[PJB]

Police have launched a criminal investigation after the frozen body of a three-year-old girl was found on a Saskatchewan First Nation reserve Wednesday, a day after the body of her one-year-old sister was also discovered in the snow.

Searchers found Kaydance Pauchay, 3, just before noon CT on Yellow Quill First Nation Reserve, in -30 C weather. RCMP and volunteers searched through the night after being alerted that the second sister was missing.

RCMP earlier reported that Kaydance's body was found first, and then her younger sister, Santana.

Police picked up their father, Christopher Pauchay, 25, early Tuesday and took him to the hospital for treatment of frostbite and hypothermia. At that time, they did not know the girls were missing.

Investigators said the father has been interviewed, but has not provided them with certain details they need in the case.

"His physical injuries are such that he's going to remain in hospital for some time," said RCMP Sgt. Brad Kaeding. "However, having said that, I'm not sure that he's been in a position to provide a detailed account of exactly what took place."

He said no charges have been laid against the father, and it is too soon to tell if they will be.

"I feel sad, I don't like to talk much," said Pearl Pauchay, the girls' grandmother. "It's sad to have a loss."

Police say alcohol may have been a factor
She said she thinks her son had been drinking the night he was found. The RCMP have also said the man appeared to be under the influence of alcohol.

"I just heard my son was in the hospital and he was complaining about his daughters he left in the field — 'I left my babies in the field,' he was telling the RCMP," Pearl said.

She said Christopher cried when he was told his daughters were dead.

"He had no clue at all," she said. "When I went to see him yesterday evening, he couldn't remember what happened. He was out of it."

The tragic chain of events started at around 5:30 a.m. Tuesday, when RCMP and ambulance attendants came to the aid of a man on the reserve, which is about 250 kilometres east of Saskatoon.

He was suffering from frostbite and hypothermia, and was rushed to hospital. Temperatures in Saskatchewan on Tuesday were in the –30s C in most areas. With the wind chill, it felt as cold as –50 C in some areas.

Because of his injuries, Christopher wasn't able to speak until about eight hours later. When he did speak to investigators at around 1:30 p.m., he asked about his daughters.

Girls weren't dressed for the weather

Police went back to search on the Kelvington-area reserve and found one-year-old Santana's body between the man's home and another house, about 400 metres away from where the man was found.

The girl was wearing only a top and a diaper, the RCMP said.

Her older sister Kaydance was similarly dressed, with no coverings on her legs or feet. Autopsies are planned.

The RCMP is still trying to understand why the girls were outside. They said they know the man was at home around midnight on Tuesday, and arrived at a neighbouring house at 5:30 a.m.

"The timeframe between 12:30 and 5:30 in the morning is what needs to be explained at this point. We do believe that when he left his residence he had his children with him and unfortunately when he arrived at his neighbour's residence they were no longer with him," Kaeding said.

People on the reserve said the community of about 800 is in shock.

"It's a pretty sad day for us over here," said Chief Robert Whitehead.

Children who knew the little girls cried during a gathering of mourners at the grandmother's home. The woman's niece, Margaret Roper, said the girls' deaths were part of a larger social problem on the reserve that remains unresolved.

"After everybody leaves, we will be the ones dealing with these issues, and there are a lot of issues," said Roper.

"It just breaks my heart to know that these children are the results of what is going on in our community. These kids are going to die in vain.

"Our leadership needs to wake up and take a good look at our First Nations communities."

[RoyalHighlander]

Sad.... very sad indeed...

[Yogi]

So,so sad RH. I am so angry about this. Absolutely avoidable. Did you see the interview on the 6 o'clock with the 'fathers' sister? She said'He was so intoxicated that he doesn't remember much'.

Let's place the blame exactly where it belongs. Right on the shoulders of the 'father'.
Negligent homicide x2 !

[PJB]

Nope...It's a "social" problem that infests this FN...It is OUR fault!...Can pretty much guarantee that this will come up somewhere down the line.

[Mr_Canada]

[PJB]

The Grand Chief of the Manitoba First Nations is stating that more money is required to fight the social woes on Manitoba First Nations.



