Community getting set to mark 10th anniversary of Tina Fontaine’s death

This year marks the tenth anniversary of the death of Tina Fontaine. As the community in Winnipeg gets set to remember her life, some advocates also say a decade later, still not enough has been done to combat the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.

Fontaine went missing in July 2014. A month later, her body was found wrapped in plastic and a duvet cover in the Red River. Her death sparked national outrage over systems in place that were supposed to protect her.

“I want people to remember that Tina had a very good heart and always spoke highly about her friends and the people she loved,” said Elroy Fontaine.

“She was just a girl who wanted to live her best life and it got cut short.”

Fontaine’s brother Elroy says while it’s upsetting that a person still hasn’t been held accountable in connection to her death, he says advocacy for missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls still goes on.

“There’s been rallies, we are still spreading awareness, there’s groups that are going door-to-door looking for our missing.”

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A public gathering is set for Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Alexander Docks near where Fontaine was found.  

“My sister was murdered in 2004 and there was no support for her,” said Barb Guimond.

Guimond is an MMIWG advocate who is from Sagkeeng First Nation, the same First Nation Fontaine was from, says the families of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls need more support such as counselling to deal with their trauma.

“I don’t see the situation getting any better. Our women are still going missing and murdered every day. I think the provincial and federal governments need to step up,” said Guimond.

Fontaine adding, “Use your voice and spread awareness in any way possible because the more voices we get the better further we get along to get justice for our loved ones.”