Family Seeks Clarity After Boy Found in Saskatchewan

Jay’siiah Webb-Long lived in Brampton, Ont., but his body was discovered earlier this month in Pelican Narrows, a community nearly 3,000 kilometres away in northern Saskatchewan.

The circumstances surrounding his presence in Pelican Narrows remain unclear as family and friends mourn his loss and seek answers about what transpired.

“He has no ties or relationship to Saskatchewan, especially not to Pelican Narrows, which is quite remote,” Shana Mc Calla, founder of Find Ontario Missing Boys, told the Star Phoenix.

Speaking on behalf of Webb-Long’s family, Mc Calla expressed her belief that he was taken from his home in the Greater Toronto Area and brought to that community.

His remains were located during a planned search on May 13. Authorities are treating his death as a homicide.

Mc Calla criticized media reports labeling Webb-Long as “living” in Pelican Narrows, calling it a “farce.”

“He’s a boy from Brampton Ontario who lived with his mother and siblings – someone maliciously removed him from his surroundings,” she stated.

The remains of 16-year-old Jay’siiah Webb-Long, who went missing from Ontario in 2025, were found on May 13 near Pelican Narrows in northern Saskatchewan. His death is being treated as a homicide. Supplied Photo/Saskatchewan RCMP /Saskatchewan RCMP

Search and investigation

Mc Calla mentioned that Webb-Long’s family first attempted to report him missing on March 27, 2025 to Peel Regional Police. She stated they faced difficulties filing the report since his mother had been communicating with him via social media. The last contact the family had with him was on May 16, 2025 according to RCMP.

Mc Calla noted that Shenice Long, Webb-Long’s mother, only exchanged messages with him briefly and received minimal information.

The delay in reporting is something Mc Calla believes had serious consequences; she asserts police “dropped the ball.”

“Maybe they could have located him before he was taken out of the province,” she said.

The Peel Regional Police department serving Brampton said through an email that once Webb-Long was reported missing, officers promptly began speaking with family members, friends and acquaintances.

The statement added that Ontario police worked alongside RCMP on search efforts after it was established that Webb-Long was located in Saskatchewan.

“Sadly, the outcome wasn’t what anyone hoped for,” read their statement.

If you have specific inquiries regarding the homicide investigation, Peel police referred those to Saskatchewan RCMP who indicated they couldn’t provide additional details due to the investigation being at “preliminary” stages.

A sign welcoming visitors into Pelican Narrows village. The Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation community is requesting help to address violent crime issues. Michael Joel-Hansen /

Larger issue at hand

Mc Calla explained that Webb-Long’s disappearance reflects a broader problem within the Greater Toronto Area where young Black boys are often lured by individuals pretending to be friends or mentors who gain their trust through gifts like shoes or clothing-items parents might struggle to afford.

This gifting can create a sense of “debt bondage” used for manipulation and control over these kids through threats and coercion.

“Now you owe me ‘X’ amount of money-how do you plan on paying it back?” Mc Calla elaborated.

As part of her work’s mission, she has traveled alongside families throughout Ontario working to recover children taken under similar circumstances.

Durning these journeys she observed how kids were frequently tracked down to homes involved with drug sales describing those places as “filthy.”

“The smell is something I can’t forget; my clothes reeked for days afterward-I had to wash them thoroughly and take long showers.”

She believes those luring children are linked to “sophisticated criminal organizations” also involved in trafficking drugs into communities like Pelican Narrows.

“Unfortunately they’re being targeted too.”

PBCN calls for support

The death of Webb-Long led leaders at Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation (PBCN) to request assistance dealing with increasing violence locally.

A few days after finding the boy’s remains on May 21st , RCMP responded to another incident at a residence within Pelican Narrows discovering Jaden Custer dead at age 26. A suspect aged 31 was later arrested in Edmonton facing second-degree murder charges stemming from this case.

In an official press release sent out May 22nd , PBCN stated both fatalities have heightened anxiety among residents experiencing other serious issues such as drive-by shootings and instances involving bear spray attacks along with Molotov cocktails thrown towards residences.

PBCN Chief Peter Beatty articulated concerns saying this isn’t normal behavior.

“Pelican Narrows is grieving. Families live in fear while children grow up surrounded by violence no child should witness,” he expressed within their release.

Alongside PBCN communities such as Deschambault Lake & Sandy Bay rank among top fifteen nationally per capita concerning violent crime calls made towards police services.

Both PBCN & other First Nation communities advocate for enhanced policing resources along with improved support systems aimed toward addiction treatment & mental health needs while specifically requesting better cellular coverage aiding communication effectiveness.

The provincial government announced ongoing collaboration efforts focused on filling staffing vacancies pointing toward national campaigns promoting careers within law enforcement agencies operating throughout provinces.

Additionally mentioning $1.3 million allocated expanding First Nations Community Safety Officer Program functioning jointly alongside federal initiatives.A display commemorating individuals from Pelican Narrows who are either missing or victims of violence hangs prominently inside Wapanacak Elementary School gymnasium during year twenty twenty-three. Michael Joel-Hansen /

Saying farewell

Family members related directly impacted by Jay’s death aren’t handling well stated Mc Calla indicating her presence there when they learned about discovery concerning their loved one’s body.

She described how tightly knit their familial bonds are noting he’d been older sibling & best friend toward cousin particularly highlighting close relationships shared amongst them all.“Unfortunately they’re now planning his funeral instead holding hope he’d return safely home.”
They initiated Go Fund Me campaign assisting expenses associated funerals mourning process whereby explaining how deeply cherished he truly remained amongst those closest knew him.
-with files contributed Nicole Goldsworthy Local Journalism Initiative
-Editor’s note This narrative underwent amendments dated upon May twenty-nine clarifying complications arising around reporting Jay missed occurrence towards Peel Regional Police serving province.
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