Thunder Bay police and Mishkeegogamang seeking public assistance with two missing persons cases

The Thunder Bay Police Service (TBPS) and the Mishkeegogamang Ojibway Nation are calling on the public for help in finding 25-year-old Nodin Skunk and 23-year-old Ashlynn Bottle.

The two were last seen in the evening shortly around 4:30 p.m. on April 26 by the silos on Duncan Street near Syndicate Avenue.

A third person who arrived with Skunk and Bottle was seen leaving the property, but Skunk and Bottle were never seen leaving.

“Once we knew that this was the location, investigators have been working around the clock looking at this site, investigating this, and we don’t have anything to suggest that they left this property,” says TBPS Missing Persons Coordinator Jeff Saunders.

The police have deployed drones, gone through the elevators, and enlisted the assistance of the fire department, but they have yet to search the water next to the property.

“The water is probably the next step,” says Saunders. “It’s a reality that they may have made their way around or further down.”

A search of the water will take longer and require the involvement of the Ontario Provincial Police.

The police aren’t the only ones searching.

Skunk and Bottle are from the Mishkeegogamang Ojibway Nation, north of Ignace.

The First Nation has its own search underway as well.

The searchers from the First Nation are dressed in bright orange, and will be looking into properties in the surrounding area.

“We don’t mean to disrespect anybody’s property by any means, but you have to understand that we’re looking for a loved one here,” says Chief Merle Loon of the Mishkeegogamang, who is a relative of both Skunk and Bottle.

Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation says this isn’t the first time that community members have gone missing by the river, and worries about a lack of video cameras by the water.

“Knowing that this is a high-traffic area, I think there should be more cameras along the river. And that’s something we heard about nine years ago during the seven youth inquest,” says Fiddler. “I’m sure there’s things that can be done to ensure that the safety of our community members is a priority.”

Fiddler recently met with Mayor Ken Boshcoff and Fort William First Nation Chief Michele Solomon to discuss community safety.

The police and the Mishkeegogamang Ojibway Nation are both asking members of the public who live or work nearby to check their own video surveillance footage from about 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. on the night of April 26.

Nodin Skunk is described as an Indigenous male standing 5’9″, weighing about 135 lbs with a thin build and short, straight black hair and brown eyes.

He was last seen wearing all black with a hooded sweatshirt with a white logo.

Ashlyn Bottle is described as an Indigenous female standing 5’3″ with a thin build, long straight black hair and brown eyes.

She was last seen wearing a black crop top and a black jacket, with a red baseball hat, burgundy sweatpants, red and white Jordans, and a black backpack.

Those with information can contact the police at (807) 684-1200 or the Mishkeegogamang First Nation at (807) 333-0802.

This is an ongoing story, and will be updated with more information.