The joint inquest into the deaths of seven Nishnawbe Aski Nation high school students in Thunder Bay since 2000 is scheduled to start in the spring of 2013.
Ontario’s chief coroner, Dr. Andrew McCallum, made the announcement on Aug. 30.
McCallum also announced that the presiding coroner and coroner’s counsel have been appointed for the joint inquest.
Dr. David Eden, regional supervising coroner for operations, will be the presiding coroner and Karen Shea, assistant crown attorney for Hamilton, and Trevor Jukes, assistant crown attorney for Thunder Bay, will be the coroner’s counsel.
Seven youths died between 2000-2013 while attending high school in Thunder Bay. All seven were from a remote northern First Nations.
The Office of the Chief Coroner called for an inquest into the death of Reggie Bushie in January 2009 but after consultation with Nishnawbe Aski Nation, the inquest was expanded to include all seven deaths, due to their similar circumstances.
The seven students who passed away while pursuing their secondary education in Thunder Bay are: Jethro Anderson of Kasabonika Lake; Reggie Bushie of Poplar Hill; Robyn Harper of Keewaywin; Kyle Morrisseau of Keewaywin; Paul Panacheese of Mishkeegogamang; Curran Strang of Pikangikum; and Jordan Wabasse of Webequie.
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