Raven Thundersky, an advocate for people who suffered illness linked to vermiculite insulation, has died

Raven Thundersky, an advocate for people who suffered illness linked to vermiculite insulation, has died of mesothelioma cancer, which is associated with asbestos, said Raven-Dominique Gobeil, ThunderSky’s daughter. She was 50 years old. ThunderSky grew up on Poplar River First Nation, Man. in housing with asbestos-laced insulation and lost several family members to illnesses related to the product. In 2008, ThunderSky urged former prime minister Stephen Harper for an inquiry into Zonolite insulation. She was also critical of the settlement that came about from a lawsuit against the American company that produced the product. Her complaint was that it wouldn’t cover the cost of removing the insulation from the homes. Zonolite insulation was used in housing on military bases and on First Nations reserves.