Tragic: Native American Community in Canada Declares State of Emergency After Three 12-Year-Old Girls Took Their Own Lives in a Suicide Pact
June 22, 2017 8:31 PM PST
A small native community in Canada is in mourning and has declared a state of emergency after a third 12-year-old girl took her own life as part of a suicide pact she made with friends.
Approximately 40 youngsters in the Wapekeka First Nation community are at risk of suicide, according to CBC News.
Chief Brennan Sainnawap made the declaration following a meeting on Tuesday, according to the Canadian news website.
Jenera Roundsky was found dead near an outdoor rink last week. Jolynn Winter passed away in early January, while Chantel Fox died two days later.
The suicide pact became known to leaders in the community last summer.
Jenera had been on suicide watch but returned home in the last few weeks, according to reports.
"There was no plan of care, there was no safety plan for her," Chantel Fox's uncle Joshua Frogg told CBC News last week, referring to Roundsky.
Wapekeka First Nation has a population of approximately 400 people and is located in Ontario.
Health Canada pledged $380,000 after the suicides of the first two girls, according to CBC News. The community is hoping to get more assistance with the declaration of the state of emergency.
"We don't have enough personnel to keep watching people on a 24/7 basis that are at high risk, we try, but we just don't have the resources," Frogg told CBC News.