Carson Poitras speaks to attendees Sunday in La Ronge. (Piwapan Women's Centre/Facebook)

By Derek Cornet

still missing

Healing walk for Happy Charles ended Sunday in La Ronge

May 10, 2021 | 1:36 PM

The family of missing woman Happy Charles held the fourth and final awareness and healing walk Sunday in La Ronge.

“We usually do things for four years in our culture and our spirituality,” said Charles’ mother Regina Poitras. “We’re not going to give up searches … and raising awareness, just the walk itself to bring her spirit home.”

Charles was last seen April 3, 2017 in the vicinity of Prince Albert Collegiate Institute. In the following years, Poitras and her family walked from Prince Albert to La Ronge to remind the public Charles still hasn’t been found. This year, Poitras noted they were unable to walk the full distance due to COVID restrictions and a lack of funds.

In the future, Poitras would like to continue raising awareness through workshops and billboards. She’s hopeful a billboard can be erected south of La Ronge because the one in Prince Albert has increased interest and she believes they are closer to finding Charles because of it.

“I really believe that,” Poitras said. “The billboard that went up in Prince Albert generated a lot of tips. The detective is looking at all of them.”

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The first walk this year for Charles was held May 7 between Kinsmen Park to the Prince Albert Grand Council building. The second one was held Sunday from the Lac La Ronge Indian Band’s Far Reserve to the urban reserve downtown. Chief Tammy Cook-Searson was in attendance, along with La Ronge Mayor Colin Ratushniak and Cumberland NDP MLA Doyle Vermette.

A round dance was held at the end of the walk Sunday. (Piwapan Women’s Centre/Facebook)

There were also representatives from the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations and supporters from Onion Lake. Poitras mentioned the walk in La Ronge was particularly special because they brought her late brother Daniel Charles’ cane. He recently passed away but attended every walk for Happy.

“It was a beautiful day,” she said. “If anyone knows anything, please come forward or call the line (1-306-953-4222) that shows up on social media or the posters. It will all be confidential and hopefully bring some closure to the family.”

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno