Search for truth an uphill battle in what advocates call “horrible” justice system
It’s been three years since two young Indigenous women and an Indigenous girl were found dead within weeks of each other, and their families still want answers.
About 100 people gathered in Vancouver on Monday to commemorate the discovery of Chelsea Poorman’s body at a mansion in the Shaughnessy neighbourhood, nineteen months after the 24-year-old was reported missing.
The event also honoured Tatyanna Harrison, 20, and Noelle O’Soup, 14, who were also found deceased in spring 2022.
All three cases remain unsolved, and CBC News recently reported that three separate investigations into how the VPD handled each case have been launched.
Participants marched from the mansion to the last location Chelsea was seen alive, at Granville and Davie Street in downtown Vancouver.
Diamond Kiernan (right) watches as her sister is honoured by community members through drumming, song and the burning of sage, on April 21 in Vancouver. Photo by Sage Smith
Families frustrated and angry over unanswered questions
Family members and friends of the women spoke, expressing profound love, grief and frustration over the lack of advances in their cases.
Chelsea’s sister Diamond Kiernan said, “there are still so many unanswered questions surrounding Chelsea’s death.” She added, “they continue to deny us the closure we deserve.”
Kiernan criticized the VPD for the way the case was handled, asking why it was not treated as foul play, considering her sister had significant physical disabilities and was found far from the last place she was seen in downtown Vancouver.
“Where were her belongings? Her identification? Why did her phone’s last known location ping in Victoria Park, five kilometres away from where her remains were eventually found,” she said. “Why were these leads not followed up with urgency?”
The VPD Manual of Regulations and Procedures says that all cases of missing people reported to the police must be treated as suspicious until demonstrated otherwise, and that the determination of foul play requires a “different investigative direction.” It does not further explain the process.
Darline Barry said not a day goes by that she doesn’t miss her granddaughter Tatyanna. She said her family also has too many unanswered questions.
“There’s just no justice. It has to stop,” she said. “We have to stay strong and our voices have to be heard so this doesn’t continue. And it is continuing today.”
Riley Barry also spoke about his cousin Tatyanna, saying “when you lose someone, it’s not something that ever goes away. That is a wound you carry for the rest of your life,” he said. “And what hurts even more is not having those answers.”
Josie August spoke on behalf of her niece Noelle O’Soup, who was only 14-years-old when she was found deceased in the Downtown Eastside.
“We have not heard any updates on the case. It’s been three years,” August said.
“All three cases show police neglect when it comes to investigation and taking missing persons reports seriously,” she said. “And how do we hold them accountable? We’ve heard jurisdiction, jurisdiction between RCMP and VPD throughout these cases.”
August said, “the way they labeled her high risk was not right. She was 13. She needed an amber alert. She had medical conditions. She was in care.”
She said the Ministry of Children and Family Development also needs to be held accountable.
“We want to know why she ran away from this group home, we want to know the whole timeline of why it took them eight days to report her missing,” August said.
She said multiple members of O’Soup’s family learned about her passing from the media and criticized the VPD for its poor communication. “We found out more about the investigation through the media than the police.”
Lorelei Williams, an Indigenous advocate whose cousin was a victim of infamous serial killer Robert Pickton, spoke at Monday’s event. Photo by Sage Smith
Families and advocates criticize justice system, saying ¨nothing’s changed¨
Lorelei Williams, an Indigenous advocate whose cousin was a victim of infamous serial killer Robert Pickton, spoke at Monday’s event.
She said Tatyanna’s mother Natasha Harrison has not buried her daughter because she worries her body would need to be exhumed in the future to be reexamined by the coroners.
“Why is it that a mother cannot lay her daughter to rest?” Williams said. “It’s a horrible, horrible justice system.”
Williams said while working with the three families she saw “so many flaws, so much racism, so much discrimination.”
“Being a family member of someone who was murdered by Pickton, and then going to the Wally Oppal Inquiry, things were supposed to change.”
“But nothing has changed at all,” She said. “What has been done since they were found? What changes have been made? Nothing.”
Williams commended the families for continuing to fight for justice for their loved ones, acknowledging the emotional fatigue and strength it takes.
Kiernan said, “what we must do is fight, fight for real accountability, fight for preventative measures, fight to make sure no more families have to stand where we stand – heartbroken and hurt. We cannot do this alone, but we are not alone.”
“I ask you to stay strong, keep speaking out, keep organizing, keep showing up, keep fighting,” Kiernan said. “Let justice for Chelsea, Tatyanna and Noelle be the beginning, not the end of the story.”
The VPD did not respond to multiple requests to comment by Freelancer Press.
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