Community hosts 1st barbecue for Tamra Keepness since her mother died

Tamra Keepness was last seensleeping in her room nearly two decades ago at the home where herfamily was living on Ottawa Streetin Regina.

She vanished without a traceon July 5, 2004.

Her disappearanceled to the largest search-effort in Regina's history, with seeminglyno stone left unturned. But what happened to Tamra remains a mystery.

Regina Treaty Status Indian Serviceshosted its annual barbecue for Tamra in collaboration with the Regina Police Serviceon Wednesday. The gathering is a way for the community to come together and honour Tamra, and also to let the family know they haven't forgotten the little girl.

This year's anniversary of Tamra's disappearancecomes shortly afteranother traumatic loss for the girl's family. Tamra's mom Lorena Keepness passed away suddenly on May 24, 2023 in Regina.

She was only 49 at thetime of her death.

Some of her children and family were in attendance at the barbecue,including Tamra's twin sister Tanis. They sattogether to share a meal, despite just losing Lorena just over a month ago.

Lorena died never knowing what happened to Tamra, but she was always thankful peoplekept her memory alive and that they never stopped trying to find out what happened.

Erica Beaudin, Chief of Cowessess First Nation, said she made a promise to Lorena that she would always support the family and never give up until they find Tamra.

She's been supportive of the family for years, and sometimes spoken on their behalf.

Beaudin noted that Lorena experiencedheartbreakwhen Tamra went missing, and then again two days later when herchildren were apprehended by Child and Welfare Services.

"There was very unfair bias by media, as well as the policeand others...that she was somehow involved in Tamra going missing," Beaudin said. She said people assumed Lorena was a negligent mother"and that was held against her for the rest of her life."

Lorena'schildren Summer, Rayne, Tanis, Cole and Aliciawere apprehended, but documents show there were efforts underway to return thechildren to their mother because of the closebond she shared with them.

As her children got older, they made their way back to their mom. Sheadored her grandchildren Isabelle and Ezra. Lorena also had morechildren after Tamra went missing: Jacob, Jerah and Adam.

Beaudin said the children are all grown up now and living life the best way they can. She said that despite all they have been through,they have resilience in them.

Lorena demonstrated strength in her life, having survived residential school, lived on her own as a teen and then carried forwardafter her little girl vanished.

She never wavered in her search for answers about what happened to Tamra. Now that she's gone, it will be up to the family to continue.

"I think that in their own way, they have always supported their mother in that and they will decide as the years go onhow they continue that fight to bring Tamrahome."

There isa reward of $50,000 that is available for people who bring forward information related to Tamra's disappearance.