Danielle Nyland’s family grieves at aboriginal day march

The Nyland family is still visibly shaken up by the news of Danielle’s death. When they went up on stage after the march, all dignitaries present took the time to give their condolences. People held signs that read “Danielle Nyland- Justice will be served!” and “Danielle Nyland- Never forgotten.”

Peter Nyland, Danielle’s uncle, wiped away his tears and was handed the microphone to address the crowd.

“Our family express our condolences to everybody out here who have missing people still and we hope that you have closure someday.”

Later, Peter took the time to talk about his niece with paNOW. He said it was difficult to hear the news that Danielle had been found but in some sense, it did come as a relief to know the truth.

“It was heartbreaking, but I think it was more of a closure thing for the family for the search part of it. Now we can move on with the burying her,” he said. “There’s so many people that haven’t (found their loved one).”

“There’s so many missing women out there.”

Peter said the decision to march was an important step for them.

“Today when I heard about the walk happening I felt we should come up because Danielle’s Metis and my family is Metis and we’d like to show some support for this walk,” he said. “I felt it was right to come up here in her memory.”

The government needs to come forward and take action against a very widespread problem, that of missing and murdered aboriginal women, he said.

“We need to have that recognition and support.”

Still, the family has had a lot of support locally, something Peter said hasn’t gone unnoticed.

“It’s been wonderful. There have been so many calls,” he said. “I’ve been on my phone for hours and hours at a time just talking to people that have wanted to come and help and have been showing their respect for Danielle.”

Just hours before the walk, the Nyland family took a trip out to where Danielle’s body was found.

“We went out to the site this morning,” Peter explained. “We got to the actual… where the body was found and we laid wreaths and flowers.”

“On the way back the walk was just starting. There were actually two groups so that was kind of nice… just all the more support.”

Peter had nothing but good things to say about his niece.

“Danielle was a great person. She worked in a care home; she loved people,” he said. “If you look on her Facebook you can see how many people are on there that wished her well and were hoping for the best.”

And now that it hasn’t been you can see on her Facebook page all the warm wishes to the family and whatnot.”

He also gave praise to everyone who has worked on the search, and is still working on Danielle’s case.

“I’d like to thank the RCMP for their tireless efforts out there and all the area farmers that let us in to their fields and the back of their properties. It was… a tough time, but we found her and we can have closure.”

Peter said no funeral arrangements have been made yet. The autopsy is set for Monday and he expects the funeral will be later in the week.

“To Danielle – I’d like to say, we found you,” he said, fighting back the emotion in his voice. “She was caring and she was very personable.”

“She didn’t deserve this.”

asoloducha@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alex_soloducha

by Alex Soloducha

Danielle Nyland’s family grieves at aboriginal day march

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