This release was issued under a previous government.
“The stories of these young people are heartbreaking and are reflective of some very uncomfortable realities of our society. I am grateful for the Advocate’s comprehensive work in bringing such a critical issue to light, and his recommendations for addressing this issue and preventing future tragedies. We will take the needed time to review the report’s recommendations, and will work with the Advocate, my colleagues, the federal government, and our Indigenous partners to implement the Advocate’s recommendations and ensure we are there for Indigenous youth.”
“We offer our sincere condolences to everyone who has been affected by these needless tragedies and we will do our part in Alberta’s schools to prevent them as best we can. My ministry will take the recommendations of the Child and Youth Advocate seriously and we will work with school authorities and other partner groups to develop and implement school-based suicide-prevention programs. We will work to ensure students living on and off reserve are offered all the learning opportunities and support services they need.”
“This is an enormous tragedy that Indigenous people face far too often. As a social worker for 35 years, I’ve witnessed the effects of suicide on families and communities. We need to pay attention to the causes and work together with Indigenous Albertans to find ways to address this complex problem.”
“By sharing these tragic stories, and using them to help all of us see where we failed these young people, the Child and Youth Advocate honours their memories. We are taking the Advocate’s recommendations to heart and will work with Alberta’s Indigenous communities to build a better understanding of how we can support their children and youth.”