Missing teen from Neskantaga First Nation found deceased in Thunder Bay, Ont.

A 14-year-old from Neskantaga First Nation who went missing last week has been found deceasedin Thunder Bay, Ont., according to the First Nation's chief.

Mackenzie Mooniaswas last seen on Wednesdayaround 9 a.m. in the 100 block of University Drive. A family member told CBC News that Mackenzie was on one of the docks at the marina.

The Thunder Bay Police Service (TBPS) and Ontario Provincial Police'sUnderwater Search and Recovery Unit were at the waterfront Monday morning, and police were still there in theafternoon.

"Missing person Mackenzie Moonias has been located. This is now a private matter between investigators and family," police said in a news release shortly after 3 p.m.

No further information will be provided at this time, police said.

Multiple sources, including NeskantagaChief Chris Mooniasand Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN), have confirmed with CBC News that Mackenzie's body was found Monday morning near the Sleeping Giant Parkway. A spokesperson for NAN told CBC News that the Office of the Chief Coroner has confirmed Mackenzie's death to them.

The chief and Mackenzie aren't directly related.

Police first issued a missing person's notice on Saturday. Mackenzie was described as a 6-foot-1 Indigenous teen with long black hair, brown eyes and braces.

Mackenzie attended the Matawa Education and Care Centre, which is where most youth from Neskantaga complete their high school education, said Chief Moonias.

Neskantaga, also known as Lansdowne House, is about 450 kilometresnorth of Thunder Bay. It continues to face Canada's longest boil-water advisory, which has been in place for 28 years.

Thunder Bay's mayor issued a statement Tuesday afternoon in response to Mackenzie's passing.

"We are deeply saddened by the news and can only imagine how difficult this must be. Please know that you are not alone, and as a community, we will stand with you as you grieve. We would like to thank everyone who took part in the search including family, volunteers and members of the Thunder Bay Police Service," KenBoshcoff wrote.

Community members aided in search

Members of the community were in the city assisting with efforts to find Mackenzie. They received support from NAN, the Matawa Education and Care Centre and the TBPS,said Chief Moonias. The search party was based at the Prince Arthur Waterfront Hotel.

Chief Moonias said youth who move from their home community often struggle with transitioning to a large urban centre.

"A lot of our community members go through isolation, loneliness and stuff like that when they leave for high school," he said early Monday morning, before news emerged that Mackenzie had been found. "If we had a choice, we'd have a high school in the community we just don't have the support."

He expressed his condolences to the family early Monday afternoon on social media, and told CBC News he was flying back to the city to support them.

First Nations leadersquestion reporting process

NANrepresents 49 First Nation communities across Treaty 9 and Treaty 5 areas of northern Ontario.

In a news release Monday afternoon, NANGrand Chief Alvin Fiddler expressed his thoughts and prayers to Mackenzie's family, friends and community, but also raised questions about the process of reporting missing Indigenous youth in Thunder Bay.

"We are extremely concerned that gaps in the process for reporting missing persons, identified through the Seven Youth Inquest, are apparently still at play when Indigenous youth are reported missing," says the release.

That inquest examined the deaths of seven First Nations youth between 2000 and 2011while they were in high school in Thunder Bay. In 2016, the inquest jury made 145 recommendations to prevent similar deaths. Many of the recommendationshave yet to be fully implemented.

"On behalf of Neskantaga, I thank the family, community members, volunteersand agencies who supported searches for nearly a week for our missing youth. Many of our youth are forced to leave home as young as 13 or 14 years old in order to pursue their education. They are often faced with challenges they are not prepared for, and it can be an overwhelming experience," said Chief Moonias in the news release.

"It is unacceptable that we continue to bring our youth home in coffins. We fully expect that Mackenzie's death will not simply be ruled an accident before a thorough and competent investigation is conducted."

KiiwetinoongMPP Sol Mamakwa also expressed his condolences in a statement late Monday.

"Our thoughts and hearts are with Mackenzie's family members, their friends, leadership, and the community during this sad time," Mamakwa said. "We hope they find solace and strength in community and feel an outpouring of love from across the province as we mourn together."

He, too, noted the challenges of sending youth out of their home communities to complete their education elsewhere.

"Mackenzie was in Thunder Bay to attend high school. They were one of the many young people from Kiiwetinoong who leave home to pursue their educational goals," he said.

"It has been seven and half years since the release of the Seven Youth Inquest and many of the 145 jury recommendations have not been implemented. These recommendations were intended to prevent any further loss of our children and must be implemented."

Help resources

The Canadian Mental Health Association of Thunder Bay offers a 24-7 crisis line to people of all ages at 807-346-8282. Kids Help Phone, which operates round the clock, can be reached at 1-800-668-6868 or by texting CONNECT to 686868.If you are struggling right now, you can call 988.