Curtains of Hope: A Tale of Love and Loss, Ten Years Later
The sunlight struggles to penetrate the thick fabric of the curtains in Thelma Favel’s living room, a place that has become a sacred shrine to the memory of her grand-niece, Tina Fontaine. Since Tina’s untimely death in Winnipeg in August 2014, the curtains have remained closed, shielding the gravel road where Favel used to watch Tina skip home, her infectious smile brightening each step.
Amidst the dozens of family photos adorning her walls, Tina’s gaze lingers from captured moments frozen in time. Favel, Tina’s primary caregiver for most of her life, is surrounded by memories that both comfort and ache her heart. “She was so full of life, so happy,” Favel reminisced. “Everything in my house reminds me of Tina — especially her room. That’s where I feel so much closer to her.”
In the shadowed corners of her home near Sagkeeng Anicinabe Nation, Favel’s emotions still raw, she reflects on a decade marked by loss and injustice. Tina’s accused killer was acquitted in 2018, a devastating blow for Favel and many who loved the spirited teenager. Tina’s tragic story has become a symbol of the ongoing violence against Indigenous women and girls, a harsh reality that continues to haunt Favel.
As the anniversary of Tina’s passing approaches, Favel and her friend Marilyn Courchene are preparing to honor all missing and murdered Indigenous people with a feast and walk in Sagkeeng, a solemn yet hopeful gesture to raise awareness and pay tribute to those lost. Favel will stand by Tina’s heart-shaped gravestone, her handwritten letter fluttering in the wind, a final farewell to a beloved soul.
“I get very angry,” Favel admitted, recalling the frustration of seeking answers and justice for Tina in the aftermath of her disappearance. The pain of not knowing what could have been done to save her grand-niece still weighs heavily on Favel’s heart. Tina’s tragic end, her 72-pound body discovered in the Red River, remains a stark reminder of the injustice that plagues Indigenous communities.
Despite the darkness that has shrouded Sagkeeng and other Indigenous communities, there is a glimmer of hope on the horizon. Chief E. J. Fontaine of Sagkeeng Anicinabe Nation is spearheading efforts to empower Indigenous nations to take control of child
The sunlight struggles to penetrate the thick fabric of the curtains in Thelma Favel’s living room, a place that has become a sacred shrine to the memory of her grand-niece, Tina Fontaine. Since Tina’s untimely death in Winnipeg in August 2014, the curtains have remained closed, shielding the gravel road where Favel used to watch Tina skip home, her infectious smile brightening each step.
Amidst the dozens of family photos adorning her walls, Tina’s gaze lingers from captured moments frozen in time. Favel, Tina’s primary caregiver for most of her life, is surrounded by memories that both comfort and ache her heart. “She was so full of life, so happy,” Favel reminisced. “Everything in my house reminds me of Tina — especially her room. That’s where I feel so much closer to her.”
In the shadowed corners of her home near Sagkeeng Anicinabe Nation, Favel’s emotions still raw, she reflects on a decade marked by loss and injustice. Tina’s accused killer was acquitted in 2018, a devastating blow for Favel and many who loved the spirited teenager. Tina’s tragic story has become a symbol of the ongoing violence against Indigenous women and girls, a harsh reality that continues to haunt Favel.
As the anniversary of Tina’s passing approaches, Favel and her friend Marilyn Courchene are preparing to honor all missing and murdered Indigenous people with a feast and walk in Sagkeeng, a solemn yet hopeful gesture to raise awareness and pay tribute to those lost. Favel will stand by Tina’s heart-shaped gravestone, her handwritten letter fluttering in the wind, a final farewell to a beloved soul.
“I get very angry,” Favel admitted, recalling the frustration of seeking answers and justice for Tina in the aftermath of her disappearance. The pain of not knowing what could have been done to save her grand-niece still weighs heavily on Favel’s heart. Tina’s tragic end, her 72-pound body discovered in the Red River, remains a stark reminder of the injustice that plagues Indigenous communities.
Despite the darkness that has shrouded Sagkeeng and other Indigenous communities, there is a glimmer of hope on the horizon. Chief E. J. Fontaine of Sagkeeng Anicinabe Nation is spearheading efforts to empower Indigenous nations to take control of child
