Vigil honours ‘kind-hearted woman’ slain in Point Douglas violence – Winnipeg
Dozens of group members, household and pals gathered outdoors the positioning the place Danielle Ballantyne died final week to pay tribute to the 36-year-old mom of 4, remembered for her massive coronary heart and contagious smile.
“She cherished everybody. She would all the time say, ‘I really like you’ to everybody she met,” Danielle’s aunt Gail Ledoux stated by means of tears to the group of mourners Saturday night. “She was a kind-hearted girl.”
Her household additionally cared deeply for her in return, Danielle’s aunt Marilyn Corridor stated.
Relations and pals burned cedar and sage, handed out flowers and lit candles to the sound of prayers and conventional Indigenous songs.
Household, pals and members of the group play a conventional Indigenous track on the night vigil honouring Danielle Ballantyne on Aug. 27, 2022.
Iris Dyck / International Information
Some like Corridor and Ledoux travelled greater than 400 km from the Grand Rapids space to be there.
“This tragedy may be very arduous,” Corridor stated.
Learn extra:
2nd teen suspect arrested in connection to string of Level Douglas violence: police
Ballantyne’s physique was found in an residence constructing on Winnipeg’s Jarvis Avenue round 7 a.m. on Monday. Winnipeg police, a few of whom have been in attendance on the vigil, have since arrested two 15-year-olds in connection together with her demise.
The pair of suspects are additionally accused of killing a person in his 50s together with significantly assaulting one other the identical day.
A purple gown honouring lacking and murdered Indigenous ladies and ladies hangs outdoors the Jarvis Avenue residence constructing on Aug. 27, 2022, the place Danielle Ballantyne’s physique was discovered the week earlier than.
Iris Dyck / International Information
Ballantyne was initially from Misipawistik Cree Nation in northern Manitoba, the place she misplaced each mother and father— her father to a coronary heart assault and her mom to a home hearth.
Lorraine Ballantyne informed International Information her older sister moved to Winnipeg about 10 years in the past.
“She was very, a protecting sibling out of all of our household,” Lorraine stated. “Her kids have been a very powerful factor in her life. She would do something for them. She would go above and past. She didn’t have a lot, however what she did have she would give to us and her kids.”
Lorraine’s sister battled drug addictions after she got here to town however reconnected with the household after turning her life round, she stated.
Lorraine Ballantyne says her older sister battled drug addictions after she moved to Winnipeg a decade in the past however reconnected with the household after turning her life round earlier than she died.
Iris Dyck / International Information
Danielle skilled homelessness earlier than she was killed and infrequently visited N’Dinawemak at 190 Disraeli, her pals and family members stated.
She fell by means of the cracks of a system that doesn’t supply sufficient assets to Indigenous individuals who don’t reside on reserves, her uncle Percy Ballantyne stated. He referred to as on native Indigenous organizations to take extra motion. Danielle’s household would forgive and pray for the kids now in custody, Percy added.
“If we battle hearth with hearth, that’s not going to be the way in which. It’s not going to resolve nothing. It’s going to worsen issues, so we have to return to our tradition, our price system and to be extra kinder to 1 one other and to assist each other as Indigenous folks,” he stated.
Danielle’s funeral will likely be in Grand Rapids on Tuesday.
