On the 20th anniversary of Tamra Keepness’ disappearance, the Regina community came together at Pepsi Park, near her former home, for a barbecue. The event was a poignant reminder of the five-year-old’s vanishing on July 5, 2004, and aimed to keep her memory alive while raising awareness about the ongoing mystery.
Natasha Kennedy, executive director of Regina Treaty/Status Indian Services (RT/SIS), emphasized the significance of the annual gathering. “Every year we come back to Pepsi Park to have the barbecue to ensure that Tamra’s always remembered,” she said. The event has become a symbol of community unity, with various organizations and the Regina Police Service (RPS) collaborating to ensure its success.
The disappearance of Tamra remains a deep wound in the community’s memory. “I think really for the community, it’s a case that really sticks in everybody’s mind,” shared RPS Deputy Chief Lorilee Davies. The case resonates with many, as Davies described it as “a parent’s worst-case scenario in terms of your child going missing.” The lack of resolution after all these years makes the case particularly difficult to let go of.
The tragedy of Tamra’s disappearance deeply impacted the Saskatchewan First Nations Women’s Commission, which was then under the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN). For the commission, this was its first missing person’s case. Erica Beaudin, who was the executive director at the time and is now the chief of Cowessess First Nation, recalls the immediate response to Tamra’s disappearance. “I was deployed there immediately. Our area, which consisted of two individuals at that time, went and met with Lorena Keepness (Tamra’s mother) … to let her know who we were and that we would assist with search and rescue as well as provide supports to the family through advocacy.”
Beaudin highlighted the family’s privacy before Tamra’s disappearance, and the immense grief they have endured. “They were a very private family prior to Tamra going missing … some of the family members are now deceased. Tamra’s mother is now deceased and went to her grave not knowing what happened to her child.”
Despite the passage of time, the RPS remains committed to resolving Tamra’s case. They renewed a reward offer of $50,000 for information leading to the closure of the case. However, no one has come forward with relevant information yet.
The barbecue serves as a powerful reminder of the enduring pain and the community’s unwavering hope for answers. The event is a testament to the strength and resilience of those who continue to seek justice for Tamra Keepness.
