“All I want for Christmas is to hold and kiss my baby one more time.” That from Rochelle Cook whose daughter, 9-year-old Baeleigh Maurice was killed by a driver impaired by THC when she crossed 33rd Street at a crosswalk on September 9th of 2021. On Friday in Saskatoon Provincial Court, the charges against Taylor Kennedy were stayed because the case passed the 18-month time limit.

The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations is standing by the family in calling for the Crown to appeal. The FSIN’s 4th Vice-Chief, Craig McCallum, says this goes against what has been a rising call in society, that every child matters. He believes the system was prioritized over the child with this decision to stay proceedings. McCallum says, “Laws can and do change when society demands it and I believe, we believe, that this is a time when that can happen.” He states that this isn’t just a bureaucratic failure, saying, “It’s a damning indictment to the system where justice was deferred until it was denied.”

A family friend, Sarah Smokeyday, told reporters that ‘misjustice’ can’t be unnoticed. She believes in the future, looking back at this court decision, it will be considered a terrible event in our justice system. Smokeyday hopes that Baeleigh’s name will help to create the change the community needs. She says, “We believe that Baeleigh is going to change the world.”

The FSIN and Baeleigh’s family and supporters are urging everyone to speak out for an appeal to Saskatchewan’s Minister of Justice and for an inquiry into why this happened.