THUNDER BAY – Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Deputy Grand Chief Terry Waboose, on behalf of the NAN Executive Council, today offered condolences to the family and friends of 15-year-old Jordan Wabasse, a missing youth from Webequie First Nation, whose body was discovered this week in the Kaministiquia River in Thunder Bay.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Jordan’s family, friends and his community at this difficult time and we join them in grieving their loss,” said NAN Deputy Grand Chief Terry Waboose, who also thanked the many volunteers and support of several police services who spent months searching for any trace of the youth. “Jordan will be remembered fondly for his love of life and especially his love of hockey, which he pursued with skill, dedication and passion.”
Jordan was reported missing on February 7, 2011. Tragically, he is the seventh NAN youth to perish under similar circumstances after relocating to Thunder Bay for schooling since 2000.
“While we do not yet know the full details regarding Jordan’s disappearance, we do know that youth from NAN territory often find themselves without an adequate network of social support in an unfamiliar environment after moving hundreds of miles away from home,” said Waboose, who holds the education portfolio at NAN. “Each of these deaths is a tragedy and they must stop. We demand that the governments of Ontario and Canada work with First Nation leaders and educators to ensure that adequate support services are in place for students who must travel away from home for secondary school and to work with us to develop education services in all First Nations that is on par with the rest of Canada.”