CHANGE IN DIRECTION
Wapemoose fund will go to daughter’s education
Donations gathered to support the search for the late Jenaya Wapemoose now have turned into an education fund for the Regina woman’s daughter, Anna-bella.
Jo-el Cheekinew, Wapemoose’s cousin, said he first started gathering donations shortly after Wapemoose went missing to help his family cover the cost of what was becoming a lengthy search. The plan was to raise funds until January 2020, when the family would expand their search to Alberta.
After seven months of wondering and hoping, Wapemoose’s body was found northeast of Regina on Oct. 26.
Two people have been charged in connection with her death, one with second-degree murder, the other as an accessory.
“We grew up together. We were very close,” Cheekinew said of Wapemoose. “I was thinking of possible ways that we could help my family with donations.”
Wapemoose, 22, originally was from Cowessess First Nation but had been living in Regina since she was 10 years old.
Family members said they last heard from her through social media on April 7, and the Regina Police Service said she was reported missing on May 7.
With no more need to search, the family came up with a different use for the donations they had received.
“We decided to move the funding to Jenaya’s daughter ... Now that she doesn’t have a mom that’s going to look after her, she’s just not going to have the best life as she should,” Cheekinew said of Anna-bella Wapemoose, 6.
“For it to turn into an education fund is great, but it was also very sad, because that’s not really how we wanted it to go.”
As vice-president of Unifor Local 651, Cheekinew had shared the story of his missing cousin at national Unifor conferences, hoping someone would recognize her. When he and a colleague approached the union’s national office with the idea of starting a search fund, Unifor helped set up the account.
After Wapemoose’s body was found, Cheekinew said, Unifor was very supportive in transforming the account into an education fund for Anna-bella. The union also donated $5,000 to the cause, bringing the total raised to more than $6,000 so far.
“I’m really surprised how much support there is in this community right now ... It makes me feel really good that I can help out at least just a little bit,” said Cheekinew.
“I never ever thought we’d be raising money for Anna-bella. However, it’s better than nothing because she’s going to grow up without a mom and not have that full support that she should have.”
Donations will be accepted until the end of 2020. After that, Cheekinew said, the trust fund will be transferred into Anna-bella’s father’s name to oversee until she needs it.
People can donate to Anna-bella’s education fund by emailing j_ cheekinew@hotmail.com or calling Cheekinew at 306-527-5057.