First Nations student deaths inquest hears from mother of Paul Panacheese
The inquest is looking into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of seven young people between the ages of 15 and 21, all of whom came to Thunder Bay from remote First Nations in northern Ontario to attend high school.
Their deaths occurred between 2000 and 2011.
- First Nations student deaths inquest; family member speaks out
- First Nations student deaths inquest hears from education authority
- First Nations student deaths inquest in Thunder Bay hears arguments about alcohol
- First Nations student deaths inquest: 5 questions it may answer
The first days of two days of testimony were taken up with pathology and toxicology reports for all seven deaths, information about the First Nations education authority that runs the school that six of the seven students attended, and a tour of that school.
On Thursday, Maryanne Panacheese, the mother of 21-year-old Paul Panacheese, who died in 2006, was expected to testify.
Here is a look at the some of the proceedings on Thursday from the CBC reporter in the courtroom.
Follow @cbcreporter on Twitter for the latest.
Day 4 of First Nations student death inquest begins with cross examination of high school principal Jonathan Kakegamic <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbctb?src=hash">#cbctb</a>
—@cbcreporterMost family members have returned home to their remote First Nations. They'll be back at various points throughout 6-month inquest <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbctb?src=hash">#cbctb</a>
—@cbcreporterLawyer questions Kakegamic about special room at high school used to care for students who are found intoxicated <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbctb?src=hash">#cbctb</a>
—@cbcreporter'They drink because they are hurting,' Kakegamic says. 'When you have a youth drinking Tues. aft., he's drinking to cope' <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbctb?src=hash">#cbctb</a>
—@cbcreporterLawyer Chantelle Bryson asks whether the high school has a good relationship with EMS. Coroner says question inappropriate <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbctb?src=hash">#cbctb</a>
—@cbcreporterMaryanne Panacheese, mother of Paul, who died at 21, now taking stand <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbctb?src=hash">#cbctb</a>
—@cbcreporter'I appreciate your courage in speaking to us today,' Coroner tells Maryanne Panacheese. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbctb?src=hash">#cbctb</a>
—@cbcreporterMother says her son, Paul Panacheese lived in 10 different boarding homes in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/tbay?src=hash">#tbay</a> while trying to finish school <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbctb?src=hash">#cbctb</a>
—@cbcreporter'Sometimes he said that they were made fun of, that eggs were thrown at them,' Panacheese says of what son told her of city life <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbctb?src=hash">#cbctb</a>
—@cbcreporter'I moved to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/tbay?src=hash">#tbay</a> because I wanted to be with my boy and look after him myself,' Panacheese says <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbctb?src=hash">#cbctb</a>
—@cbcreporterMother Maryanne Panacheese breaks down when asked about son's final moments. Coroner calls for a break <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbctb?src=hash">#cbctb</a>
—@cbcreporterRaw, emotional testimony after the break, even some lawyers wiping their eyes <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbctb?src=hash">#cbctb</a>
—@cbcreporterPanacheese describes he son's last words to her after coming home from being out with friends 'mom, I'm home now' <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbctb?src=hash">#cbctb</a>
—@cbcreporterPanacheese says she went to bed and then heard her son collapse on the floor in the kitchen <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbctb?src=hash">#cbctb</a>
—@cbcreporter'I tried to wake him up, I said Paul get up, go sleep in your bed or on the couch,' Panacheese says of her son.
—@cbcreporter'Something has happened to my son' she remembers telling 911 operator. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbctb?src=hash">#cbctb</a>
—@cbcreporterAutopsy in evidence earlier shows no physical or toxicological cause of Paul's death, likely a rare, hereditary heart problem <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbctb?src=hash">#cbctb</a>
—@cbcreporterPanacheese under cross examination, says she went to Indian Residential school near Sioux Lookout, didn't want Paul to go there <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbctb?src=hash">#cbctb</a>
—@cbcreporter'Paul respected me. He never said any bad words to me. He always tried to do what I say' Panacheese says <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbctb?src=hash">#cbctb</a>
—@cbcreporterSmall smile from Maryanne when she answers question about what son Paul liked to eat: fish, moose meat, bannock <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbctb?src=hash">#cbctb</a>
—@cbcreporterLawyer Chantelle Bryson asks about Paul's reports to mom about having eggs thrown at him and 'other incidents of racism' 1/2
—@cbcreporterCoroner intercedes 'that presupposes that every incident of egg throwing is an an act of racism' <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbctb?src=hash">#cbctb</a>
—@cbcreporter'You've waited many years for this, we can wait for you' lawyer Julian Falconer tells Maryanne Panacheese as she struggles to speak <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbctb?src=hash">#cbctb</a>
—@cbcreporter'I told him just to co-exist with non-natives, that's the way it has got to be,' Panacheese says about advice she gave to her son <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbctb?src=hash">#cbctb</a>
—@cbcreporter'I told him not to say bad things or treat anybody bad that's not his race,' Panacheese says. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbctb?src=hash">#cbctb</a>
—@cbcreporterAfter eggs were thrown at her son in the city, Panacheese says she told him not to respond to negative attitudes of others <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbctb?src=hash">#cbctb</a>
—@cbcreporter'I have enormous respect for you to be able to come here and tell us about your son,' coroner says as Panacheese wraps up testimony <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbctb?src=hash">#cbctb</a>
—@cbcreporterNext witness, is testifying remotely via video hook-up. Court staff struggles to get audio working. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbctb?src=hash">#cbctb</a>
—@cbcreporterKira Kaminawish testifying remotely, says she was Paul's girlfriend in 2005/06. Says Paul used ecstasy, Percocet and cocaine <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbctb?src=hash">#cbctb</a>
—@cbcreporterKaminawish says there were no drugs or drinking at her boyfriend Paul Panacheese's mom's house <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbctb?src=hash">#cbctb</a>
—@cbcreporterRicher Keesickquayash, cousin to Paul Panacheese, testifying now from Mishkeegogamang First Nation. 'He was a good guy' <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbctb?src=hash">#cbctb</a>
—@cbcreporterRicher says he was there in 2006, the night Paul died. 'I tried to perform CPR, but I was just in shock' <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbctb?src=hash">#cbctb</a>
—@cbcreporterRicher, who lived with Paul Panacheese says 'not much' in response to question about whether Paul was involved with drugs or alcohol <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbctb?src=hash">#cbctb</a>
—@cbcreporterFound these at the courthouse. Made by students at First Nations high school talked about at inquest <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbctb?src=hash">#cbctb</a> <a href="http://t.co/QoDmJFb028">pic.twitter.com/QoDmJFb028</a>
—@cbcreporterBeside this special room NOT being used for the inquest into First Nation student deaths <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbctb?src=hash">#cbctb</a> <a href="http://t.co/pGMIxIA0Mz">pic.twitter.com/pGMIxIA0Mz</a>
—@cbcreporter