The mother of a missing Ontario teenager is pleading for answers after learning her 16-year-old son disappeared in northern Saskatchewan.
Shenice Long, from Brampton, Ont., says she never knew her son, Jaysiiah Webb-Long, had travelled to Pelican Narrows, a remote community about 400 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon. The teen was last seen earlier this month, sparking concern among both his family and local residents.
“Somebody knows something,” Long told CBC News. “He’s only 16. I need to know what happened to my child.”
According to RCMP, Jaysiiah was reported missing after failing to return home, and officers are working with local searchers to locate him. Police say his disappearance is being treated as a high-priority case, and they are appealing to anyone with information to come forward.
Pelican Narrows, home to the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation, has launched community searches and distributed posters with Jaysiiah’s photo. Family and friends describe him as a kind and outgoing teen, and say his sudden disappearance is out of character.
Long says she feels helpless being so far away from the search efforts. “It breaks me that I’m here in Ontario and he’s out there. I just want answers,” she said.
RCMP confirmed that they continue to investigate, but no foul play has been determined at this stage. Authorities are urging residents of Pelican Narrows and surrounding areas to share any information that might help bring Jaysiiah home.
The case has drawn widespread attention, with advocates stressing the vulnerability of missing Indigenous and racialized youth in remote communities. Long says she will not stop pushing until she learns what happened to her son.
