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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

City hall prayer service for Nepinak

By: Aldo Santin

Posted: 07/4/2012 1:00 AM

A memorial and prayer service for missing woman Tanya Jane Nepinak and her family was held in the shade of the courtyard in front of Winnipeg city hall Monday.

About 40 people attended the noon-hour service, where David Harper, grand chief of the northern chiefs organization, MKO, and others called for greater communication and accountability from the Winnipeg Police Service into its investigation of missing and murdered women.

"There needs to be more communication and sharing of information with the families of the missing and murdered women," Harper said, adding while Winnipeg police chief Keith McCaskill has kept the aboriginal leadership informed about the investigation, family members said police have been tight-lipped with them.

Winnipeg city councillor Ross Eadie supported the call for greater police communication, adding he would present a motion at Thursday's civic protection and community services committee calling for semi-annual reports from the police service into its investigation of missing and murdered women.

The public outcry for greater accountability from a joint RCMP-WPS investigation into missing and murdered women increased last week after the arrest of alleged serial killer Shawn Lamb, who has been charged with the killings of three women: Nepinak, whose body has yet to be found, and Carolyn Marie Sinclair and Lorna Blacksmith, believed to have been killed in separate attacks between September and this spring

MKO spokesman Brennan Manoakeesick said women have been reported missing since the 1970s, but until Lamb was charged last week, police have refused to consider a serial killer was responsible.

There are at least 52 outstanding cases of missing or murdered aboriginal women in Manitoba, though some groups believe that number is much higher.

Harper said it's time for a national and provincial inquiry into the situation.

The 30-minute service included prayers by Bill Traverse, regional vice-chief of the Assembly of First Nations. Members of the Nepinak family were in attendance but declined to speak to the Free Press.

Harper said a larger rally and a fund-raising initiative will take place July 10, adding the location has not yet been confirmed.

aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition July 4, 2012 B2