The loss of a child or adolescent is a tragedy for any family when these disappearances involve Indigenous youth, they reveal a deep, systemic, and urgent problem that must be acknowledged.
According to data from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), of approximately 32,000 youth disappearances in Canada in 2024, 23% involved Indigenous children and adolescents, even though this population represents only a small fraction of the national population. Among these missing Indigenous youth, 67% are girls. These figures illustrate the particular vulnerability of Indigenous girls to violence and exploitation.
The Case of Maisy and Shannon: A Tragic Symbol
When a case arises, our first actions include:
Among the unresolved cases are those of Maisy Odjick and Shannon Alexander, two Indigenous young women who disappeared together in September 2008. These disappearances are more than statistics; they are stolen lives, broken families, and suspended hopes. They highlight the heightened risks faced by Indigenous youth, especially girls.
Since their disappearance, the Missing Children’s Network has never abandoned the case: issuing alerts, producing aged photos, organizing memorial walks, and providing ongoing support to their families. The case of Maisy and Shannon has become a symbol of the fight for visibility for missing Indigenous persons.
Deep, Structural Causes That Cannot Be Ignored
Several factors explain this overrepresentation:
- Poverty, social exclusion, and lack of access to support resources.
- Traumas experienced from childhood, amplified by the intergenerational effects of residential schools and the Sixties Scoop.
- Lack of healthy role models and family or community support, and sometimes the influence of criminal networks.
- Isolation and distrust of institutions, complicating reporting or seeking help.
Why It’s Essential to Talk About It
Every disappearance, whether resolved or not, represents a human being, a family, and a story. Naming them, telling stories like those of Maisy and Shannon, is a refusal to let them be forgotten and a way to make the voices of the victims heard.
At the Missing Children’s Network, we support families, relay alerts, assist with unresolved cases, and ensure Indigenous communities have access to necessary resources.
Resources for Families and Communities:
- Jordan’s Principle: 1‑833‑725‑7236
- Project Iskweu
- Missing Children’s Network
Every youth matters. Every life matters. Raising awareness, sharing information, and acting together is essential to protect Indigenous communities and support families affected by the disappearance or exploitation of their children.
For more information: 2024 Factsheet – NCMPR.