Families still waiting for information

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Almost a month has passed since human remains were found in a field southeast of the community of Southey, and families of women who have gone missing in Saskatchewan are still waiting for RCMP to determine the identity of the deceased.

The remains were discovered on Dec. 20 by a group of horseback riders. Initial forensics testing determined that the remains were those of an adult female, but further testing is required to help identify the deceased. When interviewed on Jan. 11, RCMP media relations officer Cpl. Brian Jones said it would be a couple more weeks "at the absolute earliest" before any additional information can be released, including the age of the deceased and how long the body had been in the field.

Jones said investigators have been in contact with the families of some of the women who have gone missing whose disappearances have occurred more recently, "as a courtesy to them, and certainly because they would have questions ... but at this point in time we don't know who the remains are those of."

There are currently 28 women in Saskatchewan who have been reported missing, many of them Aboriginal. The Saskatchewan Aboriginal Women's Circle Corporation (SAWCC) has been doing what it can to provide support to the families of these women as they await word on the identity of the remains that were found.

"We've had communication with different families because they're wanting to know what's going on, who it is, especially the ones that have loved ones that have been missing for a while. They want to know," said SAWCC vice-president Judy Hughes.

It's been confusing for the families because, although some newspaper reports have stated that skeletal remains were found, suggesting the remains had been there for quite a while, the RCMP haven't released any information to confirm or contradict that information, Hughes said. Many family members are also confused and concerned because it's taking so long to find out any additional information.

While the families wait for word on the identity of the remains, they are experiencing a myriad of emotions, Hughes said. "Probably just indescribable grief and fear. Fear that it is their loved one. Fear that it's not, because at least they'd have some kind of closure. A lot of grief, a lot of anxiety, a lot of stress, a lot of anger, a lot of tears."

SAWCC is helping to support the families by being there for them during this difficult time.

"One of the things we do is that they can call us any time. And if they invite us out to come and see them, then we would also go out and see them."

The families themselves are also providing support to each other. Some of the mothers of the women who have gone missing have been coming together to meet and to talk, Hughes said. "Some of them are doing that."