M’CHIGEENG—As the sun dipped beneath the horizon on November 2, the M’Chigeeng community gathered at the windswept shores of M’Chigeeng Bay Beach Park, united in heartache and hope for Juanita Migwans, who disappeared a month ago with no trace. In a scene both solemn and resolute, the glow of candlelight stretched across the sand as people came together to honour the missing loved one with a water ceremony and offerings to the ancestors and the spirit of the water.
UCCM Chief of Police James Killeen stood before the gathered community, his voice a steady echo of hope as he renewed his call for anyone bearing knowledge—no matter how big or small —to step forward. “Every bit of information matters,” he urged. He revealed a flicker of progress: a witness had shared that they spoke with Ms. Migwans on the phone on October 4, 2024, weaving yet another thread into the tapestry of her timeline.
The vigil, a sacred gathering, was lovingly orchestrated by sisters Peggy and Joy Simon. In the hushed twilight, ceremonial protocols guided the scene, where the heartbeat of drumming and ceremonial songs in Anishinaabemowin resounded through the air, performed by the women of the community. A feast awaited, and a table adorned with traditional foods to be rested upon birchbark with offerings of tobacco were laid tenderly to the water, a gesture of respect and remembrance.
As Joy Migwans addressed the ceremony-goers, her words flowed while she cried, her relatives at her side to give her strength. “Chief Killeen has shared the resources the police are employing, and we are deeply grateful,” she expressed. “Yet I believe that the most profound resource we possess as Anishinaabe people is this very water that surrounds us. After all, we are made of 50 percent to 75 percent water ourselves. Someone carries knowledge—let us pray to this water to awaken the truth within them.”
With heartfelt prayers from Ms. Migwans’s mother, Carmelita, and the Elders who encircled her, a sacred silence fell. One by one, attendees lined up to make their offerings of birchbark and tobacco, each gesture a plea to the ancestors, a whispered promise to bring their beloved Winnie home.
Friends, family and neighbours stood shoulder to shoulder, each holding a small flame against the cool autumn air. As the community shared words of encouragement and whispered prayers, a family member addressed the crowd, her voice breaking but clear. “This is how we keep hope alive,” she said. “We remember, and we won’t stop searching.”
The vigil came as M’Chigeeng continues to appeal for any information that might lead them to Ms. Migwans. “We need people to, you know, step up and share what they know. Even the smallest piece of information can matter.” Recognizing that coming forward can be difficult, it was added that, “If anyone isn’t comfortable talking directly, Crime Stoppers is there. Every voice matters.”
The family’s words resonated as attendees held their candles, the small flames a defiant act of hope. A dedicated tip line was set up at 1-883-941-9010 for those who might hold answers, a reminder that the search for Ms. Migwans continues in every possible way.
In the quiet resolve of those gathered, there was a promise: Ms. Migwans’ community would not rest until they were found. And until that day, the light of M’Chigeeng’s love and hope would shine.