" Manitoba's top Chief feels more resources are needed on First Nation's to help prevent tragedies like the one on a Saskatchewan reserve.
Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Ron Evans says he is shocked and saddened by the deaths of two children on the Yellowquill First Nation who froze to death.

Reports indicate the girls' father had been drinking before he was separated from them in the cold.

Evans says more money is needed for basic needs on reserves to curb social problems.

The chief believes the implementation of treaties will help provide the funding."



That seems to be the cure all, more and more and more money. Where does this money go? Where is it spent?

Amazingly enough there never seems to be enough money to solve all of the social issues affecting natives in Canada. Natives have to take some initiative in their own lives rather than constantly depending on handouts. They are quick to look outside for someone to blame but they should be looking within.

[Brenda]

You can blame me. I am a European immigrant, it is all my fault [/ sarcasm]

That SOB should be hung un the highest tree, covered in honey. Let nature take its course

[QBall]

PJB wrote:

The Grand Chief of the Manitoba First Nations is stating that more money is required to fight the social woes on Manitoba First Nations.



" Manitoba's top Chief feels more resources are needed on First Nation's to help prevent tragedies like the one on a Saskatchewan reserve.
Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Ron Evans says he is shocked and saddened by the deaths of two children on the Yellowquill First Nation who froze to death.

Reports indicate the girls' father had been drinking before he was separated from them in the cold.

Evans says more money is needed for basic needs on reserves to curb social problems.

The chief believes the implementation of treaties will help provide the funding."



That seems to be the cure all, more and more and more money. Where does this money go? Where is it spent?

Amazingly enough there never seems to be enough money to solve all of the social issues affecting natives in Canada. Natives have to take some initiative in their own lives rather than constantly depending on handouts. They are quick to look outside for someone to blame but they should be looking within.

Sure we'll give you more money, just as soon as you allow your books to be independently audited. Hello? Where did you go chief?

[PJB]

QBall...We, as squatters on this land, can never, ever, question where the monies that we, as taxpayers, give to those noble First Nations peoples who have been so suppressed by our quest for whatever...(Total sarcasm intended)

They don't tell their own people where the money goes so do you think for a minute they would tell the rest of us.

[KetchupJoe]

How dare some of us suggest that he be held accountable for his own actions? You can only do that to white people!

It was the first thing that crossed my mind after I heard this on the news...how are they going to spin this to make it Whitey's fault and get some cash.

Hope those girls are in heaven...

[BartSimpson]

PJB wrote:

The Grand Chief of the Manitoba First Nations is stating that more money is required to fight the social woes on Manitoba First Nations.

Typical statist liberalism to think that social problems are caused by a lack of funding.

[QBall]

PJB wrote:

QBall...We, as squatters on this land, can never, ever, question where the monies that we, as taxpayers, give to those noble First Nations peoples who have been so suppressed by our quest for whatever...(Total sarcasm intended)

Wow, good thing I saw what you wrote in brackets. I was about to smash my mouse trying to click the 'Quote Reply' button.

[Mr_Canada]

[ziggy]

As I said when this topic was posted earlier it's tragic.

It seems like a lot of people are making sure they point out the fact that this was a native.
Not all natives are drunks,the media just gets better press when a story like this has a native in it.
I'm sure if I dug around I could find similiar stories about whites or other races doing things as shocking as this.

[ziggy]

Bill_Hicks wrote:

KetchupJoe wrote:

How dare some of us suggest that he be held accountable for his own actions? You can only do that to white people!

It was the first thing that crossed my mind after I heard this on the news...how are they going to spin this to make it Whitey's fault and get some cash.

Hope those girls are in heaven...

Agreed.

Somewhere, on some freaking reserve, some insane Native Separatist Terrorist just finished sniffing a line of Electrosol and is prepared to take this crap to court against the evil White Man.

God, no wonder people become racists. I hate being blamed for their bloody problems.

And it's even sadder when everyone can see it coming and it happens anyway, every damn time!

When people keep stereotyping them like you just did then it makes me wonder who the rascist is mon ami.