Content warning: Some details in this story may be disturbing to some readers.
A large group gathered at Holland Park in Surrey Monday night, to remember the life of Valentino Baker, an Indigenous infant who died while in provincial government care earlier this month.
The boy was born on June 25. At just five weeks old, he died on Aug. 6.
“Even though he’s not with us in form, he’s with us in spirit, and he’s so proud of you two. You’re excellent parents. Because we don’t just parent in our physical form, we parent throughout a lifetime,” one speaker said to Valentino’s parents.
Beside their grief, pain, and anger, all of those who attended the vigil had the same questions without answers: how and why exactly did the newborn die?
The family says they may not know for months.
“We’ll never get to sing you a sweet lullaby to calm you down when you cry,” Andrew, Valentino’s father, said, speaking to his son.
“We’ll never get to fall asleep with you in our arms, all bundled in a blanket like a burrito to keep you warm. We’ll never get to hear you laugh and giggle, and see your little toes wiggle. There are many things we’ll never get to do, but the hardest thing is not being with you.”
Standing beside his fiancée and Valentino’s mother, Chyanna, he recited a poem in honour of their late son.
In an interview with CityNews last week, the family’s lawyer, Roslyn Chambers, said shortly after Valentino was born, his mother was visited by social workers. They suspected drug use, although Chambers says Chyanna had been sober since she found out she was pregnant. To their knowledge, the baby was born healthy.
Chambers suspects the social workers visited Chyanna after an “unconstitutional act of a birth alert,” which is a notification made by child welfare agencies to local hospitals about pregnant people who are suspected to be “high-risk.”
“This comes from a situation of bias and societal discrimination to some extent that an Indigenous woman is having a child and possibly has some history (with drugs),” explained Chambers. “The child was born healthy … There wouldn’t have been an immediate need for the government to intervene.”
Valentino Baker, a newborn baby, died while in government care. His parents say they have not been told what led to his death. (Courtesy Chyanna Baker)
The lawyer explained that the MCFD came up with a 30-day safety plan that Chyanna had agreed to. However, during a wellness check at Chyanna’s home, Chambers says police mistook some items to be “drug paraphernalia.” The MCFD eventually came up with another safety plan that involved Valentino living with one of Chyanna’s friends.
Chambers claims social workers did not conduct a thorough walkthrough of the baby’s temporary new home. After a few days there, she says Valentino ended up in the hospital and died.
In an email to CityNews on Aug. 13, the Surrey RCMP says it responded to a home in Surrey on Aug. 6 to assist paramedics “as [an] infant was in medical distress.”
“The infant was transported to hospital by EHS, but despite life-saving efforts, the infant was pronounced deceased,” Mounties explained.
“Surrey RCMP has been working with our partners at the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) as well as the BC Coroner’s Service. The investigation is on going as the Surrey RCMP Serious Crime Unit supports the Coroner’s Act investigation.”
“This kid’s only seen the world for two days. This is not right. I’m angry. I’m hurt. I f****ing haven’t slept in two weeks,” Andrew said Monday.
Valentino Baker, a newborn baby, died while in government care. His parents say they have not been told what led to his death. (Courtesy Chyanna Baker)
Valentino’s death came a month after a report was published by the Representative for Children and Youth in BC, detailing the torturous death of an 11-year-old Indigenous boy in government care in 2023.
The minister at the time apologized to that family and committed to systemic change.
Despite those commitments, many say the circumstances in Valentino’s death are all too familiar.
“The kids are being taken away from their families still and they’re being thrown in these foster care systems, where they’ve been beaten as well, and in this case, where they’ve died,” said Lorelei Williams, founder, Butterflies in Spirit.
“We’re going to get answers. We’re going to find out what happened to baby Valentino. And until that day, I’m going to be standing here beside them. Forever,” added Latara Willier, Chyanna’s doula.
CityNews once again reached out to Minister of Children and Family Development Grace Lore Monday, but she did not get back to us before broadcast.
In a previous statement, Lore said she could not publicly comment on Valentino’s case in order to uphold confidentiality. The minister explained any time a child is hurt or dies in the care of the ministry, she expects the MCFD will take all the steps to support families.
“The death of a child is an unimaginable tragedy, and my thoughts are with this baby’s family and community,” added Lore.
–With files from Angela Bower and Aastha Pandey-Kanaan