Seven Fallen Feathers: Racism, Death, and Hard Truths in a Northern City [Paperback]

In 1966, twelve-year-old Chanie Wenjack froze to death on the railway tracks after running away from residential school. An inquest was called for and four recommendations were made to ensure the safety of indigenous students. None of those recommendations were applied.

More than a quarter of a century later, from 2000 to 2011, seven indigenous high school students died in Thunder Bay, Ontario. The seven were hundreds of miles away from their families, forced to leave home because there was no high school on their reserves. Five were found dead in the rivers surrounding Lake Superior, below a sacred indigenous site. Jordan Wabasse, a gentle boy and star hockey player, disappeared into the -20? Celsius night. The body of celebrated artist Norval Morrisseaus grandson, Kyle, was pulled from a river, as was Curran Strangs. Robyn Harper died in her boarding-house hallway and Paul Panacheese inexplicably collapsed on his kitchen floor. Reggie Bushies death finally prompted an inquest, seven years after the discovery of Jethro Anderson, the first boy whose body was found in the water. But it was the death of twelve-year-old Chanie Wenjack that foreshadowed the loss of the seven.

Using a sweeping narrative focusing on the lives of the students, award-winning investigative journalist Tanya Talaga delves into the history of this small northern city that has come to manifest Canadas long struggle with human rights violations against indigenous communities.

Its early April and the 2011 federal election is in full swing. All over Canada, Stephen Harpers Conservatives are duking it out with Jack Laytons New Democrats and the struggling Liberals in a bid to win a majority government.

Im in Thunder Bay, Ontario, to see Stan Beardy, the Nishawbe-Aski Nations grand chief, to interview him for a story on why it is indigenous people never seem to vote.

The receptionist at the NANs office greets me and ushers me into a large, common meeting rool,