First Nation student death inquest asked to examine racism

Nishnawbe Aski Nation wants a coroner's inquest into the deaths of seven of its students in Thunder Bay to include an examination of the impact of racism in the city and the quality of the local police investigations.

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That request will be made onTuesday during a hearing in Thunder Bay to examine the scope of the inquest.

It's the next step in the long-awaited inquest into the deaths of Jethro Anderson, 15, Curran Strang, 18, Paul Panacheese, 19, Robyn Harper, 18, Reggie Bushie, 15, Kyle Morriseau, 17 and Jordan Wabasse, 15. All of the teens were from remote First Nations andin Thunder Bay to attend high school at the time of their deaths.

The inquest was first called in 2012, but has been beset with delays including problems with Aboriginal representation on the jury roll.