Inquest to Begin June 1 in Thunder Bay
The Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor General has announced a new date for the inquest into the death of Kevin Mamakwa, a 27-year-old member of Kingfisher Lake First Nation who died while in custody at the Thunder Bay Jail in 2020.
Dr. Kevin Miller, Regional Supervising Coroner for the North Region’s Thunder Bay Office, confirmed that the inquest will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, June 1, 2026, at 189 Red River Road in Thunder Bay.
The proceedings will be overseen by Dr. Michael Wilson, who will serve as the presiding officer. Kate Forget and Robert Kozak have been appointed as counsel for the inquest.
Mandatory Inquest Under Ontario’s Coroners Act
Mr. Mamakwa died on June 2, 2020, while in custody at the Thunder Bay Jail. Under Ontario’s Coroners Act, an inquest is mandatory when an individual dies while detained in a correctional facility.
The inquest process is intended to publicly examine the circumstances surrounding a death and identify potential measures that could help prevent similar incidents in the future.
According to the Ministry of the Solicitor General, the jury hearing the case may issue recommendations aimed at improving safety and preventing further deaths in custody.
Proceedings Expected to Last Nine Days
Officials said the inquest is expected to continue for approximately nine days and will hear testimony from around 15 witnesses.
The hearings are expected to focus on the events and conditions surrounding Mr. Mamakwa’s death while in provincial custody. Inquests do not determine criminal or civil liability, but instead serve a fact-finding role within Ontario’s coronial system.
The case has drawn attention to broader concerns surrounding the treatment and well-being of Indigenous individuals within the correctional system, particularly in Northern Ontario communities.
Public Access to Hearings Available Online
Members of the public will be able to follow the proceedings through a live stream made available online by the Office of the Chief Coroner.
The Ministry said access to the proceedings can be found through the following link:
Additional information about coroners’ inquests in Ontario is available through the provincial government’s website:
https://www.ontario.ca/page/coroners-inquests
Focus on Accountability and Prevention
Coroners’ inquests in Ontario are designed to provide transparency into deaths that occur in specific circumstances, including while individuals are in custody. Recommendations issued by juries are non-binding but are often directed at government agencies, institutions, or organizations involved in public safety and care.
The upcoming proceedings into Mr. Mamakwa’s death are expected to revisit questions surrounding custodial care, oversight, and the treatment of Indigenous detainees in Ontario’s correctional facilities.
The inquest represents another high-profile examination of deaths in custody in Northern Ontario, where advocacy groups and Indigenous leaders have repeatedly called for greater accountability and systemic reforms.