Joint inquest requested for student deaths

Nishnawbe Aski Nation has requested a joint inquest into the deaths of seven youth who died while attending high school in Thunder Bay.
“For years the families have asked for answers around the deaths of their children, and now NAN has requested that the chief coroner commence a joint inquest into the deaths of seven of our youth to help the families and their communities obtain the closure they so rightfully deserve,” said Deputy Grand Chief Terry Waboose. “Since the most recent deaths, apprehension and fears have grown across NAN First Nations as to the real cause of these tragedies.”
Jethro Anderson, 15, from Kasabonika Lake, died in 2000; Curran Strang, 18, from Pikangikum, died in 2005; Paul Panacheese, 19, from Mishkeegogamang, died in 2006; Robyn Harper, 18, from Keewaywin, died in 2007; Reggie Bushie, 15, from Poplar Hill, died in 2007; Kyle Morriseau, 17, from Keewaywin, died in 2009; and Jordan Wabasse, 15, from Webequie, died in 2011.
An inquest into the death of Reggie Bushie was scheduled for January 2009, but it was delayed after NAN and legal counsel for the Bushie family questioned the validity of the selection process for the jury.
“There is no reason that First Nations youth should be forced to travel hundreds of kilometres away from their families to simply attend high school,” said Julian Falconer, legal counsel for NAN. “First Nations families should be entitled to educate their children in their own community like any other family. An expanded inquest into each of the seven deaths will address serious community fears and will promote change aimed at addressing these shameful inequalities.”
Evidence on the validity of the jury roll was presented in July 2011 during pre-inquest hearings into Bushie’s death at the Superior Court of Justice in Thunder Bay.
The coroner then ruled in September 2011 that the 2011 jury roll was legally invalid and the inquest could not proceed.
Although hearings were scheduled for May 23 to look into the validity of the 2012 jury roll, the hearing was adjourned to allow the Chief Coroner of Ontario to consider NAN’s request for a joint inquest.
“We hope that a joint inquest will help us understand why so many of our children have died and what more can be done to protect our youth who are forced to move far from home in order to pursue their education,” Waboose said.
Meanwhile, a report on First Nation representation on Ontario jury rolls is expected this summer. The Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General appointed Frank Iacobucci, a former Supreme Court Justice, in August 2001 to inquire into and report on First Nation representation on Ontario jury rolls.