Search for slain teen Cooper Nemeth inspires Winnipeg homeless initiative

The family of slain 17-year-old Cooper Nemeth is giving back to a Winnipeg street patrol group that played a significant role in searching for the teen in February — and brought together Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities in the process.

The Nemeth Initiative is supplying Bear Clan Patrol with care packs for community members in need that they come across.

The goal of the initiative is to give people on the streets hope and keep Cooper Nemeth's spirit alive.

Nemeth, 17, was found dead on Feb. 20, 2016, after a high-profile six-day search for the teen. Nicholas Bell-Wright was charged with second-degree murder in the case. Police have said the incident was drug-related.

"Cooper brought an entire city together and I need to keep that going," Amber Nemeth, a relative of Cooper Nemeth, told CBC News.

Amber has been making care packages for the Bear Clan Patrol since Cooper was found dead.

'A great partnership' 

She's been collecting toilet paper, feminine hygiene products, Kleenex and granola bars for the group to give out while patrolling Winnipeg streets.

"It just seemed like a great partnership and it's been going really well, so I just want to keep it going," she said.

"As soon as they heard that there was possible sightings of him in that core area, they jumped on it right away and started helping us out."

Amber said the Bear Clan Patrol was instrumental not only helping search for Cooper last year, but also uniting Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in the city.

"I feel we need to keep that going," she said, speaking of a divide between the Indigenous and non-Indigenous community in Winnipeg. "I don't think people are aware how much they actually do for the community."

"We didn't want to send a lot of volunteers to these places they were looking, so they were great."

Bear Clan Patrol leader James Favel said the help from the Nemeth family goes a long way, because the group doesn't receive any government funding.

Favel said his relationship with the Nemeth family has been special ever since they invited the Bear Clan Patrol to lead a smudge at a vigil held for Cooper.

'A lasting bond'

"We thought that our part would just be a quick smudge of like 10 or 15 people and say a prayer," Favel said, adding that over 1,000 people turned out for the emotional evening.

"We got volunteers that are still walking with us today because of that event," he said. "There's a lasting bond that has been formed ... they're our friends now — these aren't strangers."

Nemeth said she is taking donations for future care packs and can be contacted through the Nemeth Initiative's Facebook.