Inquiry into Thunder Bay Deaths of First Nations Youths

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NAN CALLS FOR COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO THE DEATHS OF
SEVEN NAN YOUTH IN THUNDER BAY

9/12/2011

THUNDER BAY, ON: Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Deputy Grand Chief Terry Waboose is calling on the Government of Ontario to call a Commission of Inquiry into the deaths of seven NAN youth who have died under similar circumstances since 2000 while attending school in Thunder Bay.

The call for a Commission of Inquiry comes in the wake of last week’s ruling by the coroner in the Bushie Inquest that the inquest cannot proceed as the 2011 jury roll is legally invalid.
“A Commission of Inquiry is the only way to fully investigate the circumstances surrounding these tragic deaths and to find ways to prevent similar tragedies from happening again,” said NAN Deputy Grand Chief Terry Waboose.

“Last week’s ruling confirms what we have suspected for years – that First Nations have been systematically excluded from the justice system. Even if an inquest into the death of Reggie Bushie could be convened, two more of our youth have died since 2007 and there is no inquest that is designed to address all seven deaths.”

Reggie Bushie, 15, died in 2007 while attending school at Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School in Thunder Bay. His body was recovered from the McIntyre River on November 1, 2007 and an inquest into his death was scheduled to begin in January 2009. The inquest was delayed, however, after NAN and legal counsel for the Bushie family questioned the validity of the selection process for the five-member jury.

While the death of Reggie Bushie was to be the focus of the inquest, the deaths of four other NAN youth who died in Thunder Bay under similar circumstances were to be considered as part of the overall context. Since then, two more NAN youth – Kyle Morriseau, 17, and Jordan Wabasse, 15 – have also died in Thunder Bay under similar circumstances.

“The patterns in these deaths are troubling and simply can’t be ignored. It is clear that if the truth is to come out about the deaths of these seven youth nothing short of a
Commission of Inquiry will suffice,” said Julian Falconer, NAN’s legal counsel. “Since 2008, it has become increasingly apparent that the problem of the systematic exclusion of First Nations from the justice system was far more serious than what the public were told. The truth is coming out and various proceedings are coming to a standstill. This makes the Iacobucci review all the more important. It is up to this government to provide First Nations
with a process that will credibly look at all seven deaths – the Inquest System can’t do it.”
On August 11, 2011, the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General announced the appointment of former Supreme Court Justice, the Honourable Frank Iacobucci, to inquire into and report on First Nation representation on Ontario jury rolls. The review will report on any relevant legislation and process including First Nations persons living on-reserve on the jury roll, from which potential jurors are selected for all jury trials and coroners’ inquests.

Nishnawbe Aski Nation is a political territorial organization representing 49 First Nation communities in James Bay Treaty No. 9 and Ontario portions of Treaty No. 5 – an area covering two thirds of the province of Ontario.
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For more information please contact:
Amy Harris, Director of Communications – Nishnawbe Aski Nation (807) 625-4906 or (807) 252-2806 cell or by email
aharris@nan.on.ca .
Dottie Goriah – Falconer-Charney LLP (416) 964-3408 ext. 243 or DottieG@falconercharney.com
For more information on the exclusion of First Nations from jury rolls:
http://fcbarristers.com/Falconer/index.html

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May 23, 2012
NAN REQUESTS JOINT INQUEST TO EXAMINE DEATHS OF SEVEN YOUTH

THUNDER BAY, ON: Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) has applied to the Chief Coroner of Ontario to have a joint inquest called into the deaths of seven NAN youth who have died under similar circumstances since 2000 while attending 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 NAN 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, a 15-year-old from Kasabonika Lake First Nation, drowned in the McIntyre River on November 11, 2000. His death was followed by: Curran Strang, 18, from Pikangikum First Nation; Paul Panacheese, 19, from Mishkeegogamang First Nation; Robyn Harper, 18, from Keewaywin First Nation; and Reggie Bushie, 15, from Poplar Hill First Nation.

An inquest into the death of Reggie Bushie was scheduled to begin in January 2009. And while his death was to be the focus of the inquest, the deaths of the four youth who died before him were to be considered as part of the overall context. The inquest was delayed, however, after NAN and legal counsel for the Bushie family questioned the validity of the selection process for the jury.

Since then, two more NAN youth have also died in Thunder Bay under similar circumstances. The body of Kyle Morriseau, a 17-year-old from Keewaywin First Nation, was found in the McIntyre River on November 10, 2009. The body of Jordan Wabasse, a 15-year-old from Webequie First Nation, was recovered from the Kaministiquia River on May 11, 2011.

“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. First Nations families should be entitled to educate their children in their own community like any other family,” said Julian Falconer,
NAN’s legal counsel. “An expanded Inquest into each of the seven deaths will address serious
community fears and will promote change aimed at addressing these shameful inequalities.”
Pre-inquest hearings into the death of Reggie Bushie were held at the Superior Court of Justice
in Thunder Bay in July 2011 where evidence on the jury roll was presented. In September 2011
the coroner ruled that the 2011 jury roll was legally invalid and that the inquest could not
proceed. A further hearing into the validity of the 2012 jury roll was to be heard on May 23,
2012; however, the hearing was adjourned to allow the Chief Coroner to consider NAN’s
request.

“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,” said Waboose.

Nishnawbe Aski Nation is a political territorial organization representing 49 First Nation
communities in James Bay Treaty No. 9 and Ontario portions of Treaty No. 5 – an area covering
two thirds of the province of Ontario in Canada.

