KENORA, Ont. – Family and friends of Azraya Ackabee-Kokopenace will gather Monday in Kenora to demand justice for the 14-year-old girl.
The Grassy Narrows First Nation teen was found dead on April 17, 2016 across from Lake of the Woods District Hospital, from which she’d recently been released. To date no cause of death has been given by the Office of the Coroner, which the girl’s supporters say has created “drastic uncertainty, suspicion and unease.”
They’re calling for an inquest into her death, a demand they say is backed by Grand Council Treaty 3 Chief Warren White, Grassy Narrows First Nation Chief Simon Fobister and Chiefs of Ontario’s Isadore Day, as well as the Grassy Narrows Youth Organization.
The vigil is scheduled to begin on Monday at 4 p.m. CDT with a news conference, at which Kenora’s NDP MPP Sarah Campbell is scheduled to speak out against the delay of a coroner’s inquest into Azraya Ackabee-Kopenance’s death.
The girl’s father, Marlin Kokopenace and her twin brother Braeden Kokopenace are also expected to speak.
The vigil will be held at Kenora’s Knox United Church.
