Two years have passed since 29-year-old Nadine Machiskinic fell 10 storeys down a hotel laundry chute and died.
Her family does not agree with the assessment of what happened.
“In the beginning of Nadine’s investigation, there was a 60-hour delay. There were conflicting coroner reports,” said Machiskinic’s aunt Delores Stevenson.
“The (Regina Police Service) hasn’t given us a response as to why it took 60 hours. There’s also toxicology reports that were not sent off as soon as it could have been sent off, so I don’t think she was given a very good investigation from the beginning.”
On Tuesday evening, Machiskinic’s family held a vigil at the Regina’s Gathering Place to remember the mother of four. Many family members held back tears, including Laura Apooch, Machiskinic’s mother.
“Why did (police) dismiss a case that needs a little bit more investigation? Why were not proper protocols followed in this situation? Even the cameras were not necessarily working and fully functional that evening,” said Brenda Dubois, a family friend who spoke to the crowd.
On January 10, 2015, at around 4 a.m., Machiskinic fell down a laundry chute at the Delta Hotel in Regina. The Office of the Chief Coroner ruled she died of her injuries from the fall, and drugs may have contributed to the fall. Machiskinic’s death was later deemed accidental. Stevenson and the rest of her family say they are not convinced.
“There’s a whole of gaps and holes and I think everybody has some accountability to add to the situation. It’s just unjust and it doesn’t feel fair and I believe that Nadine deserves a fair investigation just like anyone else,” said Stevenson.
The family later filed a lawsuit against the Delta Hotel. Tony Merchant, the lawyer representing the family, says the lawsuit is ongoing.
In 2016, the government hired two additional full-time coroners in Regina and one additional full-time coroner in Saskatoon. Last June, the Minister of Justice, Gordon Wyant announced an independent inquest into Machiskinic’s death. It will be held in the spring.
“I’m hoping it will bring attention to the justice system and the issue of missing and murdered indigenous families and how investigations are handled with the Regina Police Service and the coroner,” said Stevenson.
The vigil ended in front of the Delta Hotel where family members and friends tied red ribbons to a tree to remember their loved one.
In a statement written to CTV News, the Regina Police Service says, “in conjunction with the Office of the Chief Coroner (we) have concluded this death investigation. There is not any indication that the death of Nadine Machiskinic is a criminal matter. That said, any police investigation could be re-opened if there were new information brought to light.”
The family hopes many of their questions will be answered at the inquest. Stevenson also says she will continue to tell Machiskinic’s story at the upcoming national inquiry for missing and murdered indigenous women and girls.
“This issue is bigger and there are other families out there that are facing the same situation and the same circumstances and fighting to get answers and fighting to get justice for their families as well,” she said.
