Chrisma Denny's family says society has 'failed' her

The family of a missing woman from Cape Breton believes she wouldn’t have disappeared if there was more support for homeless and aboriginal women. 

Chrisma Ann Joy Denny was last seen Sept. 11 at the Eskasoni band office. She was known to roam from reserve to reserve, but her family reported her missing last week after she failed to pick up her employment insurance cheque.

“We’re all very, very worried and we’re just hoping she’s safe, wherever she is, and found alive," said her aunt Elaine Denny.

Denny's voice brightens when she talks about her niece.

"As a young child Chrisma was very outgoing. She loved to smile. She had big beautiful dimples," she said.

But things changed when her mother died, leaving Denny and her 11 siblings with child services.

"She hasn’t been the same since," said Denny.

Denny says her niece, and many other aboriginal women, face challenges like housing shortages, addiction and homelessness.

In a release, the family says "society failed Chrisma Joy Denny one turn after another."

"What led to her disappearance is because she was roaming around. Just a lot of turmoil here," her aunt said.

"She's a human being and she’s loved by a lot of us in our family. Oh my god, she deserves to be found and searched for. The government should look into taking care of these homeless aboriginal women or men.… It seems like they're throwing them on the back burner."

Denny said there needs to be more support systems in aboriginal communities to prevent homelessness.

"I would like to see a shelter probably. Apartments for these young youths with no homes," she said.

The Nova Scotia Native Women's Association is also organizing a postering campaign to spread images of Denny around the province.

She is five feet six inches tall, 145 pounds and has brown hair and eyes.

Anyone with knowledge about Denny's whereabouts is asked to contact the Cape Breton Regional Police or the RCMP.