Post by Sher on Oct 14, 2005 9:42:26 GMT -5
While a sacred fire burned at the home of a missing Aroland First Nation girl and locals prayed for her return, efforts to get the word out about the 13-year-old’s disappearance continued Wednesday.
“We’re just trying to get people’s attention about this,” said Aroland Chief Sam Kashkeesh.
Arielle Ritch was last seen Oct. 4 about 6 p.m. leaving the home of a friend in Geraldton, about 70 kilometres south of the reserve.
Police say they believe the dark-haired girl was headed to Geraldton’s Greyhound depot.
But the depot was closed that night and a search of the area after she was reported missing later the same evening came up empty, said Greenstone OPP Staff Sgt. Dan Levesque.
Levesque said someone was supposed to pick up Ritch in a car, but police were unable to trace it because they were given no description of the vehicle.
“There is no reason to believe she was a chronic runaway,” Levesque added.
Ritch lives in Aroland with her father. Her mother lives in Thunder Bay. Levesque said the girl’s mother had been contacted but there has been no sign of Arielle in the city.
Meanwhile, Aroland’s 350 Ojibwa residents have been coming to grips with the first disappearance of a young person in recent memory.
Reserve crisis co-ordinator Alice Towedo said she has been at Ritch’s home, comforting family members.
While a fire burns at the back of the Ritch home, people pray for her safe return.
Towedo said it takes about an hour to get from the reserve to Geraldton. She said she can’t imagine a young teen leaving the reserve alone without word getting around.
“People (from Aroland) just don’t give someone a ride without their parents knowing about it,” Towedo said.
Arielle Ritch is described as 160 centimetres tall, weighing about 80 kilograms. She has long brown hair with burgundy highlights, usually kept in a pony-tail, police say.
She was last seen wearing blue pants with “princess” written on them and a red hooded top with the initials “EJ” on the front. Her shirt esd pink, black and red striped. Her shoes were pink.
Anyone with information about her whereabouts is asked to call Greenstone OPP at (807) 854-1333 or 888-310-1122.
“We’re just trying to get people’s attention about this,” said Aroland Chief Sam Kashkeesh.
Arielle Ritch was last seen Oct. 4 about 6 p.m. leaving the home of a friend in Geraldton, about 70 kilometres south of the reserve.
Police say they believe the dark-haired girl was headed to Geraldton’s Greyhound depot.
But the depot was closed that night and a search of the area after she was reported missing later the same evening came up empty, said Greenstone OPP Staff Sgt. Dan Levesque.
Levesque said someone was supposed to pick up Ritch in a car, but police were unable to trace it because they were given no description of the vehicle.
“There is no reason to believe she was a chronic runaway,” Levesque added.
Ritch lives in Aroland with her father. Her mother lives in Thunder Bay. Levesque said the girl’s mother had been contacted but there has been no sign of Arielle in the city.
Meanwhile, Aroland’s 350 Ojibwa residents have been coming to grips with the first disappearance of a young person in recent memory.
Reserve crisis co-ordinator Alice Towedo said she has been at Ritch’s home, comforting family members.
While a fire burns at the back of the Ritch home, people pray for her safe return.
Towedo said it takes about an hour to get from the reserve to Geraldton. She said she can’t imagine a young teen leaving the reserve alone without word getting around.
“People (from Aroland) just don’t give someone a ride without their parents knowing about it,” Towedo said.
Arielle Ritch is described as 160 centimetres tall, weighing about 80 kilograms. She has long brown hair with burgundy highlights, usually kept in a pony-tail, police say.
She was last seen wearing blue pants with “princess” written on them and a red hooded top with the initials “EJ” on the front. Her shirt esd pink, black and red striped. Her shoes were pink.
Anyone with information about her whereabouts is asked to call Greenstone OPP at (807) 854-1333 or 888-310-1122.
