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Brandy Vittrekwa, 17, ID'd as person found dead on Whitehorse trail

Brandy Vittrekwa, 17, was found dead on a walking trail in Whitehorse on Monday night. A family member has confirmed her identity to CBC News.

Vittrekwa was originally from Fort McPherson, N.W.T.

Brandy Vittrekwa, 17, found dead in Whitehorse

10 years ago
Duration 1:21
Brandy Vittrekwa, 17, found dead in Whitehorse

Brandy Vittrekwa, 17, was found dead on a walking trail in Whitehorse on Monday night. A family member has confirmed her identity to CBC News.

Vittrekwa's body was found on a trail in the McIntyre subdivision. Police are investigating the death as a homicide.

An autopsy is scheduled for Thursday.  

Vittrekwa was living in Whitehorse but is originally from Fort McPherson, N.W.T. Her Facebook page says she attended Porter Creek Secondary School in Whitehorse.

Her family and friends are holding a candlelight vigil tonight at 7 p.m. PT near the area where her body was found.

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations to help cover funeral costs. Those can be made through the Kwanlin Dun First Nation.​

The Kwanlin Dun are holding a community meeting in their potlatch house today to discuss Vittrekwa's death. 

Flowers and other tributes have been left near the Whitehorse walking trail where Brandy Vittrekwa, 17, was found dead Dec. 8. Her family and friends will hold a candlelight vigil tonight at 7 p.m. (Karen McColl/CBC)

Jeanie Dendys, Kwanlin Dun's director of justice, says the death comes as a shock to the community. She says violent crime was an issue discussed at this summer's Kwanlin Dun general assembly.

A program to increase the police presence in the McIntyre subdivision had just started this week.

Dendys says a ceremonial fire has been lit at the potlatch house, and it will be open for people to gather and offer support, or prayers.