Mamakwa McKay Inquest Continues this Week
- Posted by Shelby Percival
- Posted in BlogsNews
To watch the inquest live, click here.
The inquest into the deaths of Don Mamakwa and Marlon (Roland) McKay continue this week in Thunder Bay. Mamakwa died August 3, 2014, whereas McKay died July 20, 2017. Both died while in the custody of the Thunder Bay Police Service (“TBPS”). Falconers LLP partner Asha James and associate Amanda Micallef are representing the families of the two men.
The inquest will look at how racism, bias, and stereotyping may have been a factor in the paramedics and TBPS officers’ interactions with Mamakwa and McKay. It will also explore how to properly deal with individuals who are suspected to be intoxicated, and whether they should be taken into police custody.
Media Coverage:
TB NewsWatch (October 14, 2022) “Thunder Bay Police officer admits he ‘should have done better’ during arrest of Mamakwa”
TB NewsWatch (October 13, 2022) “Paramedics, police testify in Mamakwa and McKay inquest”
CTV News Northern Ontario (October 13, 2022) “How stereotypes led to the death of two Indigenous men in Thunder Bay police custody: expert”
The Globe and Mail (October 12, 2022) “Stereotypes seen in man’s treatment before he died in police custody, says expert witness”
Luke Turner CBC News (October 11, 2022) “Inquest for 2 First Nations men who died in police custody in Thunder Bay, Ont., begins today”
Related Postings:
https://falconers.ca/coroner-orders-video-showing-thunder-bay-polices-racist-mistreatment-of-third-indigenous-individual-to-be-shown-at-mamakwa-mckay-inquest/ – March 16, 2022
https://falconers.ca/mamakwa-mckay-inquest-to-consider-video-depicting-acts-proving-systemic-racism/ – January 14, 2021