Bear Clan grassroots approach on locating missing people is working

For the last month, Juanita Jack has been coming to Winnipeg every weekend in search of her daughter Shastina Sagutch.

The 28-year-old has not been in contact with her family since late April and inconsistent messages on Facebook now have her mother, who lives in Kenora, concerned.

She’s appealing to her daughter, or anyone with information to get in touch.

“Just recently I started thinking, it’s not her, because things just are not adding up,” said Jack. “We need that. We need a phone call. A video call. Something to let us know that it’s her and that she’s okay.”

Sagutch, who is originally from Kenora, was last seen in Winnipeg’s West End.

Missing person reports have been filed with Winnipeg Police and to Bear Clan Patrol.

Jack is grateful for the support of the Bear Clan.

Juanita Jack, mother of missing woman Shastina Sagutch. (Photo Credit: Morgan Modjeski)

“It makes me feel good knowing that I have people looking for her when I can’t be there to do that. It is hard to be going back and forth, like I have been pretty much back and forth for the past month to go and look for her every weekend and it’s getting a little hard when she doesn’t even show up at our meeting places.”

Bear Clan’s Missing Person Liaison says, help from the public is critical when it comes to locating those potentially lost in Winnipeg, saying its grassroots approach is working.

“The role of the public is so important in this,” said Angela Klassen, missing person liaison with the Bear Clan Inc.

Of the 67 “Be On The Look Out” – or BOLO – files they’ve received through police since January, 61 of them have been resolved. Of those, 35 were the direct result of Bear Clan’s involvement.

Klassen says when it comes to locating loved ones like Sagutch, spreading information is key.

Angela Klassen, missing person liaison with the Bear Clan Inc. (Photo Credit: Morgan Modjeski, CityNews)

“The more people that share our BOLOS, the more people that know about it, the more people that are able to help,” said Klassen.

Sagutch is one of only a handful of missing person files currently active with the Bear Clan. There are 15 other long-term and recent files open.

That represents a small fraction of the total 118 missing persons cases in the city, but police say they appreciate any and all help the Bear Clan provides.

“We are in communication on a daily basis, sharing information in regard to the community, and current missing person investigations. Their close ties to the community help bridge information to the police. These relationships are of great importance and have proven to be very successful.”

Police say anyone who has a missing loved one in the city should reach out to either organization, as the more information that is brought forward the more success they have in bringing people home.

Anyone with information about Shastina Sagutch is asked to contact WPS Missing Persons or the Bear Clan.