Jordan Wabasse

Jordan Wabasse’s death while attending high school in Thunder Bay is Wawatay’s second news story of the year.
“It’s been very hard for the family and the community of Webequie,” said Matawa First Nations CEO David Paul Achneepineskum shortly after Wabasse’s body was found May 10 in the Kaministiquia River. “At the same time, now that they know what has happened to Jordan, I think it will start to bring some closure to the families and to the community of Webequie and especially to his classmates at the Matawa Learning Centre. It has been a hard couple of months for them.”
Wabasse was last seen Feb. 7 getting off a city bus near his boarding house in Thunder Bay. He was laid to rest May 16 during a funeral service in
Webequie.
“It was very emotional to be at that funeral,” said Grand Chief Stan Beardy. “It was extremely moving. I think it was especially hard for his immediate family, his parents and his siblings.”
Beardy said youth were very emotional during the service, noting many people signed Wabasse’s coffin.
“I saw a lot of tears – I think Jordan was very well-liked in the community.”
Webequie Chief Cornelius Wabasse described Jordan as a young man who was close to his community and loved sports.
“He was a young man pursuing education here in the City of Thunder Bay,” Chief Wabasse said. “He liked hockey and sports.”
After the 15-year-old award-winning midget B hockey goalie went missing, a group of volunteers searched for three months until his body was discovered by recreational boaters near the Western Grain Elevators just east of the James Street Bridge.
“We worked alongside with a grandmother,” said Lillian Suganaqueb about the searchers. “There were a few volunteers that were there every single day. The grandmother — she just wouldn’t give up.”
After his death, questions were raised about his death and the deaths of six other Nishnawbe Aski Nation high school students in Thunder Bay since 2000.
“While we do not yet know the full details regarding Jordan’s disappearance, we do know that youth from NAN territory often find themselves without an adequate network of social support in an unfamiliar environment after moving hundreds of miles away from home,” said Deputy Grand Chief Terry Waboose. “Each of these deaths is a tragedy and they must stop. We demand that the governments of Ontario and Canada work with First Nation leaders and educators to ensure that adequate support services are in place for students who must travel away from home for secondary school and to work with us to develop education services in all First Nations that is on par with the rest of Canada.”