Manitoulin Island First Nation to search for woman last seen in October
Missing woman was a mother who dreamed of studying to be a social worker
Dozens of volunteers will be searching on Manitoulin Island Saturday for a woman who hasn't been seen in seven months.
Juanita "Winnie" Migwans, then 30 years old, of M'Chigeeng First Nation disappeared in October.
Her family has repeatedly posted about her on social media over the winter, hoping some clues would emerge.
"It's all I think about. Was all I think about," said her aunt MaryDale Ashcroft.
"I'd get up in the morning and think 'What am I going to post about Winnie today?' because it's so important to keep her face out there and when I went to bed, it was 'What am I going to post tomorrow?'"
And now, with the melting of the snow and with the help of the M'Chigeeng fire department, they've decided to search around the community.
"It's hard to say that we hope to find her, because we know what that means if we find her, but we don't know what else..." said Ashcroft.
"If she isn't deceased where is she? Is she in a human trafficking ring and we don't want her suffering through that for who knows how long."
Anyone is welcome to join in the search, which starts 10 a.m. Saturday from the M'Chigeeng fire hall.
Ashcroft says the Ontario Provincial Police recently followed up on a tip about Migwans in Wikwemikong, but nothing came of it.
She said a $100,000 reward is being offered for information on her niece's whereabouts and there are plans to put up billboards with her picture.
Anyone with information about this case, can call the OPP anonymous tip line 1-833-941-9010.