Affidavit of Michael Bear - Phoenix Sinclair Inquiry

workers or other staff member during by employment with Cree Nation Child and Family
Services.
Public Proceedings Examinina the Death of a Child in Care
12. During my term as Executive Director of SECFS Tracia Owen, a First Nation
youth from Little Grand Rapids, committed suicide while she was in care. SECFS was
the agency with jurisdiction which managed Tracia Owen's placements. There was a
public inquest at which I and other members of the SECFS staff testified.
13. There was no order restricting publication of the names of social workers and
other professional witnesses who testified at the Tracia Owen inquest. Their identities
and testimony were covered in the media and the public report of The Honourable
Judge John Guy issued January 11, 2008 listed the names of witnesses. Attached
hereto as Exhibit "A" is a copy of the report.
14. Given the nature of reserve and other rural communities as described above, the
affected community was already well aware of the Tracia Owen tragedy and of the
agencies and the social service professionals who played key roles in the case.
15. Agency staff and the other professionals involved in the case of Tracia Owen and
her family were extremely upset by this tragic death. It was not easy for those involved
to scrutinize the case in hindsight, although it was necessary to have the public