The day before Jaali Sutherland would have turned 25, her loved ones hosted a walk in memory of the expectant mother who died of pregnancy complications in a Saskatoon hospital.

“Our family believes that the lessons from this tragedy must lead to meaningful change. And we will not stop until we receive justice for Jaali, justice for all mothers, fathers and babies,” Janelle Sutherland, Jaali’s older sister said, while addressing the crowd.

The ‘Justice for Jaali’ walk brought together loved ones and advocates who believe the 24-year old’s death was preventable.

“In the weeks leading up to her death, Jaali repeatedly sought medical attention for her serious worsening symptoms that included chest pain, pelvic pain and shortness of breath,” Janelle Sutherland explained.

“Despite these ongoing concerns, our family believes that this variety of her condition was not recognized nor investigated with the urgency that it proved that it required.”

Another speaker at the rally following the walk was Jaali’s partner, Blayne Morin.

“During that time being at the hospital, I myself didn’t know how serious or life threatening it was because after she was diagnosed and being told the worst comes the worst, we’ll do an emergency C-section,” Morin said.

But Morin shared Jaali did not have that C-section, and the expectant couple spent 30 hours in Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital waiting for medical intervention that never came.

“My main focus was being there for her and sticking by her side, letting her know she wasn’t alone during all of this, and just doing my best to comfort her.”

The new father added the past two months have been incredibly difficult, but he’s thankful for the community support he and his daughter have received.

“I’m still slowly healing from all this and just beginning to move forward and fight for justice for her. If it wasn’t for my baby girl helping me find the strength and courage to come up here, then I don’t know what I’d been doing.”

Sutherland emphasised she and her family are advocating for systemic changes within Saskatchewan’s healthcare system to promote better advocacy for Indigenous patients.

“Indigenous families have personally reached out to me with horrific stories about their experiences,” she said.

“These experiences have left families traumatized, feeling unheard an unseen and like the health system doesn’t care.”

In response, the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) said:

“The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) extends our sincere condolences to the family and community following the loss of a mother during childbirth earlier this year. This is a profound and tragic loss,” the SHA noted in a response to CTV News.

“Any maternal death during labour or delivery is immediately investigated as a critical incident. This process is underway.

SHA clinical leadership has met with the family, and members of our First Nations and Métis Health team have been engaged to support culturally respectful and compassionate communication. We are committed to continuing to engage directly with the family as the review progresses.

Out of respect for the patient and her family, and to protect personal health information, we are unable to comment on specific clinical details.

Sutherland added she believes her sister’s death is the result of a larger issue within the province’s healthcare system, and told the crowd she’s not seeking to place blame on individual healthcare workers.

“I firmly believe more could have and should have been done. We have concerns about planning, staffing pressures, communication failures, system capacity failures, and gaps in decision making may have contributed to this tragic outcome,” Sutherland explained.

“These questions deserve answers not only for our family, but for all indigenous women, mothers, and babies.”