A 28-year-old woman who was a member of Manto Sipi Cree Nation was found dead in a Winnipeg residential building Sept. 21.
She was identified as Norma Andrews Sept. 23 and is the 29th homicide victim of the year in Manitoba’s capital city.
“Our hearts are broken,” said Norma’s father Larry Andrews in a Sept. 25 press release distributed by Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimanakak (MKO), which represents Manto Sipi Cree Nation and 25 other Northern Manitoba First Nations. “This is a very difficult time for us. It is very hard to describe what I am feeling. I never imagined something like this would ever happen to us.”
Winnipeg police received a report of an inured woman in a building in the 500 block of Balmoral Street around 4:30 p.m. Sept. 21 and arrived to find Andrews dead.
“Norma’s life was sacred,” said MKO Grand Chief Garrison Settee. “She was a mother, daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, auntie, cousin, and friend. Norma is lovingly remembered for her kindness and gentleness. The death of this young Indigenous woman has impacted her family and community. Norma Andrews did not deserve to die in such a tragic way.
MKO has a liaison unit for missing and murdered indigenous women and girls (MMIWG) to provide supports and connect affected family members and survivors to additional resources in a culturally appropriate and safe manner.
“As a country we must collectively support, implement and action the final report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls,” said Settee. “We must implement all 213 Calls for Justice to end this ongoing national tragedy. I call on the federal and provincial governments to take action. Our hearts are so heavy from so many loses. We cannot wait for election promises. We need action now. The lives of Indigenous women, girls and Two Spirit people matter.”
Manto Sipi Cree Nation is located 585 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg at the mouth of Gods River along the north shore of Gods Lake.
