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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Paper trail runs dry
Delores Chief Abigosis, centre in red, a social worker testified today at the Phoenix Sinclair Inquiry� Here she prepares to leave for a lunch break- See Carol Sanders story- November 26, 2012 (JOE BRYKSA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS)
Dolores Chief-Abigosis perfectly illustrates why social workers must take detailed and accurate notes of their case work.
She took over the Phoenix Sinclair file on Nov. 14, 2000. From that date until Feb. 5, 2001, there is no recorded contact between Chief-Abigosis and the family.
In testimony at the Phoenix Sinclair inquiry this week, the former social worker insisted she might have had more contact but not written it down. Her supervisors have testified it was standard social-work practice to note all contact.
Chief-Abigosis's shoddy note-taking was exacerbated by her lack of memory. She answered "I can't recall" 14 times in a 25-minute exchange with a lawyer.
Under questioning from commission counsel Derek Olson, Chief-Abigosis drew a blank on even minor matters.
Is there a reason why supervisor Lorna Hanson would have signed Samantha Kematch's closing file summary in your place, Olson asked.
"I can't recall."
"It's dated Aug. 16," he prompted. "Were you still at the agency?"
"I can't recall the exact date I left the agency," she replied.
(For the record, Chief-Abigosis left the agency in July 2001.)
In another exchange, Olson questioned Chief-Abigosis about her involvement with the family after Echo, Phoenix's younger sister, died.
If you attended the funeral, Olson asked, when after that did you stop actively working on files?
"I can't recall."
After the funeral, did you offer services to Sinclair, Olson asked.
"I can't recall."
"Were you still involved with the family after funeral?" he asked.
She was on paper duty. She said she remembered attending Echo's funeral. Does that help you remember when you resigned, Olson asked.
I can't recall exactly, she said.
-- Lindor Reynolds
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition December 1, 2012 A6
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About Lindor Reynolds
Lindor Reynolds began work at the Free Press as a 17-year-old proofreader. She was fired three weeks later.
Many years later, armed with a university education, she was hired as a columnist. During 16 years on the job she has managed to avoid being sacked again.
Lindor has received considerable recognition for her writing. Her awards include the Will Rogers Humanitarian Award, the National Society of Newspaper Columnists’ general interest award and the North American Travel Journalists Association award.
She has earned three nominations for the Michener Award and has been awarded a Distinguished Alumni commendation from the University of Winnipeg. Lindor was also named a YWCA Woman of Distinction.
She is married with four daughters.
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