The leadership of the Shamattawa First Nation says a number of agencies should share the blame for the death of an 11-year-old boy in the northern community.
Band councillor Roy Miles says the Awasis Agency of Northern Manitoba, a child welfare organization, should determine if the boy's foster plan was safe. He also urged the band council to improve emergency response efforts on the reserve.
RCMP say they notified the local fire department but did not receive a response.
"We all let this boy down," said Miles at a media conference held in Shamattawa Friday afternoon.
The 11-year-old boy was at his grandparents' home when it burned to the ground.
Because the body was burned beyond recognition, RCMP hope to identify the victim through dental records.
Grief councillors have also been brought in to work with the community.
Miles says the only way they knew the boy was missing was because children in the community noticed they hadn't seen him for some time.
"If my child was missing I would've looked for him that night. Nobody looked for him. It started with the kids."
The community faces its share of social problems, including substance abuse and suicide.
Chief Jeff Napoakesik says the tragedy could have been avoided if there were better recreational facilities available.
"There is nothing in place for our youth, really nothing," he says. "They do things that are a danger to themselves."
A sixteen-year-old youth has been charged with second degree murder. Police say a relative of the victim is in custody.
- with a report from CTV's Kelly Dehn
