Kitchenuhmaykoosib First Nation – THUNDER BAY – Jordan Wabasse has now been missing for almost a month. The missing Webequie First Nations teenager, last seen on February 7th, just after getting off of a Thunder Bay Transit Bus in Westfort in Thunder Bay remains in the hearts and minds of First Nations across the entire region. Peggy Rae Beardy says, “The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do”.
Peggy and Danny Sakakeep are embarking on a 500km walk from KI First Nation, by winter road to Webequie First Nation to help raise awareness of Jordan Wabasse, and to raise funds to help find the missing youth.
Peggy says, “So that other people like me can put in their time to help” is one of the goals of the walk. Across the North, in the small communities people have come together in unity to help find Jordan.
Danny says, “Me and Peggy would like all the communities to get united and join us in a candlelight vigil every night at 10 PM Eastern/9 PM Central. So wherever you are, please take a few moments a light a candle at the time mentioned above. So get together in your community and share a moment of silence and prayer for the family, our safety on our journey, and the safe return of Jordan Wabasse. Upload pictures of your vigil and share them with everyone else. So when we are on the winter road, we will be lighting our candles for a few moments and have a prayer, on behalf of Bernice, Derek and family.
The journey offers people across the North, in Thunder Bay, and across Canada the opportunity to see how much people are caring and how concerned they are over the young people who come to Thunder Bay to continue their education. “I couldn’t help but think of the Wabasse Family again”, shares Peggy. “I doubt they’ll ever leave my mind. It doesn’t hurt to be the one to reach out your hand to give your support and help. I, myself am doing this physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually, so I feel very grateful that I’m going out of my way to do this”.
“Being a stranger to the family shouldn’t be in the way of showing your support as it does lift their spirits when they know other people from all over are helping out in any way they could. So, like I have once said before; Put your pride aside and give what and all you can, like me and my friend Danny”.
“I may have started this Awareness here in Kitchenuhmaykoosib but I cannot take all the credit for it, because we’re doin’ this together”.
The awareness walks are a means of sharing across the miles of Northern Ontario. The Bearskin Lake Walkathon saw Heather Shewaybick, Phillip Bottle and Theresa Mosquito raise over $4000 for the search efforts.
In Thunder Bay the call continues for searchers, for help in any way to reach out and help find Jordan.
The costs of the search are being covered by donations, and by hope.
Jordan Wabasse came to Thunder Bay in September 2010 for high school. The people across the North are all seeing in this cause that it could just as easily be their son or daughter who could be missing in the city.
By reaching out, to each other, and to the people of Thunder Bay, to raise awareness, and to find their missing youth, one can sense that there is a coming together of people from across the North, and beyond.
If you want to help;
Make a monetary donation @ Royal Bank of Canada
Transit: 01602
Institution: 003
Account: 132-271-8
Cashlink Card (Northern Store): 03911354
Cheques and Money Orders payable to:
Webequie First Nation
Re: Search Jordan Wabasse
*receipts can be requested, tax deductable
Cash can be donated in person at the Search Headquarters at the Fort William Band Hall/Community Centre located on James Street South, just over the James Street Bridge on the Fort William First Nation side.