Candlelight vigil held at Thunder Bay marina to honour 14-year-old from Neskantaga First Nation - Action News
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Thunder Bay

Candlelight vigil held at Thunder Bay marina to honour 14-year-old from Neskantaga First Nation

Community members gathered at the marina in Thunder Bay, Ont., to honour 14-year-old Mackenzie Moonias of Neskantaga First Nation Thursday night, whose body was found at the waterfront Monday. A candlelight vigil was held with a sacred fire, drumming, and jingle dress dancers, and ended with the release of floating lanterns above Lake Superior.

Mackenzie Moonias was found deceased Monday morning

Remembering Mackenzie Moonias

9 months ago
Duration 0:49
Community members gather at the marina in Thunder Bay, Ont., to honour 14-year-old Mackenzie Moonias of Neskantaga First Nation, whose body was found at the waterfront Monday. A candlelight vigil was held Thursday night with a sacred fire, drumming, and jingle dress dancers, and ended with the release of floating lanterns above Lake Superior.

More than 100 people gathered at the Thunder Bay, Ont., marina Thursday night to honour 14-year-old Mackenzie Moonias.

Mackenzie was a member of Neskantaga First Nation and was in the city to attend the Matawa Education and Care Centre, since their home community does not have a high school.

Friends, family, community members and First Nations leaders held a candlelight vigil by the dock, near where Mackenzie's body was found early Monday. Mackenzie was last seen alive the morning of Dec. 13 at the waterfront. Police issued a missing persons report Saturday.

Mourners sang, drummed, danced and shared stories about Mackenzie before releasing floating lanterns into the skies above Lake Superior, and watched as the little fires drifted toward the stars.

Condolences and messages of support have been pouring in on social media since Mackenzie's death, including from the city's mayor, Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Neskantaga's Chief Chris Moonias, MPP Sol Mamakwa, and the Elizabeth Fry Society of Northwestern Ontario.

Scroll through the gallery below to see photos of the vigil:


A person beats a hand drum near a fire. People sit and stand around them, some crying.
Community members gather around a sacred fire at the Thunder Bay, Ont., marina to honour 14-year-old Mackenzie Moonias, whose body was found at the waterfront Monday. (Sarah Law/CBC)
A young person covered in blankets is seen holding a candle by a fire.
More than 100 people attend a candelight vigil in Thunder Bay, Ont., for 14-year-old Mackenzie Moonias of Neskantaga First Nation. (Sarah Law/CBC)
A person is seen cupping a candle in their hands outside.
Nishnawbe Aski Nation's deputy grand chief Anna Betty Achneepineskum is seen at a candelight vigil for 14-year-old Mackenzie Moonias in Thunder Bay, Ont. (Sarah Law/CBC)
A poster with photos of a young person, which says,
Photos of Mackenzie Moonias, a 14-year-old from Neskantaga First Nation whose body was found in Thunder Bay, Ont., Monday. (Sarah Law/CBC)
People sit and stand around a fire, holding candles.
Mourners pay their respects to Mackenzie Moonias during a candlelight vigil at the Thunder Bay, Ont., marina. (Sarah Law/CBC)
People stand near water, holding candles.
A candlelight vigil in Thunder Bay, Ont., draws more than 100 people to the marina to honour 14-year-old Mackenzie Moonias of Neskantaga First Nation. (Sarah Law/CBC)
People are seen standing outside, holding tealight candles.
People hold tealight candles at the Thunder Bay, Ont., marina in honour of 14-year-old Mackenzie Moonias of Neskantaga First Nation. (Sarah Law/CBC)
A red handprint is seen stamped over the handwritten name Mackenzie on a white poster.
A red handprint is pressed over the name Mackenzie on a poster honouring the 14-year-old youth from Neskantaga First Nation whose body was found in Thunder Bay, Ont. (Sarah Law/CBC)
A toy sloth and a toy unicorn are placed on a table outside at night, surrounded by candles.
A toy sloth and a toy unicorn are brought to the candlelight vigil for 14-year-old Mackenzie Moonias in Thunder Bay, Ont. The youth from Neskantaga First Nation was a student at the Matawa Education and Care Centre. (Sarah Law/CBC)
A neon-yellow sign is held outside, which reads
A young person holds a sign to recognize 14-year-old Mackenzie Moonias of Neskantaga First Nation, whose body was found in Thunder Bay, Ont., Monday. (Sarah Law/CBC)

The Canadian Mental Health Association of Thunder Bay offers a 24-7 crisis line to people of all ages at 807-346-8282. Kids Help Phone, which operates round the clock, can be reached at 1-800-668-6868 or by texting CONNECT to 686868. If you are struggling right now, you can call 988.