Winnipeg Bear Clan continues search for missing Kenora teen Delaine Copenace
CBC News | Posted: March 7, 2016 1:46 PM | Last Updated: March 7, 2016
16-year-old went missing from downtown Kenora around 6 p.m. on Feb. 27
Winnipeg's Bear Clan patrol spearheaded searches for a missing Kenora teen this weekend.
Delaine Copenace was last seen in downtown Kenora on Feb. 27.
Searches have been ongoing in that area, but the 16-year-old was also known to visit Winnipeg and has family in the city, so the search has been expanded.
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Last week, the Canadian Centre for Child Protection urged people to keep an eye out for the teen, including checking personal property, yards and outbuildings.
The Bear Clan spent hours searching for the girl last week and again Sunday evening in the North End.
"It's another woman going missing again," said Ninondawah Richard, who helped search with the Bear Clan Sunday night. "Every week, I've been having to look on Facebook and social media, 'Is like another girl missing again?'"
Richard said he's troubled by the number of women who have disappeared in the last few weeks.
"We need to keep on going into this community of Winnipeg, Man., to look for this girl, because these girls are so scared," he said.
Anita Ross, Copenace's mother, said it's unlike the teen to go missing.
"People think of that it's typical for Anishinaabe woman to go missing, but no. It doesn't matter what their backgrounds are," said Ross. "We have a tight bond, me and my daughters."
Ross said she never expected Copenace to disappear.
"You see all these people going missing and then you think to yourself, 'That's never going to happen to me,' and then I think, 'Why? Why me? What did I do wrong?'"
Copenace is described as being about five feet, eight inches tall, and 190 pounds. She has black, waist-length hair and brown eyes.
Anyone with information can contact the Ontario Provincial Police at 1-888-310-1122 or their local police department.