Beyond the headlines: Families remember missing Indigenous men and boys

And they were not forgotten.

For Phyllis Baptiste, every name sounded familiar.

Not because she knew them all personally, but because she understood the pain behind each one.

When her grandson Lakeadon Moosomin-Baptiste, 19, left home on the morning of March 8, 2025, she expected to see him again later that day.

“He had left our house about 9 a.m. and I never ever once thought that would be the last time I saw him and I hugged him,” Baptiste said.

Phyllis Baptiste holds a photo of her late grandson, Lakeadon Moosomin-Baptiste, who was killed March 8, 2025, during the first Blue Jeans Day walk in North Battleford on June 6, 2026, to honour missing and murdered Indigenous men and boys. (Image Credit: Kenneth Cheung/battlefordsNOW)

(Image Credit: Kenneth Cheung/battlefordsNOW)

More than a year later, she stood among dozens of families gathered for North Battleford’s first Blue Jean Jacket Day, an event honouring missing and murdered Indigenous men and boys.

The gathering brought together families from across Saskatchewan and Alberta for a memorial walk, a community barbecue, live music and public storytelling.

For Baptiste, the day became something more.

The young man she helped raise had texted her that afternoon asking for gas money. She sent it.

It would be the last message they exchanged. Hours later, while driving home with her granddaughter, Baptiste learned her grandson had been killed.

“I don’t know what happened to me,” she said. “I just jumped in my truck and I don’t even remember the drive to tell you the truth.”

The loss continues to shape every day that followed.

“It hurts like hell,” she said.

Yet standing among other families Saturday offered something she had not expected.

“This group here has really helped because, like, I realize we are not alone,” she said. “There are so many other families grieving.”

More than 100 people attended North Battleford’s first Blue Jeans Jacket Day walk on June 6, 2026, to honour missing and murdered Indigenous men and boys. (Video Credit: Kenneth Cheung/battlefordsNOW)

(Image Credit: Kenneth Cheung/battlefordsNOW)

That sense of shared grief echoed throughout the gathering.

Among those attending was Emilia Greyeyes, whose brother Aaron Gamble was killed in 2023.

A longtime educator who taught for more than two decades in First Nations communities, Gamble was remembered as a gentle and caring man.

“He was a very sweet, very kind, gentle man, very loving,” Greyeyes said. “And he had such a big smile, such a big smile that would just like make anybody just feel so like welcome.”

Gamble was murdered on March 24, 2023. His body was found in a dumpster in Saskatoon, and Greyeyes said no arrests have been made and the case remains under investigation.

“Every day is a fight to try and get answers,” she said.

Emilia Greyeyes, left, holds a memorial placard for her late brother, Aaron Gamble, who was killed March 24, 2023, during North Battleford’s first Blue Jeans Day walk on June 6, 2026. (Image Credit: Kenneth Cheung/battlefordsNOW)

(Image Credit: Kenneth Cheung/battlefordsNOW)

Looking around the park, she said she was encouraged by the support shown to families.

“This is very heartwarming and very great to see,” she said. “It’s nice to see all the families here and all the support that people are giving her and each and every family.”

For Leslee Bearsears, whose son Lee was killed, the gathering marked one of the first times she had publicly joined other grieving families.

The man convicted in Lee’s death was recently found guilty of second-degree murder, but Bearsears said the pain remains.

Still, she said, being surrounded by other families brought comfort.

“Love your family and make sure you check on them every now and then and if you don’t see them, make sure you go and look for them.”

The event was organized by Krista Fox, whose 14-year-old grandson, Michael Roy, was murdered in 2020.

For years, Fox has advocated alongside families affected by violence, loss and disappearance across Western Canada. Along the way, she repeatedly heard one question:

What about our men?

Saturday was her answer.

“It exceeded my expectations,” Fox said of the turnout. “I’m honoured that these families trusted us to be able to come and share space with us.”

Krista Fox, organizer of North Battleford’s first Blue Jeans Day walk. She is also a longtime advocate for missing and murdered Indigenous people. (Image Credit: Kenneth Cheung/battlefordsNOW)

What moved her most was seeing families tell their stories publicly.

“Some of these families I’ve been on quite the journey with them and I’ve never heard them publicly speak,” she said.

“To have that courage to be able to come and speak in front of 100 people, you know, it gives me hope.”

Fox said awareness must not end when the walk is over.

“Our men matter,” she said. “This is not just something that goes away after the court case is done or our loved ones are brought home.”

“Our families need forever care.”

—

Kenneth.Cheung@pattisonmedia.com

by Kenneth Cheung

Beyond the headlines: Families remember missing Indigenous men and boys

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