Angel Moore
APTN News
It’s been one year since the body of Cassidy Bernard was found in her home in We’koqma’q First Nation.
The RCMP have yet to lay charges in the young mother’s suspicious death.
Her mother Mona Bernard found her daughter’s body.
“I miss her every day because her laughter would just ring through, she was just that sort of person that brings the light into your days,” she said.
(“I just want everybody to know who have a daughter just protect her with all you’ve got,” says Mona Bernard (left) seen here with Tyra Denny, Cassidy’s sister. Photo: Angel Moore/APTN)
Cassidy, 22, was the mother to twins – Paisley and Mya.
They were at home at the time of their mother’s death.
Mona now cares for them.
“We have a lot of children who we have to take care of, and we just focused on that and trying to make this life safe for them,” said Mona.
In an emailed statement, the RCMP said that the death is considered suspicious, and the investigation is ongoing.
(Cassidy Bernard, 22, was found dead in her home on Oct. 24, 2018. Photo: Facebook)
The family says it understands, but wants answers.
“I really do understand that it takes long to collect evidence and do all this work but like it’s really too long,” said Mona. “A year it’s long for us to wait like I’m afraid that pretty soon they’re not going to find no answers.
Last month We’koqma’q band council banned Cassidy’s ex-boyfriend, Austin Isadore, from the community.
Isadore has admitted to threatening Cassidy at points during their two-year relationship but has maintained his innocence in her death.
Cassidy’s sister Tyra Denny says they need closure for the children.
“I had my days where I didn’t have no faith and same with my mom and same with our family where we would question like why is this why is that why did we provide that information but there’s nothing being done about it,” she said.
(A vigil was held last week to honour Cassidy Bernard and all missing and murdered Indigenous women. Photo: Angel Moore/APTN)
A vigil was held last week to honour Cassidy Bernard and all missing and murdered Indigenous women.
About 100 people lined the Trans Canada Highway along We’koqma’q for 4,365 seconds for the number of Indigenous women and girls who have gone missing or have been murdered.
They also waited 365 seconds to represent the year they’ve been waiting for information on the killing of Cassidy Bernard.
Since Cassidy’s death, Annie Bernard, her aunt, has become president of the Nova Scotia Native Women’s Association and the community has hung red dresses up.
“We increased our security, we have a $100,000 reward out we’re going to keep demanding justice we’re not going to forget about this,” said community member Stephen Googoo.
“We’re not going to brush this under the rug we’re going to fight it till Cassidy does get justice.”
The family says it will keep telling Cassidy’s story until justice is served.
