Family, friends of Chase Martens honour two-year-old’s spirit

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This article was published 27/03/2016 (3543 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

NORTH NORFOLK — Two-year-old Chase Martens died from drowning, the chief medical examiner has confirmed.

An autopsy on the little boy from the Austin, Man., area, whose body was found in a creek near his home Saturday, was performed Sunday. RCMP had indicated on the weekend there were no signs of foul play.

About 50 people gathered for a vigil next to Pine Creek on Sunday evening to honour the memory and send off the spirit of Chase. Winnipeg’s Bear Clan Patrol held the vigil, which included traditional drumming and music near the spot where Chase’s body was found about half-a-kilometre from his family’s house.

Chase’s parents, Thomas Martens and Destiny Turner, attended the vigil and held a candle that had been kept lit since their son went missing Tuesday.

Members of the Bear Clan handed out candles to all those in attendance and lit them. Some left the candles at a small memorial set up by the family that included some toy trucks, cars, stuffed toys and wrapped Easter candy.

Nearby, a red rose lay on the shore of the creek.

Near the end of the vigil, Bear Clan member Shauna Taylor stood with Chase’s parents and said a prayer by the water.

“Love you, baby,” Turner said as she let tobacco slip through her fingers into the water.

Darryl Contois of the Bear Clan said his group was honoured to be allowed to hold the vigil for Chase, which needed to be by the water so the child could find his way to the Creator.

“My heart goes out to the family, his parents. We asked if we could have the vigil here, because that’s where we lost him,” Contois said.

“That (candle) is to light his way home, until he’s in the ground. I told them (Chase’s parents) to put it out when he’s in the ground because he’s back with the earth.”

Contois said Chase will be buried at Grand Rapids this week.

Bear Clan member Todd Matthew DeChateauvert, also one of the traditional drummers and singers, told the gathered group it was important to come together for Chase “here at this place, this place where this young angel was thankfully found.”

“We’ve all come together for one cause, and it speaks a greatness to our Creator and to yourself here, standing with us today, for a goodness, for a good life,” he said.

“This day will bring great feeling and a trueness to the family. What better way to support our brothers and sisters than to be here, in a kind way, a loving way, a compassionate way, to show our respect.”

He said a fire — the candle being held by Thomas Martens — must burn four days for the soul passing on to the spirit world.

Taylor told the crowd she had dreamed of Chase, and she prayed for him in a sweat lodge Friday. She gave her special eagle feather to Chase’s parents.

“Chase brought every one of us here together, and today we celebrate his life,” she said.

ashley.prest@freepress.mb.ca

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