RTSIS hosts its 11th annual barbeque for Tamra Keepness
- Tiffany Head | July 05, 2015
It has been 11 years since Tamra Keepness went missing: 11 years that her case has been open with only tidbits of information here and there to keep the Regina police and family hoping to find her and hoping for closure.
She was last seen in her home on the 1800 block of Ottawa street the night of July 5, 2004.
The Regina Treaty/Status Indian Services (RTSIS) hosted its 11th Annual Keepness BBQ at the Core Community Park. The barbeque is also symbolic to all missing and murdered Indigenous women.
Members of the Regina Police Service (RPS) were there to assist and support the annual RTSIS barbeque.
Deputy Chief Dean Rae says there are no suspects but there have been people of interest. He hopes that community members out there who know anything will come forward with their information.
“There are still tips coming in, we just followed up on one just recently, I anticipate on a day like today with added profile will bring in some more information,” says Deputy Chief Rae
“This is one of these events where we add profile to this investigation. It is never too late to bring that closure for the family, let the family know that we’re still caring, still committed to this investigation and we will continue our investigation. Hopefully we will get a resolution to this”.
Lucinda Toto, Keepness' grandmother, says the family has never for one moment forgotten about her grand-daughter. She remembers Tamra as being a sweetheart and a very happy-go-lucky little girl.
“She would be 16 now. We would have gotten to know each other, spent time with each other. She would have been a beautiful girl,” says Toto.
The family continues to come together, to pray, to smudge and hope for closure. They also continue to actively look for her as soon as they find out any new information.
“If anybody knows where she is, please, please we're begging, please come forward. Let’s bring closure to this, it's 11 years now. How many more years are we going to be doing this?” pleads Toto.
The RPS hope the money that was doubled to $50,000 last year in June will be a big motivation for someone to come forward with the information they need to find Keepness.
Related story: BBQ marks somber anniversary of little girl's disappearance