An inquiry has been initiated into the passing of a 27-year-old individual hailing from Kingfisher Lake First Nation five years ago, who happened to be the nephew of a member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament (MPP). Kevin Mamakwa passed away on June 2, 2020, while being detained at the Thunder Bay Jail. Sol Mamakwa, the NDP MPP for Kiiwetinoong, revealed the deceased’s relationship shortly after and demanded the closure of the jail due to safety issues.
Sol Mamakwa expressed to CBC News in June 2020 that the Thunder Bay Jail operates like a facility that generates broken Indigenous individuals, dehumanizing the young men within and posing risks to both inmates and staff. Inquests become mandatory under the Coroners Act when an individual dies while in custody.
Witnesses will be summoned to provide details on the circumstances surrounding Kevin Mamakwa’s demise. Following that, a five-person jury will be responsible for determining the identity of the deceased, the time and location of death, the medical cause of death, and the manner in which death occurred. The jurors will also categorize the death as resulting from natural causes, accident, homicide, suicide, or remain undetermined.
The date and location of the proceedings are yet to be disclosed. Meanwhile, the construction of the new Thunder Bay Correctional Complex, set to replace both the Thunder Bay Jail and Thunder Bay Correctional Centre, is ongoing. The 345-bed facility is anticipated to open in November 2026.
Kingfisher Lake First Nation, situated in Treaty 9 territory about 350 kilometers north of Sioux Lookout, is a remote Oji-Cree community with fewer than 600 residents. In a June 2020 interview on CBC’s “Superior Morning,” Sol Mamakwa described his nephew as highly active in sports but also struggling with mental health and addiction challenges.
