Search for 2 missing aboriginal mothers intensifies

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 24 Oktober 2013 | 21.48

The search has intensified for two aboriginal mothers missing from the Kitigan Zibi reserve in western Quebec.

Nicole Hannah Whiteduck, 31, and Laura Spence, 32, were last seen on the reserve in Maniwaki, Que., about 130 kilometres north of Ottawa, on Sunday morning.

The women, who are good friends, have brown hair. Whiteduck also has a tattoo on her left shoulder.

Spence is a mother of four, including a three-month-old.

The pair had gone out the night before their disappearance, according to Spence's mother, Bridget Tolley. She also said they left their money, wallets and cellphones at home.

Tolley, also the founder of Families of Sisters in Spirit, said she only became suspicious on Tuesday morning when she had not heard from her daughter.

On Wednesday night, a group gathered at Parliament Hill to search through downtown Ottawa for the women.

Kitigan Zibi Chief Gilbert Whiteduck also said the reserve is considering a helicopter flyover Thursday to determine whether the women's brown Venture van was stuck in the area.

 "The importance is these young women being reunited. That's it, that's all, reunited with their family," said Whiteduck. 

The chief said he would also meet with a professional search and rescue team to see if they could do a ground search with ATVs.

Police said Whiteduck had received a $1,000 cheque on Oct. 17 and already had a cheque for $10,000 in hand. She had cashed the cheques and went out partying with Spence over last weekend, said Gorden McGregor, director of the Kitigan Zibi Police Force.

A Facebook page has been created to help the search for the women and officers have already spoken to families and witnesses on the reserve, McGregor added.

The women's disappearance comes about a week after James Anaya, the UN special rapporteur on the rights of indigenous people, called on the federal government to launch a "comprehensive and nationwide" inquiry into the case of missing and murdered aboriginal women. 

afn-cp-large

Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation Chief Gilbert Whiteduck, left, says the reserve is ready to heighten its search efforts for two women. ((Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press))

This summer, Canada's provinces also issued a joint call for a full inquiry. The federal NDP and Liberals have also requested this, but the government has yet to agree.

The Native Women's Association of Canada estimates there are more than 600 missing and murdered First Nations women across the country. 

Two aboriginal women — Shannon Alexander and Maisy Odjick — disappeared from Maniwaki more than five years ago. They have not been heard from since.

Quebec provincial police officers in Montreal say the investigation into their disappearance remains open.


Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang

Search for 2 missing aboriginal mothers intensifies

Dengan url

http://topstorinfo.blogspot.com/2013/10/search-for-2-missing-aboriginal-mothers.html

Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya

Search for 2 missing aboriginal mothers intensifies

namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link

Search for 2 missing aboriginal mothers intensifies

sebagai sumbernya

0 komentar:

Posting Komentar

techieblogger.com Techie Blogger Techie Blogger