Family and friends gather to mourn Teresa Cassandra Robinson

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This article was published 25/05/2015 (4160 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

After her family asked that the death of 11-year-old Teresa Robinson “not be politicized in any way,” a wake for the child whose death is being investigated as a homicide was dominated by politicians Monday night.

Assembly of First Nations Grand Chief Perry Bellegarde, Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Grand Chief David Harper, and Garden Hill First Nation Chief Arnold Flett were the main speakers at the wake that media were invited to attend at Calvary Temple in downtown Winnipeg Monday night.

Teresa’s partial remains were found May 11 in a forested area near Garden Hill First Nation, a fly-in community about 500 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg.

Initially, it was believed Teresa was mauled by animals, but RCMP later said while animals may have disturbed the girl’s remains, partial autopsy results indicate animals did not cause her death. Teresa was last seen leaving a birthday party around 9 p.m. on May 5. A community search began two days later and RCMP were officially notified Teresa was missing the same day her body was found.

On Monday night, Christian country and gospel performers sang hymns while an overhead screen showed an image of Teresa in the clouds in the arms of Jesus.

At the front of the church, her casket was draped in a white satin cloth with a bright pink cross embroidered on it. An arrangement of soft pink roses and white carnations was lain across the top of the casket, with large framed photos of Teresa in front of it. A barefoot teenage girl in a white dress taking sips from a bottle of water twirled around the altar as the hymns were sung.

In the front row of the church were Teresa’s parents, John George and Sandra Robinson, and her many siblings, including an older brother in handcuffs and shackles who was accompanied to the wake by Manitoba Corrections officers.

TV cameras and photographers perched on the upper level of the downtown church captured the event, where Liberal MLA Jon Gerrard appeared to be the only non-aboriginal politician in attendance.

At a vigil held for Teresa in Winnipeg on Victoria Day, the girl’s family asked for privacy from the media, prayers instead of protests, and for Teresa’s death not to be “politicized in any way.”

Before the girl’s wake Monday, MKO Grand Chief Harper said the event, which was open to the public and the media, was in accordance with the family’s wishes.

“This is exactly what the family wanted,” said Harper, who played the guitar and sang a song during the service.

National Chief Bellegarde said during the wake he was there to pray for Teresa and show his support for the family. He told them his father died when Bellegarde was 17. He told a joke about learning to drive with his dad. He said he was driving too fast on a curve that his father had sped around many times before. When Bellegarde lost control of the car, it hit the ditch on both sides of the road and scared his dad so much the colour drained from his face.

“That was the first time I seen an Indian turn white,” Bellegarde quipped.

The national chief asked mourners to “put aside hatred, gossip, anger and all those negative things,” and think about Teresa’s “innocence, happiness and the love that was around her.”

Garden Hill Chief Arnold Flett sang a gospel song and thanked everyone who attended the wake.

After the chiefs spoke, Teresa’s immediate family members were invited to say a few words. They hesitatingly walked up to the altar and took turns saying “thank you” at the microphone. Then the faithful in attendance said a prayer for the family.

The wake was held in Winnipeg because so many of Teresa’s friends and family live in the city and couldn’t make it to Garden Hill. More than 100 people paid their respects. Some placed a flower or their hand on her casket and offered a prayer.

Teresa’s remains will be taken back to Garden Hill for wakes on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Robinson home, followed by a funeral on Thursday at Henry Fiddler Memorial United Church.

The Robinson family and the Garden Hill community are still waiting on full autopsy results to determine the cause of Teresa’s death, Harper said.

Several First Nations are rallying to support Garden Hill residents, Harper said in an interview before the wake.

“A lot of things are happening in the community right now,” he said.

“A crisis team from Cross Lake is responding to the need.”

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca