A heartfelt plea for the government to close the Thunder Bay Jail.
In the Ontario Legislature, Kiiwetinoong MPP Sol Mamakwa says a close relative is the latest aboriginal person to die while he was incarcerated.
“This includes my nephew. Kevin. He died three weeks ago while he was in custody at the Thunder Bay District Jail. Another young Indigenous man died at the same jail in recent weeks. 9 have died since 2002.
The NDP critic for Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation says “Like Kevin. These young people were our sons, our fathers and nephews. The Human Rights Commissioner, Coroners Inquests, the Grand Chief of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation, even my brother, have all called for this jail to close.”
Mamakwa stresses “How many more Indigenous people need to die at the Thunder Bay Jail before the government takes action to solve this crisis.”
Solicitor General Sylvia Jones says they have announced and re-announced a new jail in Thunder Bay, and they are in the process of local consultations.
Jones says they will share the findings of a report on Kevin Mamakwa’s death, when it’s completed.
The NDP is also outraged that Premier Doug Ford is seen walking out of the Legislature during Mamakwa’s question.
To watch the video visit https://www.dropbox.com/s/pc8vcv1rtphb2te/SolMamakwa06232020.mov?dl=0
(With Files from Tim Davidson)
