THUNDER BAY — Wednesday marks the one-year anniversary of the death of Mackenzie Moonias.
A vigil was held by family at Marina Park near where the 14-year-old was found deceased on Dec. 18, 2023.
“It’s been one-year since Mackenzie’s death and still, there are no answers and there is no closure,” said Vanessa Sakanee, Mackenzie’s mother in a statement issued by Matawa.
“Despite this being an active and ongoing investigation, it doesn’t feel that way—we haven’t received so much as a courtesy update from the Thunder Bay Police Services since Dec. 23, 2023.
“This not how grieving families should be treated, it feels like we are being double-victimized.
"At the time of her death, our family provided valuable information on who she was with and other connected incidents that happened at the same time (and in the same area), and still, we do not know the circumstances surrounding her death.
"Our family will not give up on strongly seeking answers. My daughter deserves no less.”
The Inspectorate of Policing announced in October it was starting an investigation into how the Thunder Bay Police Service conducts death investigations.
The Assembly of First nations also called on the federal government earlier this month to launch a national inquiry into system racism in policing.
Mackenzie was from Neskantaga First Nation and had been in Thunder Bay to attend school.
She had been last seen on Dec. 13, 2023 around 9 a.m. on University Drive. Her body was discovered the morning of Dec. 18, 2023 in the water near the Sleeping Giant Parkway, in the area of Marina Park.
Thunder Bay police had issued a missing persons alert for Moonias on Dec. 16, 2023, just after 12:30 a.m., along with subsequent updates.
