The chief coroner in Ontario has called a joint inquest into the deaths of seven First Nations students.

The teens -- six males and one female -- died in Thunder Bay while attending school away from their reserves. The first death occurred in 2000 and the most recent death occurred about a year ago.

Dr. Andrew McCallum told CBC News that the teens "are First Nation youths who leave their home communities to receive an education. They're in a situation where they're isolated from their own communities, and they have passed away in circumstances that are similar, in that there are obviously complications involved."

The Nishnabe Aski Nation, which represents 49 First Nations, has been pushing for an inquest.

Get the Story:
Press Release: Chief Coroner Calls Joint Inquest Into The Deaths of Seven Aboriginal Youth in Thunder Bay (Chief Coroner 5/31)
Ontario calls joint inquest in aboriginal student deaths (CBC 53/1)

Related Stories:
First Nations request inquiry into deaths of students in Ontario (5/24)
Seven Native youth have died while at off-reserve school (5/16)