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THUNDER BAY, Ont. — There are several rivers associated with the deaths of the seven aboriginal young people who died in this city on Lake Superior over the course of almost 11 years.

A coroner’s inquest into all seven deaths is now proceeding before Dr. David Eden and a five-member jury.

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There is the McIntyre River, in or near where four boys (Curran Strang, 18, Reggie Bushie, 15, Kyle Morrisseau, 17, and Jordan Wabasse, 15) died. There is the Kaministiquia River, or The Kam, near which the body of another boy, Jethro Anderson, was discovered.

The names of these rivers fairly roll off the tongues of the lawyers and participants in the inquest.

But there’s another river running through this terrible story — alcohol — and even in these early days of a proceeding expected to last six months, it’s evident it causes discomfort.

All seven young people, the oldest of whom was 21-year-old Paul Panacheese, had been drinking before they died.