Mother of missing Tamra Keepness dies, search continues 19 years after disappearance

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This article was published 05/07/2023 (1060 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

REGINA – It’s a reality that Erica Beaudin often sees.

The chief of Cowessess First Nation said on Wednesday she has worked with Indigenous families where parents and grandparents die before their missing children are found.

And it’s what happened to Tamra Keepness’s mother, Lorena Keepness, who died suddenly in late May. She was 49.

“This is too often a reality for our families of (missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls),” Beaudin said, as she offered her condolences to the Keepness family.

The chief spoke at an annual barbecue marking Tamra’s disappearance. It’s been 19 years since she was last seen in her home in Regina. The child had been five years old.

A sense of mourning hung over the event this year as those in attendance reflected on the family’s loss.

Beaudin described the mother as someone who was dedicated to her children.

“She was an incredibly beautiful, complex spirit. She was a woman who loved her children dearly,” she said.

“And unfortunately, when we look at some of the systemic issues that Indigenous people face, especially Indigenous women, what we can look at is a path of injustice for Lorena in terms of the system not working with her.”

The mother’s obituary described her as being strong in her faith.

It also said she was protective of her family and known for being open, honest and straightforward.

“She was truly one-of-a-kind and has left a legacy of love and perseverance,” the obituary said.

Police and community members hold the annual barbecue to remind people the search for Tamra continues.

Regina police Supt. Jeff Wagner said officers have spent thousands upon thousands of hours investigating the cold case.

He said police receive about 10 tips per year and that each is investigated thoroughly.

Wagner declined to comment on how Lorena Keepness’s death affects the investigation.

“We always have hope that someone knows what happened, then we hope that someone would come forward and give us some information that we need,” he said.

“Some files are just difficult. They’re difficult to solve and to complete.”

Beaudin said the Keepness family continues to hold out hope, no matter how long it takes.

“We hold out that love, that faith and that caring for the family,” she said.

“And we always remember that special unique place that individual, that mother, that sister, that loved one has in their family and their community.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 5, 2023.