Photo courtesy: Canadian Press

By CKPG Today

IIO report

IIO clears RCMP of any wrongdoing in search for Indigenous woman

Nov 26, 2025 | 11:07 AM

VANDERHOOF —The Independent investigations Office has cleared the RCMP of any wrongdoing in its response to the death of a Saik’uz woman two years ago.

On October 11, 2023, Vanderhoof RCMP were called to conduct a wellness check at the home of Chelsey Quaw.

RCMP took steps to locate Chelsey but were unable to find her at home. Quaw was later found deceased on November 5, within one kilometre of the same residence.

The report notes that despite the low chance of success in deploying a police dog for search purposes, this option was still available for the RCMP and would have provided another visible presence and option for the search coordinator.

The report says experts have explained the decision not use use a police dog, but the question as to whether Chelsey would have been located had the police dog been called remains unanswered.

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For criminal culpability to be found, the report says the RCMP would have had to show a wanton, reckless disregard for Chelsey’s life. Instead, the report says the RCMP followed the policing standards in the province which apply to these types of investigations.

The evidence shows both the community and police took many steps to find Quaw, even though all of those steps may not have been communicated to the family and community.