THUNDER BAY – (Updated – Added Video) If anyone South of Thunder Bay is reading this, please think a moment about a missing 15-year -old boy named Jordan Wabasse from Webequie who is going to high school in Thunder Bay.
This is Day 9 of his absence, and it’s quickly moving into Day 10. I visited the Search Headquarters in Thunder Bay while on my way home from another workshop in a school in Sioux Lookout.
I’m frustrated that there isn’t a wider interest in this boy’s life.
The people from Webequie are very generous people. They are patient people. They are too polite to wonder why no one’s interested in yet another native teen who’s come south, and couldn’t handle the hussle and bussle of a big southern city.
I’m no longer going to be patient, or polite.
I’m getting past frustrated for the family, and community members who are desperately hoping that Jordan is alive somewhere.
He’s a good kid. He likes hockey. That’s why he came south, to have better opportunities.
He’s a good artist. He’s big for his age, and may look older, except when he smiles.
Then he’s just a sweet, shy kid.
He’s good with digital arts. One of his pieces is going to be in a picture book- a companion piece to a documentary that was shot about him, and his fellow students and their struggles to get past the challenges they face in a remote community.
I’m shouting out these details so that he has a face for the people in the South who don’t know him. If they knew him, they’d be looking in bus and train stations in Toronto, Winnipeg, Timmins. They’d be searching in sub zero temperature in the back alleys, too.
Go to Facebook. There is a page about him, with up-dates and pictures. Visit his relations. Get to know him. Spread the word. Visit the Facebook page.
If anyone in Thunder Bay is reading this, please drop off a donation of a Gas Card or cash to the family at The Divinci Centre – 340 Waterloo s Thunder Bay, P7E 5L5 – (807) 623-2415 . They keep careful records and are giving back receipts. There are a lot of community members out there on foot, knocking on doors, and searching sheds, garages, any place where he may be sheltering.
He’s a really good kid. This is uncharacteristic of him.
There’s also a Sacred Fire at the Best Western Nor’Wester if you’d like to offer tobacco.
My prayers and thoughts are with you all in Webequie, and sister communities.
Cathy Elliot
Get to know about Webiquie: In this video at the 4:07 to 4:12 is a clip with Jordan Wabasse.
If you would like to re-publish this article on your website, or print it out, please do so. The goal here is getting the information out as wide as possible, and as quickly as possible.
