Ontario coroners told to communicate more with families as First Nations leader says failing to adds to grief
CBC
A First Nations leader in northern Ontario says a new recommendation from a government oversight body would bring the standard of care provided to grieving Indigenous families to a bare minimum if it's implemented.
The Death Investigation Oversight Council, charged with overseeing Ontario's chief coroner, has issued a non-binding recommendation for families to be advised when there's a change in the coroner leading a death investigation, according to documents shared with CBC News.
The recommendation was prompted by a father's search for answers after the 2017 death of his son in Thunder Bay, Ont.
It also speaks to a larger issue, according to Anna Betty Achneepineskum — that coroners do not consistently communicate regularly with Indigenous families living in remote communities when they are investigating the death of loved ones.
"It just adds to the grief and loss if [family members] don't know where or what's happening with their loved one, and why they died," said the deputy grand chief with the Nishnawbe Aski Nation, a political organization representing 49 First Nations across Treaty 9 in northern Ontario.
"We expect that an individual from Attawapiskat, from Fort Severn, Sandy Lake, Eabametoong, needs to be treated in the same way as if you were living in Toronto," she said.
The recommendation is the latest call for Ontario's chief coroner to improve communication and transparency with families, especially Indigenous people.