Foster parents demand fatality inquiry

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The foster parents of an Indian child ho died of a gunshot are demanding the provincial government hold a fatality inquiry.

Suzanne and Barry Gibbons, former foster parents of 12 year old Ernest Thunder, have heard conflicting reports of his recent death.

Thunder died as a result of a bullet would from a 303 Winchester, a world war two rifle. A local High Prairie newspaper report that the twelve year old died while unloading meat from a canoe. He was alone at the time.

"I don't blame one person, I would just like to know the details. I think when children and firearms are used and a fatality happens, answers should be given," says Suzanne Gibbons.

"He's (Ernest) always been very outdoorsy. He belonged to cub scouts. He loved camping, fishing. He wasn't raised with rifles. I don't know if he would be able to handle a rifle.

"My father says its a big rifle and it (303 Winchester) gives quite a kick," says Gibbons.

Thunder had been in the couple's care for eight years. Two years ago the couple lost the boy to repatriation.

Now they are demanding some answers and have sent a letter to Attorney General Ken Rostad.

"My husband and I meaning to do with this inquiry. Repatriation kids are almost like an experiment," says Gibbons, adding that parents do not know what to expect.

The couple from Olds, Alberta had taken care of Ernest and his sister Bernadine for eight years. Two years ago they had to give the two children up to his natural family in Whitefish Lake.

"We raised him since he was a little boy. We didn't have any of our won children at the time. When they came to live with us they stole our hears. We lost him two years ago to repatriation. We fought against it. We went to court and lost."

A week after Ernest's death, the Gibbons family found out that he had passed away.

They went to see the grave and their former foster daughter Bernadine.

High Prairie RCMP have will complete investigations in early November. The attorney general's office will decide then if they will hold an inquiry into the death of the young boy.