For more information please contact Christina Filazzola, Communications Officer – Nishnawbe Aski Nation
(807)625-4928 or cell (807) 251-6386 or by email cfilazzola@nan.on.ca.
Dottie Goriah – Falconer-Charney LLP (416) 964-3408 ext. 243 or DottieG@falconercharney.com

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Turtle Island Native Network
http://www.turtleisland.org

May 31st, 2012

Ontario's Chief Coroner announced a joint inquest into the deaths of seven Aboriginal youth in Thunder Bay. All seven students died after leaving their home communities to pursue secondary education in Thunder Bay.
Jethro Anderson of Kasabonika Lake First Nation, who died on or about November 11, 2000 at age 15;
Reggie Bushie of Poplar Hill First Nation, who died on or about November 1, 2007 at age 15; Robyn Harper of Keewaywin First Nation, who died on January 13, 2007 at age 19;
Kyle Morrisseau of Keewaywin First Nation, who died on or about November 10, 2009 at age 17;
Paul Panacheese of Mishkeegogamang First Nation, who died on November 11, 2006 at age 21; Curran Strang of Pikangikum First Nation, who died on or about September 26, 2005 at age 18; and
Jordan Wabasse of Webequie First Nation, who died on or about May 10, 2011 at age 15. The

Office of the Chief Coroner called an inquest into the death of Reggie Bushie in January 2009.

"In consultation with Nishnawbe Aski Nation, the Chief Coroner is now expanding the discretionary inquest to include all seven deaths, due to the similar circumstances which surrounded them."

An inquest jury may be able to make recommendations aimed at preventing further deaths among students from remote northern communities. Stay tuned for details regarding the date and location of the inquest.
- - -

Previously reported by Turtle Island Native Network
May 23rd, 2012 - "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."

Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Deputy Grand Chief Terry Waboose was commenting on NAN's application to the Chief Coroner of Ontario, to have a joint inquest called into the deaths of seven NAN youth who have died under similar circumstances since 2000 while attending 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 the NAN Deputy Grand Chief.

"Since the most recent deaths, apprehension and fears have grown across NAN First Nations as to the real cause of these tragedies."

Jethro Anderson, a 15-year-old from Kasabonika Lake First Nation, drowned in the McIntyre River on November 11, 2000. His death was followed by: Curran Strang, 18, from Pikangikum First Nation; Paul Panacheese, 19, from Mishkeegogamang First Nation; Robyn Harper, 18, from Keewaywin First Nation; and Reggie Bushie, 15, from Poplar Hill First Nation.

An inquest into the death of Reggie Bushie was scheduled to begin in January 2009. And while his death was to be the focus of the inquest, the deaths of the four youth who died before him were to be considered as part of the overall context. The inquest was delayed, however, after NAN and legal counsel for the Bushie family questioned the validity of the selection process for the jury. Since then, two more NAN youth have also died in Thunder Bay under similar circumstances. The body of Kyle Morriseau, a 17-year-old from Keewaywin First Nation, was found in the McIntyre River on November 10, 2009. The body of Jordan Wabasse, a 15-year-old from Webequie First Nation, was recovered from the Kaministiquia River on May 11, 2011.

"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. First Nations families should be entitled to educate their children in their own community like any other family," said Julian Falconer, NAN's legal counsel.

"An expanded Inquest into each of the seven deaths will address serious community fears and will promote change aimed at addressing these shameful inequalities."

Pre-inquest hearings into the death of Reggie Bushie were held at the Superior Court of Justice in Thunder Bay in July 2011 where evidence on the jury roll was presented. In September 2011 the coroner ruled that the 2011 jury roll was legally invalid and that the inquest could not proceed. A further hearing into the validity of the 2012 jury roll was to be heard on May 23, 2012; however, the hearing was adjourned to allow the Chief Coroner to consider NAN's request.

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Chief Coroner Provides Further Details On Joint Inquest Into The Deaths Of Seven Aboriginal Youth In Thunder Bay

August 30, 2012

Dr. Andrew McCallum, Chief Coroner for Ontario, today announced the appointment of the Presiding Coroner and Coroner's Counsel for the joint inquest into the deaths of seven First Nations youths who died after leaving their remote home communities to pursue secondary education in Thunder Bay.
The presiding coroner will be Dr. David Eden, Regional Supervising Coroner for Operations. Coroner's Counsel will be Ms. Karen Shea, Assistant Crown Attorney for Hamilton, and Mr. Trevor Jukes, Assistant Crown Attorney for Thunder Bay. The inquest is expected to begin in the spring of 2013. Further details will follow as they become available.

Background:

Jethro Anderson of Kasabonika Lake First Nation, died on or about November 11, 2000 at age 15;

Reggie Bushie of Poplar Hill First Nation, died on or about November 1, 2007 at age 15;

Robyn Harper of Keewaywin First Nation, died on January 13, 2007 at age 19;

Kyle Morrisseau of Keewaywin First Nation, died on or about November 10, 2009 at age 17;

Paul Panacheese of Mishkeegogamang First Nation, died on November 11, 2006 at age 21;

Curran Strang of Pikangikum First Nation, died on or about September 26, 2005 at age 18; and

Jordan Wabasse of Webequie First Nation, died on or about May 10, 2011 at age 15.


The Office of the Chief Coroner called an inquest into the death of Reggie Bushie in January 2009. In consultation with Nishnawbe Aski Nation, the Chief Coroner has expanded the discretionary inquest to include all seven deaths, due to the similar circumstances which surrounded them.
An inquest jury may be able to make recommendations aimed at preventing further deaths among students from remote northern communities.

Details regarding the date and location of the inquest will be announced when the information becomes available.

CONTACTS
Jennifer Kerr
Office of the Chief Coroner & Forensic Pathology Service
416-314-4005



Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services
ontario.ca/safety