Ont. child advocate seeks review of scope of First Nations students inquest
"This is not about politics, nor is it about laying blame" says Irwin Elman, Ontario's child adovcate
The Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth wants a judicial review of the presiding coroner's decisionon the scope of the inquest into the deaths of seven First Nations students in Thunder Bay.
Irwin Elman said he is "most disappointed" that the coroner will not receive evidence of racism and its effects on the mental health and well-being of the seven young people, aged 15 to 21.
They were all living away from their families and remote communities, in order to attend high school in Thunder Bay.
"The language of racism is real to First Nations young people. This is not about politics, nor is it about laying blame for young people," Elman said in a release.
Racism is real in every facet of their lives, stated Elman.
"And to rule it out of this inquest is to rule out the realities lived by the seven youth who died and the realities that continue to exist for First Nations youth who are watching and waiting for all of us to make change" he wrote.
Elman said he asking his legal counsel to seek a judicial review of the coroner's decision.
"We owe it to the deceased and their families to ensure that the factors and conditions that may have contributed to their deaths are examined," said Elman in a written statement.
"This includes the ugliness of racism."