She was a 'catalyst for change': The life and death of Tina Fontaine
On Thursday, a jury found Raymond Cormier not guilty of second-degree murder in the death of Manitoba teenager Tina Fontaine.
Fontaine was 15 when her body was found in Winnipeg's Red River, wrapped in a duvet cover, in August of 2014. At the time, she was living in a hotel and under the care of Manitoba Child and Family Services.
- CBC News | Jury finds Raymond Cormier not guilty in death of Tina Fontaine
- CBC News | Marchers walk for Tina Fontaine, for love and peace, and for change
Her death provoked renewed calls for the national inquiry into Canada's missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, which, at the time of her death, had yet to be launched.
Now, the trial verdict is leading to calls for changes to Canada's justice system.
Those calls took to the street Friday as hundreds marched in downtown Winnipeg in memory of the teen.
Sandra DeLaronde was one of the organizers of the event. She is a co-chair for the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girl's Coalition in Manitoba.
DeLaronde believes that Tina's life and death are a "a catalyst for change for Canada, for Indigenous people, for the relationships between Indigenous governments and [federal] and provincial governments."
She tells Day 6 what she believes will happen after this week's not-guilty verdict. Listen to her segment in the player below.
DeLaronde says some families may feel re-traumatized by the verdict in the Raymond Cormier murder trial, and notes that Medicine Bear Counselling is available for anyone who may need help.