Thunder Bay joins in show of support for Colten Boushie family

About 150 people gatheredSaturday to show their support for the family of Colten Boushie, and call for changes to the Canadian justice system during a vigil held in Thunder Bay's Hillcrest Park.

The Thunder Bay gathering was one of several that took place across Canadathe day after a Saskatchewan jury found Gerald Stanley, 56, not guilty in the 2016 shooting death of the 22-year-oldBoushie.

Boushiewas fatally shot in August 2016 during an altercation on Stanley's rural Saskatchewan property. Stanley testified during the trial thatthe shooting was accidental.

• Shouts of 'murderer' in courtroom after Gerald Stanley acquitted in Colten Boushie shooting
• 'We feel like Colten died again': Boushiefamily, Indigenous leaders say they've lost faith in justice system

"It made me feel really good that people came out to show their support and to stand in solidarity with Colten Boushie's family," saidJana-Rae Yerxa, one of the organizers of the Thunder Bay vigil. "I think the support is important ... but I wish that there didn't have to be a call to action for Colten Boushie."

"It's disheartening and it's really upsetting that we need to gather like this to show public disdain for the verdict in the Stanley trial."

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Nishnawbe Aski Nation Deputy Grand Chief Anna Betty Achneepineskumpraised the vigils and their participants.

"That needs to happen," she told CBC News on Sunday. "When we gather in these peaceful vigils, we are saying that we need to stand together, that this is not allowed anymore."

"The government needs to acknowledge what has taken place, and they need to make those changes that need to happen."