Teresa Robinson's community continues search for her remains

Members of Garden Hill First Nation are grievingover the death of 11-year-old Teresa Robinson while still conducting daily searches for her partial remains.

Hundreds of volunteers have joined the search ofthe heavily wooded areas around the northern Manitoba community over two weeks after remains were first found.

"They are still going to go search everyday," said communitymemberRon Moniasyesterday."They are having a prayer walk today and they are going to light up a sacredfire for four days representing the four directions."

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Community members originally believed Robinsonwas attacked by a wild animal, buton Friday, RCMP announced they are treating her death as a homicide.

"It's very, very hard," said Monias."Everybody is affected by it, the young kids, the middle generation and the old people. Everybody is just pulling together for each other."

The girl was reported missing to RCMP on May 11 and a community searcher found partial remains later that day. An autopsy was performed last Wednesday. RCMP said they have not been able to positively identify the body, but they believe it is Robinson's.

She was last seen afterattending a birthday party in the community on May 5.

Other First Nationsjoinsearch

Several First Nations communities from acrossnorthernManitoba and Ontario have travelled to the remote community to join the search.

"All First Nations people are like that.They are caring people and they will do what they can to help others," said Monias. "That's just the way we are. That's why so many other communities have come over. We're happy to have them."

Yesterday, Teresa's family members took part in a prayer walk in the community. It's one of several vigilsheld in communities across the province since the girl's death.

Prayer walk for Teresa Robinson

9 years ago

Duration 1:28

Garden Hill First Nation lights a sacred fire and holds a prayer walk for Teresa Robinson. Video taken by community member Ron Monias.

"It has been the most difficult thing that this family has ever had to face, and the overwhelming support by surrounding communities and from all across the nation certainly is appreciated," said elder ElizaBeardy who attended a vigil held in Winnipeg on Monday.

Monias saida curfew has been in place in Garden Hill since the girl's death."Everyone is hurt. And everyone has to recover. We want to heal as a community."

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