Jaycelynn Charles passed away June 10 in Pelican Narrows. (submitted photo/Veronique McCallum)

By Derek Cornet

awareness walk

Mother searching for support after 15-year-old daughter’s suicide

Jul 10, 2019 | 10:08 AM

A mother who lost her 15-year-old daughter to suicide one month ago is asking residents to join her awareness walk Wednesday in Pelican Narrows.

“We’ll hopefully be starting a healing journey for the community when we bless [it] while we’re walking,” Veronique McCallum said. “The blessing is to bless the community of Pelican Narrows because nothing like this has ever been done to try address and help the community in any way.”

McCallum began planning the walk one week after her daughter Jaycelynn Robyn Charles passed away June 10. Charles had been visiting in Pelican Narrows for less than two days before the suicide occurred and she was expecting to see a psychiatrist in the near future. Since her daughter’s death, McCallum moved back to the community and has been looking for support for the awareness walk ever since.

Since she began planning, McCallum stated she has been unable to receive assistance from Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation (PBCN) leadership. She noted she’s sent in donation forms, along with messages to Chief Peter Beatty and other councillors but claimed she’d found no support. McCallum is also disappointed none of the councillors agreed to join the walk and she believes that doesn’t send the right message.

“I have just been getting excuses about why they couldn’t help me,” she said. “A couple of them said sorry that they won’t be there.”

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larongeNOW reached out to the PBCN for a response to McCallum’s concerns but they were not immediately available for comment.

McCallum also believes there is a suicide crisis currently underway across northern Saskatchewan which is not being properly addressed. As far as she knows, she stated there doesn’t seem to be any preventative work being done to address suicide in any of the PBCN communities. After the awareness walk today, McCallum is hoping that will change.

The walk will begin in Pelican Narrows at 1 p.m. and will likely end at one of the schools. McCallum is inviting anyone who is interested to join her, adding inspirational bracelets, shirts and ribbons will be distributed during the event. There will also be a barbecue held at the walk’s conclusion.

If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, contact the Crisis Services Canada Line, which has 24-hour support. The number is 1-833-456-4566.

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno