Inquest must examine root causes of youth deaths: Regional Chief

Chiefs of Ontario (COO) says it will do its part to ensure that the inquest into the deaths of seven Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) youth who died while attending school in Thunder Bay examines the root causes and arrives at meaningful and realistic recommendations.
On June 11 COO was granted status to participate in the inquest, along with NAN, Northern Nishnawbe Education Council, a representative of the families of six of the deceased youth and other organizations.
“This inquest is essential to the protection of the lives of First Nation youths and in the protection of their right to access education in the same way as Canadian youth,” stated Regional Chief Stan Beardy.
Beardy said that COO fully supports NAN’s participation in the inquest, as the youth all came from NAN communities.
He added, however, that the deaths raise issues that are common to all First Nations in Ontario, and that there is a “critical need” to cut through the red tape of governments to ensure First Nation youth get the help and support they deserve.
“We continue to support the families and communities of those youth who are the subject of the inquest. Nothing will return them to their families,” Beardy said. “However, if the inquest is inclusive and broad in scope, there will be a legacy of real change for future generations in all of our First Nations in Ontario.”
The June 11 hearing, which was the first step in the inquest, established which organizations would be given standing.
No date for the start of the actual inquest has yet been set.
Ontario’s regional supervising coroner for the north region, Michael Wilson, said the investigation phase of the inquest is still ongoing.
“The (inquest’s) scope will also dictate what further investigation needs to be done,” Wilson said. “That scope, I anticipate, will be set in collaborative fashion.”
Wilson said the inquest will be held in Thunder Bay at a site yet to be determined, noting the new court house “is under serious consideration as a venue.”