The story of Tina Fontaine’s life belongs to her and her family, but it parallels many others in Indigenous communities. Her struggle for stability, the promises not kept, and the sexual exploitation she endured meant that Tina experienced more trauma and pain than most people could imagine.
Because of situations beyond her control, Tina needed housing, health, and educational services that were not easily accessed. In the last years of her life, poverty, homelessness, and drug use led her into life threatening situations on an almost daily basis. All of this by the time she was 15-years-old.
Today, at the quiet end, we’re telling Tina’s story. After all, Tina was just a girl. She was a girl with hopes and dreams, just like our daughters. But Tina was left vulnerable to dangerous predators. Why was no one able or willing to protect or defend her?