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Jury accepts nearly every recommendation in inquest into Hamilton teens’ death

The jury at the Devon Freeman inquest came back with a verdict today, accepting nearly all of the 74 recommendations for change put forward by the lawyer for the Freeman family.
Devon’s grandmother Pam Freeman, is calling it a big win, “it’s good news today, best news today!” Pam along with family, friends, and fellow members of the First Nation, are elated with the verdict.
The jury found that 16-year-old Devon died by suicide, hanging himself on the property of the Lynwood Charlton Centre group home in Flamborough. The jury accepted nearly every single recommendation to prevent similar deaths in the future put forward by lawyers for the Freeman family and even added a few recommendations of their own for a total of 75.
“Devon deserved to be heard, his voice was loud and clear through this inquest, now every child in care or anywhere will be heard,” Pam Freeman said.
Devon was reported missing from the group home in October 2017 and was found dead in April 2018.
The inquest heard three weeks of extensive evidence regarding systemic problems related to Indigenous children and youth in the child welfare system.
One of the recommendations is being singled out as very significant, giving Indigenous children a right to return to their home community when they are receiving care under the child, youth, and family services act. They have called the concept “Devon’s principle.”
Band representative for Georgina Island First Nation, Shannon Crate says, “that is huge for Indigenous children to have the right to return to their community, whether it’s just to visit, find relatives, or put their feet on the land.”
Pam hopes Devon’s leagacy makes a difference in the lives of children like Devon who are struggling with mental health issues.
The Ministry of Children and Youth Services had opposed 16 of the recommendations including the right to return saying that those recommendations would ultimately be up to the cabinet and the legislature to approve.
The lawyer for the Chippewas of Georgina Island says how Devon’s principle will ultimately be implemented is not yet clear.