One child dead, 14 in hospital from Alberta First Nation, health officials say

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An infant was dead and 14 other people, mostly children, from a First Nations community west of Calgary were transported to hospital on Wednesday with what health officials said were flu-like symptoms.

But the cause of the baby’s death, and the source of the medical distress to others, was unknown. Paramedics were called to a house on the Morley reserve, a part of the Stoney Nakoda First Nation about 60 kilometres west of Calgary, around noon.

The infant, who Calgary EMS spokesman Stuart Brideaux said was four months old, was declared dead on the scene. The other 14 people, including children and adults, were taken to hospitals with what Alberta Health Services (AHS) described as influenza-like symptoms.

Two RCMP trucks remained at the grey house late on Wednesday, with one partly blocking the lane. An ambulance was also parked in the drive.

There were conflicting reports about ages of the patients taken to hospital. Calgary EMS initially said 13 were children, but Alberta Health Services later said it was 10 children and four adults.

Mr. Brideaux said the incident did not appear to be related to carbon-monoxide poisoning.

“At this time, EMS is working to sort out the potential origin of the circumstances,” Mr. Brideaux said. “It seems to be of a medical nature. There is no concerns of trauma or violence attached to this incident.”

The children were taken to Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary. One was in serious condition.

The house where the children and adults were found is on the Stoney Nakoda First Nation’s sprawling Morley reserve in the foothills of Alberta’s Rocky Mountains.

Watson Kaquitts said the incident involved a family who lived near to his rural property on the Wesley First Nation, one of three nations in the Stoney Nakoda First Nation.

Mr. Kaquitts, a councillor with the Wesley First Nation, said he knew the family mostly through the mother, who would occasionally visit his home to sell beaded earrings and other handicrafts.

He described her as charming and easy-going and focused primarily on her children.

“She would always say, ‘I have to get milk for my kids,’” Mr. Kaquitts said.

He said he often saw children playing or riding their bikes when he drove by.

Mr. Kaquitts wouldn’t speculate on the cause of the incident, saying he expects more details to emerge in coming days.

But he said the incident has rocked the community.

“When something like this happens, it is really devastating – it impacts the whole community,” he said. “We all know each other.”

Ken Christensen, acting tribal administrator for the Stoney Nakoda First Nation, said first responders found a number of children who were having trouble breathing.

“They went to the house, and when they arrived at the house, there was quite a number of children … and a couple of adults – some of the children were experiencing breathing difficulties,” Mr. Christensen said on Wednesday afternoon.

“It’s a very tragic event for the community.”

As the RCMP arrived, “our security came for crowd control – as many people had shown up. The house was locked down while the RCMP started to carry out their investigation,” he said.

Mr. Christensen added his understanding is that the large number of children were in the home because of spring break. He said that Stoney Nakoda Child and Family Services is also investigating.

The RCMP had blocked access to the property.

“The investigation is very preliminary right now,” RCMP Corporal Curtis Peters said . “We don’t know a lot of details, but unfortunately we can confirm that a child did die at that residence.”

The medical examiner’s office will do an autopsy.

On Wednesday evening, Corp. Peters said RCMP remain at the house, and the investigation will determine whether there is any “criminal culpability ” in the death.

With a report from Wendy Stueck and The Canadian Press