Yukon government faces lawsuits over Indigenous women's deaths at Whitehorse shelter

The Yukon government is facing two lawsuits related to the deaths of two Indigenous women at the Whitehorse Emergency Shelter. Myranda Tizya-Charlie, 34, and Darla Skookum, 54, died in separate incidents between 2022 and 2023, prompting family members to allege systemic negligence. The lawsuits, filed on December 23, 2024, claim the shelter lacked proper policies and trained staff, leading to fatal overdoses. The Yukon government operated the shelter until October 2022, when it was taken over by Connective Support Society, which is also named in the lawsuits. These legal actions follow a coroner's inquest that highlighted inadequate training and policies at the shelter. The inquest revealed that both women died due to failures in supervision and response to their intoxication, raising concerns about the safety of vulnerable guests.