On behalf of my grandfather, Calvin Edward Courtoreille (RIP 1:30 Wednesday June 26, 2013) my family, and all of our relations, I wish to thank you for your willingness to post his story of abuse and that of Northern Health absolving themselves and their staff of responsibility, on the front page of the Prince George Citizen.
To the Staff at Jubillee Lodge, thank you to those who were kind and gentle with our grandfather's tired old body and mind. I am grateful to say that the professionals among you outnumber the ones who have forgotten why they chose their work. Grampas room was clean and comfortable, and in the four days that I stayed with Grampa I was never afraid to ask for information, comforts or resources for our family. Thank you for the space and time alone that we needed, and for being quick to come when Grampa needed help.
To Northern Health administration, to my knowledge, you are responsible for training and maintaining accountability among the caregivers you hire. Your lack of organizational remorse for what happened to our grandfather demonstrates the same ignorance and lack of compassion among some of your staff. I suggest you prepare for more families standing up for their loved ones. As for the punitive actions available in this situation, rather than debate whether to fire or fine an offender, you might consider educating yourselves about restorative justice. The Vancouver Island Health Authority works with the Inter-Tribal Health Authority to provide Cultural Safety staff, which is making a big difference to indigenous families. The same consideration is long overdue in the North.
To the offending care-aide, we teach our children to come up with better ways than using violence to deal with frustration. We think you need a time out, preferably at home, with someone caring for you. We are also praying you find a more dignified and safe way to engage with others.
To all of the concerned readers and supporters who have followed this story, thank you for giving us your attention and prayers.
Calvin Courtoreille contained within him a piece of Native and Canadian history. A son of the great Leo Courtoreille, a legend in the Swan Hills and Slave Lake area of Alberta, and a longboat man on the MacKenzie River, our grandfather witnessed the entire colonial transition from portage and dogsled hunting/fishing camps to condos and mega projects. He raised a large loving family and lived every single day of his life in service of others. So to see him abused toward the end of his amazing life was hurtful on multiple levels.
Please remember, everyone, that we will all be elders one day. The work we do now will ease our own experiences in the future, and ensure our children will not have to cope with such trauma as elder abuse.
Crystal Charlotte Easton
on behalf of the Eastons, Courtoreilles, Beaulieus, Frasers, Norwegians, Velkjars and Isadores.
