Uncle calls for national inquiry after niece found dead

SASKATOON — Monica Burns, the aboriginal woman whose body was found on a remote snowmobile trail northwest of Prince Albert, was “a good-natured girl” who loved to help others, her uncle said.

“She was always kindhearted; she did a lot of help towards other people, she would always offer that extra hand,” said Justin Burns, chief of the James Smith Cree Nation, where Monica grew up.

He said Monica, who was 28 at the time of her death, left the reserve between 10 and 15 years ago and went to live in Prince Albert. He would occasionally drive her back and forth between the city and the reserve, where she would visit friends and family. During the trip, she would chat about her life and experiences growing up.

“She had a good upbringing, there was not too much I can say about that. She had a good home to grow up in and a community around her,” he said.

He last saw Monica about four months ago when he bumped into her in downtown Prince Albert. He said they exchanged pleasantries, but he didn’t ask and she didn’t say where she was living or working.

“She was OK; she was in good spirits then,” he said.

Monica’s body was discovered Saturday on a snowmobile trail 15 kilometres northwest of Prince Albert. The RCMP said “there are a lot of unanswered questions” in the case and are treating the death as a homicide, while asking people to come forward with information that could assist them in the investigation.

The RCMP said Monica was a sex-trade worker known to police in Prince Albert.

Donna Brooks, CEO of Prince Albert’s YWCA, said Monica would drop into the city’s Our House adult shelter “once in a while” for a cup of coffee or to get clothes, but was not well-known to staff.

Justin said the James Smith Cree Nation is organizing a walk in memory of Monica and to advocate for a national inquiry into missing and murdered aboriginal women. “A lot of our young people are going missing and a lot of them are getting murdered,” he said. “Right now there’s nothing being done and there’s got to be an inquiry.”

Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall and the City of Saskatoon are among those supporting a national inquiry. The federal government has not entertained the idea and said an inquiry could delay action.

The RCMP last spring said nearly 1,200 aboriginal women were murdered or went missing between 1980 and 2012. Aboriginal women make up 4.3 per cent of Canada’s female population, but account for 16 per cent of female homicides and 11.3 per cent of missing women cases.

“A LOT OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE GOING MISSING AND A LOT OF THEM ARE GETTING MURDERED.” CHIEF JUSTIN BURNS