A 14-year-old from Neskantaga First Nation who was the subject of a missing persons search in recent days has been found deceased on Thunder Bay’s waterfront.
Neskantaga Chief Chris Moonias confirmed the death of Mackenzie (Nathan) Moonias in a statement issued by Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) on Monday afternoon.
The statement expressed condolences to Moonias’s family and friends, while raising potential concerns on behalf of NAN and Neskantaga’s leadership over the missing persons process and death investigation.
“Since her disappearance we have hoped and prayed that Mackenzie would be found safe and reunited with her family and friends. Tragically, our worst fears have been confirmed with the sad news of her tragic death today,” said NAN Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with her family, friends, and the Neskantaga community who are grieving this terrible loss so close to the holidays. They are our focus right now, but this disappearance has raised serious questions about the protocols and procedures around missing person investigations involving Indigenous youth.”
Mackenzie Moonias was last seen on Dec. 13 around 9 a.m. on University Drive. Her body was discovered Monday morning in the water near the Sleeping Giant Parkway, in the area of Marina Park.
The TBPS had issued a missing persons alert for Moonias on Saturday, just after 12:30 a.m., along with subsequent updates.
Chief Chris Moonias thanked volunteers and agencies that helped search for Mackenzie, who had travelled to Thunder Bay to attend school.
Referencing numerous deaths of First Nations youth in Thunder Bay between 2000 and 2011 that were the subject of the Seven Youth Inquest, Moonias called further deaths “unacceptable.”
FULL STORY: https://www.tbnewswatch.com/local-news/missing-neskantaga-teen-found-dead-in-thunder-bay-8000307
