Caroline Doxtator, an octogenarian and residential school survivor, faced a betrayal that cut deeper than any past trauma. She discovered her only daughter, Ursula Doxtator, had stolen her $150,000 settlement intended for healing and acknowledgement.
The revelation was “gut-wrenching,” Caroline stated, a cruel twist that transformed a hopeful process into another source of agonizing pain. This wasn’t simply a financial loss; it was a violation of trust by the one person she’d raised to respect elders and cherish family.
Ursula, a former Oneida of the Thames First Nation band councillor, had been granted power of attorney over her mother’s affairs. She then quietly deposited the settlement cheque into her own account, concealing the act from Caroline.
The deception unfolded during a visit from Caroline, who was living in the United States. Ursula led her mother to the bank to open a joint account, anticipating the settlement funds. Unbeknownst to Caroline, the cheque was already secured – and diverted.
The truth emerged in September 2023, when Caroline inquired about the settlement. Ursula claimed it would be $50,000, but a bank check revealed the full amount – and the shocking reality that most of it was gone.
A glimmer of hope emerged in court. The Bank of Montreal, having frozen Ursula’s funds, initiated a “chargeback” of the $150,000, returning it to the settlement administrator. Caroline is now likely to receive the funds she was rightfully owed.
Ursula’s sentencing, however, has been delayed, awaiting a crucial Gladue report. These reports delve into the offender’s history, examining the impact of colonization, intergenerational trauma, and systemic factors.
The scarcity of Gladue report writers is creating significant backlogs. Sara Spencer, currently the sole writer serving a large region, faces a constant influx of requests, with wait times stretching four to five months. The system is overwhelmed.
Completing each report demands approximately 30 hours of intensive work – interviews, research, and detailed writing – alongside administrative duties and court appearances. The strain has even led to burnout, leaving the system further depleted.
Ursula’s report wasn’t even started until January and delivered in February, eleven months after her conviction. Her defence argued this delay violated her constitutional right to a speedy trial, potentially warranting a stay of proceedings.
The defence lawyer argued the delay wasn’t the court’s fault, but a direct consequence of insufficient funding for Gladue report writers. A conditional sentence, rather than jail time, was proposed.
The Crown countered, arguing the delay was the responsibility of the independent organization tasked with producing the reports, and advocated for a two-year jail sentence, characterizing Ursula’s actions as “elder abuse.”
Caroline Doxtator, speaking via Zoom, delivered a powerful victim impact statement. She described the devastation of losing her daughter’s trust, a wound that reopened old scars and shattered her sense of self-worth.
Her daughter had initially encouraged her to file the claim, promising acknowledgement of the pain she’d endured. Instead, Caroline experienced a profound betrayal, a cruel manipulation of her past trauma.
“It was not just a moment of disappointment, but the shattering of the trust and dignity I had worked so hard to claim,” she stated, her voice filled with sorrow. The sentencing hearing continues, leaving a community grappling with the complexities of justice and healing.
