Stoney Bushie's friends, family gather for Winnipeg prayer service
CBC News | Posted: April 30, 2015 10:11 PM | Last Updated: May 1, 2015
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Days after the arrest of John Paul Ostamas, families of the men he allegedly murdered are planning funerals and memorials to remember their loved ones.
Stoney Bushie's family says he was a happy guy who wouldn't hurt anyone. His body was found April 25 in an alley behind the Portage Avenue headquarters of the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN).
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His niece Amanda Martin will be singing at his funeral, something she says Bushie always encouraged her to do. She says dealing with his death is hard, but she's trying to keep a positive outlook.
"We're going to heal, we just think about the good times," Martin said.
She says the family had a lot of good times in Bushie's home community, Little Grand Rapids.
"He liked hunting and fishing, and liked to joke around with friends and family. He was happy most of the time," she said.
Henry Neufeld and his wife got to know members of the Bushie family during their time spent teaching in Little Grand Rapids starting in the 1950s.
"His parents were very committed to the faith, to the lord and they tried their utmost to walk that way and live a life of faith," said Henry. "I was often in their home and prayed with them ... he (Stoney) would have a been a little kid."
Martin says Bushie would stay at Siloam Mission when he visited Winnipeg, but he wasn't homeless.
"Some of his friends asked if he wanted to go stay at their places, but I think he liked being with the friends he had at Siloam Mission," she said.
Ron Monias is arranging a birthday celebration and candlelight vigil for his son, who died a day before his birthday.
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Miles Monias was found beaten in a Main Street bus shelter on April 10. He died from his injuries while in the hospital.
Ron came to Winnipeg from Garden Hill First Nation to honour his son. He says he has has received a lot of support from the community.
"They say words of encouragement for me to keep going, and not to suddenly give up, like I felt when he died. I felt like my whole world was gone," he said.
Ron says he spent time with Miles the day before he died. Miles had told Ron he was going to be OK.
"And he told me 'I love you dad,' and I saw him leave. And I said 'I love you my son.' We've always said that growing up. So, love your sons and daughters," he said.
Prayers were said for Bushie at a gathering in Winnipeg Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Aboriginal Funeral Chapel.
Neufeld, who goes back to Little Grand Rapids often to visit, recited a psalm at the service for the family to try and help them move on.
"This is also a storm in their lives and I trust that this message might help them cope with their situation," said Neufeld.
Monias' candlelight vigil will be held Friday at 2 p.m. at the bus shelter at Main and Pioneer.