SASKATOON — Donna Aubichon has requested everyone — the public and members of the media — to respect her family's privacy as they take time to grieve over the gruesome death of her niece Taya Sinclair.
The burnt remains of the 24-year-old Sinclair were found in Prince Albert Tuesday, one day after she was reported missing to the Saskatoon Police Service. The Prince Albert Police Service has apologized for prematurely releasing the details of her death without informing the family of Sinclair first.
According to her family, Taya’s death is another reported case of violence against Indigenous women — another statistic that will be recorded among Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
Aubichon, who spoke on behalf of their family in a media briefing Friday afternoon at the Holiday Inn Saskatoon, said they wanted the community to know and remember her niece as someone who has a family that loves and supports her.
“That she mattered so much to us. That she was loved. She was a granddaughter, a daughter, a sister, a mother. That she was so loved. She was so wanted and cared for. That’s how we want everybody to remember her,” said Aubichon who was joined by Taya’s two other aunts — Susan Sinclair and Karen Chicoose.
“We want everybody to remember her beautiful smile, her beautiful face and for her amazing energy, because that’s what Taya was… [She’s] a dearly loved family member and friend. She was a warm person with a spirit, a heart, a voice that’s valuable to many people.”
She added that Taya was taken away from their family and her tragic death occurred in a way no human being should ever be treated. She said that is why they are demanding justice be served for what happened and for people with knowledge of the incident to come forward.
“Our family would like to share that nobody, despite their gender or their race, deserves to be treated the way our girl was treated. We call for justice to be served against the people who did this to her,” Aubichon said.
“We ask that if there is someone out there with information who hurt Taya, please contact us or the city police. We ask that you take our voices and our stories seriously as we come to you. We remind you to be kind, we are grieving.”
Susan Sinclair said it is still difficult for them to comment on how the police services are handling the investigation of the case that is now labelled as a homicide. She also appealed for anyone with knowledge to come forward.
“… we as a family would like justice done. A young lady has gone to the spirit world, leaving behind her children,” she said.
“We’re blessed to have Taya and her children but we would like justice. Justice needs to be served. Whoever has any information please contact the police services so a young lady can get justice,” added Sinclair.
Métis Nation-Saskatchewan Minister of Women and Gender Equity Loretta King said they are mourning the tragic loss of Taya, a Métis woman whose mother has roots in the community of Green Lake.
“On behalf of [MN-S], we offer our heartfelt condolences to the Sinclair and Aubichon families for the loss of Taya — a beloved mother, daughter, granddaughter and niece. That a young woman would lose her life in such a tragic way speaks of the problems [in] our society that persists in which we, as a Métis Nation, [are] working to address,” said King.
“[MN-S] has been supporting the Sinclair family through the early stages of this tragedy through the [MMIWG]. Family information relies on outreach. The unit works with families to support them through the trauma of these losses. As a community, a province and a country, we need to recognize violence against our [Indigenous] women continues.”
MN-S, in a separate statement, said they are working closely with police and legal services to reduce the incidences of MMIWG and improve their families' experience as they navigate these systems.
