac arrest while waiting in a crowded emergency room in Kitchener, Ont.
'Irate male' assaulted Newfoundland officers with block of cheese, police say
Police in Newfoundland say patrol officers were assaulted Thursday by a "very irate male" wielding a block of cheese.
Dashcam video shows terrifying near-miss on two-lane northern Ontario highway
There were some scary moments for several people on a northern Ontario highway caught on video Thursday after a chain reaction following a truck fire.
Average hourly wage in Canada now $34.95: StatCan
Average hourly wages among Canadian employees rose to $34.95 on a year-over-year basis in April, a 4.7 per cent increase, according to a Statistics Canada report released Friday morning.
This iconic Canadian song is turning 50
Andy Kim's 'Rock Me Gently' is marking a major milestone, as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.