July 2, 2021—Ha-Shilth-Sa—Page 9
‘Bring peace to Lisa’: Investigators seek missing link Dozens joined a walk for Lisa Marie Young June 26, 19 years after the young Tla-o-qui-aht woman went missing By Eric Plummer Ha-Shilth-Sa Editor Nanaimo, BC - Although Lisa Marie Young went missing 19 years ago, Nanaimo police have encountered new information into her disappearance over the last year and a half. A press conference was held June 26 at the Nanaimo RCMP detachment, where family members of the Tla-o-qui-aht woman and police investigators urged others to come forward to keep momentum going on the search for truth. Const. Hayley Pinfold and Corp. Markus Muntener said that since they took over the file in late 2018 police have introduced techniques into the investigation, such as a police dog and ground-penetrating radar. “When you’re dealing with potential areas that are large, that’s the kind of technique you have to use to narrow things down,” said Muntener of the radar method. “Since Hayley and I have started the investigation we’ve had numerous people come forward.” “If there’s anyone out there that knows something, help us bring Lisa home,” said Lisa’s aunt Carol Frank while standing before the RCMP detachment. “Please come forward to bring peace to Lisa and our family.” No charges or suspects have been identified in the case that RCMP are handling as a homicide. Lisa Marie Young was last seen at approximately 3 a.m. on June 30, 2002. The 21-year-old had spent the night out with friends, first at a Nanaimo nightclub, then two house parties. She left the second party to get something to eat, and accepted a ride with Christopher William Adair, a young man she had just met that evening, according to reports from the time. A friend reported receiving a text message from Young at 4:30 a.m., which read “come get me, they won’t let me leave.” As time passes, police urge anyone with old or new information to come forward. “We’re just asking that people come talk to us, because we are here to listen to everybody no matter what their circumstances are now or in the past,”
Photo by Eric Plummer
Led by Carol Frank, seen in the centre holding a paddle, dozens participated in the annual walk through downtown Nanaimo for Lisa Marie Young on June 26. said Const. Pinfold. “We are coming at wearing orange shorts in recognition of sponse to the National Inquiry into Missthis investigation from an open-minded residential school survivors and victims ing and Murdered Indigenous Women approach. We’re reviewing all our infor– progressed from the RCMP detachand Girls. While addressing the crowd mation on our investigation, whether it’s ment to Maffeo Sutton Park at Nanaimo’s in Maffeo Sutton Park Maria Charleson, historic or information that’s coming in waterfront. The Indigenous dance group vice-president of the Nuu-chah-nulth currently, and we’re assessing that inforButterflies in Spirit held a performance, Tribal Council, noted that the inquiry mation to determine and prioritize how followed by speakers that included concluded over two years ago, when 231 we’re going to go forward.” Young’s grandfather, Moses Martin. He calls to action were listed to attend to the Corp. Muntener added that over the noted the recent news of undocumented nation crisis. years the file has become enormous, inburials at the former sites of residential “The most striking thing from that cluding 15,000 documents and hundreds schools in Kamloops and on the Cowesreport is that Canada has finally admitof witnesses. sess First Nation in Saskatchewan. ted that the treatment of Indigenous “When we’re talking about witnesses “I hope that one day they’ll be answers, women and girls and two spirit has been from 19 years ago, it’s much more chalhopefully closure for those families that a continuing act of genocide,” she said, lenging to go back and corroborate that,” are feeling the same pain that we are stressing the importance of following the he admitted, although a valid piece of for the last 19 years,” said Martin. “We calls to action. “They’re called ‘imperainformation could open up the mystery still don’t know where Lisa is, we don’t tive’. Imperative meaning that if Canada into what happened to the young woman. know what happened to her, but the pain fails to make action to those 231 calls to “That could change overnight if an imdoesn’t go away. I want to thank you for justice, then Canada is continuing to inportant person comes forward and talks sharing your strength with us to come flict genocide on our Indigenous women to us that adds a very significant part of down, even though it’s almost 40 degrees and girls and two spirit.” that puzzle.” out here. You guys are tough in this city.” Police ask that anyone with information Walks held in Young’s honour have been Young’s disappearance is part of the that could help in solving the disappearheld in Nanaimo annually since her disRCMP’s database of over 1,100 missing ance of Lisa Marie Young to call the appearance. After the June 26 press conor murdered Indigenous women and girls. Nanaimo RCMP non-emergency line at ference the dozens in attendance – most In June an action plan was released in re- 250-754-2345.
RCMP looks to culture as officers undergo brushing By Eric Plummer Ha-Shilth-Sa Editor Port Alberni, BC - In an effort to help its members with the prevalence of negative news recently, on June 23 nearly two dozen officers from the Port Alberni RCMP detachment underwent a traditional Nuuchah-nulth cleansing ceremony. The gathering began with words of encouragement towards the RCMP for the work they do in the Port Alberni community. The officers were brushed with cedar leaves, before walking through a ring of branches, followed by being brushed again with eagle feathers. Teechuktl’s resolution health support worker Lisa Watts reminded the police offers to be present and aware during the process, while giving acknowledgement to their creator. Corp. Jay Donahue of the detachment’s Indigenous Policing Services team said that the request for a brushing was made to Teechuktl as a continuation of the local RCMP’s ongoing partnership with the Nuu-chah-nulth mental health services department.
Photo by Eric Plummer
Insp. Eric Rochette is brushed with eagle feathers by Howard Morris from Teechuktl Mental Health during a cleansing ceremony the performed on June 23.
