As recommended by a provincial police watchdog, nine Indigenous deaths in Thunder Bay will be re-investigated.
The investigative team will include members of the Provincial Police, Thunder Bay Police and the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service.
Retired OPP Detective Superintendent Ken Leppert is leading the probe.
Ontario Chief Coroner Dirk Huyer says “The purpose is to have the best answers, to the highest quality that we can get to fully understand these deaths. For the families, the communities as well as those in nations outside of Thunder Bay.”
Huyer adds they will be starting from scratch.
“That will include, primarily at the start, reaching out to the families to understand additional questions the families may have, other areas that they feel have not been explored and then that will set the stage for what investigation needs to occur.”
Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler says “I know some of these families personally and I know they’ve suffered for a long time and this may the last opportunity for them to get the answers that they’ve been looking for.”
