Search for remains of Grassy Narrows First Nation man continues near dump in northwestern Ontario

< warm>WARNING: This story contains references to missing and murdered Indigenous people. Resources put up be found at the bottom of the inning of this story.

at present that the snow has melted and the ground has thawed, the family of a 21-year-old man from Grassy Narrows First Nation has resumed their search for the rest of his remains.

Mekhi Pelly, also known as Mekhi Waters Pelly Scott, was reported missing in Kenora, Ont., on Oct. 26. He was last seen some time between Oct. 10 and 12.

A month later, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) in Kenora confirmed its emergency response team found some of his remains in the Washagamis Bay area (also known as Obashkaandagaang First Nation).

A 24-year-old man has been charged with indignity to a dead body and first-degree murder, while a 43-year-old woman was charged with accessory after the fact to murder.

The woman is expected in court June 11 and the man's next court appearance is June 25. 

Mekhi’s father, Brian Pelly, said about 30 per cent of his son’s remains are unaccounted for and he can’t lay him to rest until they’re found.

Searchers have set up a command centre at the Washagamis Bay community hall and are focusing their efforts in the area of the First Nation’s dump. 

In the fall, searchers and support came from several surrounding communities, including Grassy Narrows, Washagamis Bay, Wauzhushk Onigum Nation (Rat Portage) and Shoal Lake #40, as well as Red Sucker Lake, Garden Hill and St. Theresa Point First Nations from northern Manitoba.

Search efforts have resumed on a smaller scale this month, but Pelly said he hopes to engage with these communities again to get more people on the ground.

“We wouldn't be where we're at right now if it wasn't for everybody." 

OPP officers have been collecting bones found by community searchers and sending them to Toronto for testing to see if they belong to Mekhi, Pelly said.

Initially, he said, he was frustrated with the OPP’s inaction in his son’s case, but as more communities and partners have become involved, the police have become more engaged.

“It took that kind of push to get them out there,” Pelly said. “I'm happy that they're helping.”

“The OPP continues to work with the civilian searchers to assess whether items found during their search efforts are evidentiary,” Wabason wrote in an email. 

The OPP-led search involved many partners, including K-9 units, emergency response team members, the underwater search and recovery unit, members of OPP's Kenora detachment, aerial assets, Treaty Three Police, Lac Seul Police, RCMP Manitoba and the RCMP Underwater Recovery Team, she said.

“Additionally, the OPP worked with the civilian and community searchers to cover a vast area around [and] between Kenora and eastern Manitoba, finally focusing efforts around Washagamis Bay.”

More than 1,400 people are part of the Facebook group Bring Mekhi Home, where searchers have been documenting their efforts and sharing information about needed supplies, such as food, water and safety equipment.

After a long winter of waiting, Pelly said he’s eager to cover more ground in hopes of bringing his son home.

“That's the whole point of this, is getting closure,” he said.

Support is available for anyone affected by the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous people. Immediate emotional assistance and crisis support is available 24/7 through a national hotline at 1-844-413-6649.

Reporter

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