Missing teen from Neskantaga First Nation found deceased in Thunder Bay, Ont.
CBC
A 14-year-old from Neskantaga First Nation who went missing last week has been found deceased in Thunder Bay, Ont., according to the First Nation's chief.
Mackenzie Moonias was last seen on Wednesday around 9 a.m. in the 100 block of University Drive. A family member told CBC News that Mackenzie was on one of the docks at the marina.
The Thunder Bay Police Service (TBPS) and Ontario Provincial Police's Underwater Search and Recovery Unit were at the waterfront Monday morning, and police were still there in the afternoon.
"Missing person Mackenzie Moonias has been located. This is now a private matter between investigators and family," police said in a news release shortly after 3 p.m.
No further information will be provided at this time, police said.
Multiple sources, including Neskantaga Chief Chris Moonias and Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN), have confirmed with CBC News that Mackenzie's body was found Monday morning near the Sleeping Giant Parkway. A spokesperson for NAN told CBC News that the Office of the Chief Coroner has confirmed Mackenzie's death to them.
The chief and Mackenzie aren't directly related.
Police first issued a missing person's notice on Saturday. Mackenzie was described as a 6-foot-1 Indigenous teen with long black hair, brown eyes and braces.
Mackenzie attended the Matawa Education and Care Centre, which is where most youth from Neskantaga complete their high school education, said Chief Moonias.
Neskantaga, also known as Lansdowne House, is about 450 kilometres north of Thunder Bay. It continues to face Canada's longest boil-water advisory, which has been in place for 28 years.
Members of the community were in the city assisting with efforts to find Mackenzie. They received support from NAN, the Matawa Education and Care Centre and the TBPS, said Chief Moonias. The search party was based at the Prince Arthur Waterfront Hotel.
Chief Moonias said youth who move from their home community often struggle with transitioning to a large urban centre.
"A lot of our community members go through isolation, loneliness and stuff like that when they leave for high school," he said early Monday morning, before news emerged that Mackenzie had been found. "If we had a choice, we'd have a high school in the community — we just don't have the support."
He expressed his condolences to the family early Monday afternoon on social media, and told CBC News he was flying back to the city to support them.
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