Why have 10 indigenous people -- the majority of them teenagers -- been found dead in Thunder Bay, Ont. since 2000, seven of their bodies washing up in local rivers? And what have police done to investigate the deaths?
Those questions are at the heart of serious concerns voiced by First Nations chiefs in the region, who have accused Thunder Bay police of not thoroughly investigating the deaths because the victims were indigenous.
As Rainy River First Nation Chief Jim Leonard put it Wednesday: 鈥淚鈥檒l be blunt here. It鈥檚 just a case of finding another dead, drunk Indian rolled in the water.鈥�
Leonard and two other chiefs spoke at Ontario鈥檚 legislature in Toronto to demand that the RCMP step in to investigate the deaths of two teenagers found dead in McIntyre River in May.
The bodies of five other indigenous people have been found in rivers in the city since 2000.
The chiefs also called for more oversight of Thunder Bay Police Services Board, which they allege does not take their complaints seriously.
The Thunder Bay Police Services Board said it recognizes systemic racism, but it takes issue with 鈥渟ome of the factual assertions鈥� put forward by the chiefs.
"A police service cannot cure systemic racism. We accept that our service has a role to play," the board said in
The chiefs鈥� demands on Wednesday stem from a long and complicated relationship between First Nations communities and police in the northern region. Here is some background on the issue.
Lawyer: 鈥楴o one knows what鈥檚 actually going on at the rivers鈥�
Since 2000, nine indigenous youth and one adult have been found dead in Thunder Bay. Most recently, Tammy Keeash, 17, and Josiah Begg, 14, were both found dead in McIntyre River.
Keeash was being cared for at a Thunder Bay group home when she disappeared. Her body was pulled from the water seven hours after she was reported missing.
Begg, from Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nation, was found in the same river a few days later. He disappeared the same night as Keeash, on May 6, and his body was found 12 days later.
The Thunder Bay Police Service responded to the deaths in a statement on May 18, saying that both investigations were 鈥渆xtensive.鈥�
鈥淭his is not the time for pointing fingers. It is the time to join hands and work towards our common goals of finding answers,鈥�
In October 2015, the body of Stacy DeBungee, 41, was pulled from the same river. A lawyer representing DeBungee鈥檚 family says the man鈥檚 death was deemed not suspicious three hours after his body was found.
A complaint was filed by DeBungee鈥檚 family to the Office of the Independent Police Review Director. It has since been expanded to include the deaths of Keeash and Begg.
Lawyer Julian Falconer accused Thunder Bay Police of ruling out foul play too quickly.
鈥淣o one knows what鈥檚 actually going on at the rivers. How do you lose this many people in a community the size of Thunder Bay?鈥� Falconer told CTV News Channel on Wednesday.
Between 2000 and 2011, seven other aboriginal youth died in Thunder Bay after they moved from remote communities to attend high school in the city.
The victims included Jethro Anderson, 15, Curran Strang, 18, Robyn Harper, 19, Paul Panacheese, 21, Reggie Bushie, 15, Kyle Morrisseau, 17 and 15-year-old Jordan Wabasse.
Of those seven victims, five of their bodies were pulled from the McIntyre River and the Kaministiquia River.
An inquest looked into the seven deaths and included testimony from more than 200 witnesses. It also put intense scrutiny on the actions of Thunder Bay Police regarding the deaths.
According to Falconer, the inquest found that the causes of three of the river deaths, despite being deemed accidental by police, were found to be 鈥渦ndetermined.鈥�
鈥淔rankly there is a complete policing crisis in Thunder Bay, and what鈥檚 necessary is for the outside governing bodies to step in and get this thing under control,鈥� he said.
Police chief under investigation
Meanwhile, the city鈥檚 police chief is after a five-month investigation by Ontario Provincial Police.
The OPP says J.P. Levesque, 53, was charged last week. Particular details of the allegations have not been revealed.
The OPP says the RCMP contacted them in January to request an independent investigation.
A lawyer for the police chief said Levesque is "a person of outstanding good character" and that he looks forward "to fully responding to the allegations against him."
The charges against the police chief add to the sense of distrust surrounding Thunder Bay law enforcement, Falconer said.
Levesque is scheduled to appear in court June 13.
With files from the Canadian Press
