Help needed for 'wounds being opened' at Thunder Bay inquest, chief says

The Assembly of First Nation's regional chief for Ontario is concerned that people affected by testimony at the First Nations student deaths inquest aren't getting the support they need.

The inquest is looking into the deaths of seven First Nations students from remote First Nations who died in Thunder Bay, Ont. between 2000 and 2011. It began in October and is scheduled to run until March.

Regional Chief Isadore Day said "a lot of wounds are being opened up" at the inquest and he questions if the process is "equipped to ensure people are safe" as they hear details about the deaths for the first time.

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Nishnawbe Aski Nation is providing supports for family members who attend the inquest in Thunder Bay or are called to testify.

"My understanding is that even though it is painful, even though it is difficult, it is providing some answers" to the families of students who died, said Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler.

Day said he is concerned about the ripple effect of the inquest in the remote First Nation communities as a whole and "to people just reacting to the opening of painful memories leading to potentially more social sensitivities and issues at the community level."

He mentioned suicide and violence as potential outcomes.

One former student who was scheduled to testify at the inquest on Monday via video conference from Pikangikum was unavailable as she had been flown out for medical treatment the night before. 

"There should be more resources, there should be more planning and more of a community-based connection," Day said. "The remoteness factor has a lot to do with the intensity of the hardships that some of these communities are going to go through in having to face the inquest and some of the truths that are going to come out."

The inquest remains a valuable process for revealing truths about the seven deaths, but the impact at the community and family levels can't be overlooked, he said.

The mother of Reggie Bushie, one of the students who died, is scheduled to testify on Tuesday.

Watch live streaming video from the First Nation student deaths inquest here.

Follow @cbcreporter on Twitter as she tweets from the inquest.