THUNDER BAY — The family of a missing 35-year-old Long Lake resident is seeking public assistance to find her.
Adrienne Towegishig was reported missing on Jan. 10 and is believed to be in Thunder Bay.
“We just want to know if she’s okay and tell her kids because her kids are crying at home and they want to see their mom,” said Mary Waboose, her grandmother.
Towegishig has eight kids at home between 18 and two years old.
“For me, it’s very hard because for her children that miss her a lot, and I have to be there for them and you have to be strong,” said Waboose.
Waboose is also concerned her granddaughter is not missing of her own free will.
Towegishig's father, Vernon Shebagabow, said they need the community’s help to find her and ensure she’s safe.
“Just help us out, locate her,” said Shebagabow.
Towegishig is described as five-foot-five inches tall with a medium build, long dark brown hair and brown eyes, last wearing a long black parka and dark-coloured combat boots.
Her family suggested that she may have facial injuries that may make her hard to distinguish and said she has been seen frequently at Andras Court.
Greenstone OPP, Northwest Regional Support Team in Thunder Bay and the Thunder Bay Police Service are actively coordinating efforts with the community to canvass locally and in Thunder Bay to gather information.
“Anything that we have as far as working in the band rep field or prevention, she’s always been active in our programming and working with our workers, so we know her really well. We work with her children and herself closely,” said Noreen Agnew, a council member and band representative manager for Long Lake #58 First Nation.
Agnew stayed in the city to help find Towegishig instead of going to Toronto. She said community members, especially Towegishig's family and children, need her home.
“We’ve been up here since Monday, I believe, working with the family, working with Thunder Bay Police,” said Agnew.
Long Lake #58 First Nation is acting as a headquarters for the searchers. With the community's aid, the family received hotel accommodations and support to come to Thunder Bay to distribute flyers, get the word out at businesses and talk with people they know locally.
During the search, Agnew said it’s better to be where they ‘think she is’.
However, receiving only a few tips here and there, she said they hope to get a lot more information.
“I think it’s just concerning that we’re not getting enough as we should. Because the word is out there, her photos are out there, it’s being shared a lot, so it’s a little bit concerning to us that we’re not getting enough information to help find her,” said Agnew.
However, the police have been good at taking their calls, she said, giving them information and meeting where they need to be, whether at the office or where tips are leading.
Agnew asks people to help do whatever they can to find Towegishig, bring her home and hope she’s safe.
The family appreciates the donations they have received from Nishnawbe Aski Nation to aid their search and urges those who may know her location to call 911 or the OPP non-emergency line at 1-888-310-1122.
If you wish to remain anonymous, police encourage residents to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
