THUNDER BAY – A 14-year-old from Neskantaga First Nation who was the subject of a missing persons search in recent days has been found deceased on Thunder Bay’s waterfront.
Neskantaga Chief Chris Moonias confirmed the death of Mackenzie (Nathan) Moonias in a statement issued by Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) on Monday afternoon.
The statement expressed condolences to Moonias’s family and friends, while raising potential concerns on behalf of NAN and Neskantaga's leadership over the missing persons process and death investigation.
“Since her disappearance we have hoped and prayed that Mackenzie would be found safe and reunited with her family and friends. Tragically, our worst fears have been confirmed with the sad news of her tragic death today,” said NAN Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with her family, friends, and the Neskantaga community who are grieving this terrible loss so close to the holidays. They are our focus right now, but this disappearance has raised serious questions about the protocols and procedures around missing person investigations involving Indigenous youth.”
Mackenzie Moonias was last seen on Dec. 13 around 9 a.m. on University Drive. Her body was discovered Monday morning in the water near the Sleeping Giant Parkway, in the area of Marina Park.
The TBPS had issued a missing persons alert for Moonias on Saturday, just after 12:30 a.m., along with subsequent updates.
Chief Chris Moonias thanked volunteers and agencies that helped search for Mackenzie, who had travelled to Thunder Bay to attend school.
Referencing numerous deaths of First Nations youth in Thunder Bay between 2000 and 2011 that were the subject of the Seven Youth Inquest, Moonias called further deaths "unacceptable."
“On behalf of Neskantaga I thank the family, community members, volunteers, and agencies who supported searches for nearly a week for our missing youth,” he said. “Many of our youth are forced to leave home as young as 13 or 14 years old in order to pursue their education. They are often faced with challenges they are not prepared for, and it can be an overwhelming experience.”
“It is unacceptable that we continue to bring our youth home in coffins. We fully expect that Mackenzie’s death will not simply be ruled an accident before a thorough and competent investigation is conducted.”
The statement from NAN and Neskantaga said leaders did not yet fully understand the circumstances surrounding Moonias's passing, but had concerns over its handling.
"We are extremely concerned that gaps in the process for reporting missing persons, identified through the Seven Youth Inquest, are apparently still at play
when Indigenous youth are reported missing," the statement read.
Kiiwetinoong MPP Sol Mamakwa, whose riding includes Neskantaga, expressed sorrow over Moonias's passing in a statement Monday.
"I send my condolences to everyone impacted by the loss of their relative and friend," he said. "We hope they find solace and strength in community and feel an outpouring of love frrom across the province as we mourn together."
"Mackenzie was in Thunder Bay to attend high school. They were one of the many young people from Kiiwetinoong who leave home to pursue their educational goals. It has been seven and half years since the release of the Seven Youth Inquest and many of the 145 jury recommendations have not been implemented. These recommendations were intended to prevent any further loss of our children and must be implemented."
