Edna Skunk emphasizes the significance of police honoring Anishinaabe teachings while continuing the search for her missing granddaughter and relying on the instincts of searchers.
Ashlynn Bottle, 23, and Nodin Skunk, 25, were last spotted together at the former Pool 8 grain elevator on Syndicate Avenue South on April 26 in Thunder Bay, Ontario, situated on the city’s southern side.
Both individuals are affiliated with Mishkeegogamang First Nation, an Ojibway community located around 500 kilometers northwest of Thunder Bay.
According to Thunder Bay Police Service (TBPS), Bottle and Skunk were captured on video entering the premises around 4:30 p.m. ET with a third individual, who has since been identified. The last footage of them at the location was at 5:12 p.m.
The police reported that the third person was seen leaving the property on camera around 5:30 p.m., but there is no video evidence of Bottle or Skunk departing.
During a press briefing outside the grain elevator, Edna Skunk expressed her belief that her granddaughter is somewhere nearby.
Detective Constable Jeff Saunders, the missing persons coordinator at TBPS, mentioned that the property around the grain elevator has been extensively searched with the assistance of Thunder Bay Fire Rescue. He stated that they are confident the missing individuals are not inside the building.
Saunders added that the next phase involves searching the Kaministiquia River adjacent to the grain elevator, a task assigned to the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), who will dispatch crews from Orillia, approximately 1,200 kilometers away.
Given the significant water flow due to springtime and recent rainfall, Saunders noted that the search might take some time.
At present, the authorities have not classified the case as suspicious. Members of Mishkeegogamang First Nation and Cat Lake First Nation have traveled to Thunder Bay to lead their search operations.
Chief Merle Loon of Mishkeegogamang expressed the challenges and distress faced by the community in their search endeavors, emphasizing the need for a safe search operation.
Erin Bottle, Ashlynn’s aunt, mentioned reaching out to Fort William First Nation for support in scouring the water. Fort William First Nation released a statement to inform people about potential search activities in the area.
The grand chief of Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Alvin Fiddler, highlighted ongoing safety concerns related to the abandoned grain elevator, tracing back to the Seven Youth Inquest, which investigated the deaths of seven First Nations youths in Thunder Bay between 2000 and 2011.
Fiddler emphasized the importance of enhancing safety measures in the city, especially for Indigenous women and youth, following discussions with Thunder Bay authorities and Ottawa officials regarding missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit individuals.
Descriptions of Ashlynn and Nodin were provided for identification purposes, urging anyone with information on their whereabouts to contact the police or Crime Stoppers anonymously.