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Okimaw Ohci Healing Lodge (Image Credit: Government of Canada)
Determining cause of death

Public inquest to be held in Maple Creek into the death of an inmate on Nekaneet First Nation

May 15, 2026 | 10:41 AM

A public inquest into the 2023 death of an inmate at the Okimaw Ohci Healing Lodge will take place in Maple Creek in June.

Cassandra Fox was found unresponsive in her room at the Correctional Service Canada facility on Nekaneet First Nation, near Maple Creek, on Jan. 18, 2023.

Cassandra Fox
Cassandra Fox (Image Credit: Saskatchewan RCMP)

A Saskatchewan government release says that at the time EMS was called, the staff began life-saving efforts on the 26-year-old before EMS arrived and took over her care shortly after. Resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful, and she was pronounced deceased.

At the time of death, Fox had been serving a sentence of two years, six months and 29 days at the facility for several charges since Nov. 21, 2022. The charges included accessory after the fact to murder, unauthorized possession of a firearm and prohibited weapon in a motor vehicle, possession of a weapon contrary to a probation order, and failure to comply with a court order.

She was charged in connection with the Bradley John Ham homicide investigation. Fox was sentenced to four years in prison during a trial at North Battleford Provincial Court. She received credit for time served.

Ham was found deceased southeast of Glaslyn, Sask., in late 2020.

The public inquest will be held Monday, June 15 to 19, 2026, at the Royal Canadian Legion, 218 Maple Street, in Maple Creek, starting at 10 a.m.

The presiding coroner will determine start times for the following days.

A Saskatchewan government release says that Section 20 of The Coroners Act, 1999 states that the Chief Coroner shall hold an inquest into the death of a person who dies while an inmate at a jail or a correctional facility, unless the coroner is satisfied that the person’s death was due entirely to natural causes and was not preventable.

The Saskatchewan Coroners Service is responsible for investigating all sudden, unexpected deaths in the province. The purpose of an inquest is to establish who died, when and where that person died and the medical cause and manner of death.

The coroner’s jury may make recommendations to prevent similar deaths.

Coroner Timothy Hawryluk, K.C., will preside at the inquest.