Natanis Merasty was last seen on May 5, 2025. (Submitted photo/RCMP)

By paNOW Staff

suspicious disappearance

Search to take place on James Smith Cree Nation for missing Natanis Merasty

Oct 28, 2025 | 1:14 PM

Since May, the search for a missing woman originally from La Ronge has spanned three provinces – from Saskatchewan to British Columbia. Now, family and friends are taking matters into their own hands with their own local search.

This Saturday, the public is being invited to help look for 24-year-old Natanis Merasty on James Smith Cree Nation (JSCN), where her vehicle was found abandoned.

“It wasn’t common for Natanis to travel across provinces. She was very close to her family. This is really unusual behaviour. There’s a lot of concern, and it’s really disheartening for the family,” said Katherine Cooper, an advocate for Indigenous women who is helping to coordinate the search.

Volunteers are asked to meet in the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation Health parking lot in Prince Albert at 10:30 a.m. on Nov. 1. The group will depart for James Smith Cree Nation and gather at the location where her vehicle was found to start the search. Cooper is hoping official search and rescue organizations will join them.

CCTV image of Natanis Merasty at the Continental Inn in Edmonton, May 5, 2025. (Submitted photo/Edmonton Police Service)

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Merasty was reported missing on May 9. She had been visiting with friends and acquaintances in Edmonton, and that’s where she was last seen.

The Edmonton Police Service (EPS) took the lead on the investigation and issued a timeline of events:

• On May 5, Merasty and her vehicle were at the Continental Inn in Edmonton until 1:33 a.m. She was then seen with her vehicle on surveillance video at a 7-Eleven convenience store in Edmonton until 2:55 a.m.
• Her vehicle travelled through Edmonton and east to Sherwood Park, then southwest toward Lake Louise. Police are unsure who was driving the car.
• On May 6, the vehicle continued into and through B.C.
• On May 7, the vehicle boarded a ferry and travelled to Nanaimo, B.C.
• On May 10, the vehicle returned to the Edmonton area.
• On May 12, the vehicle is seen west of Lloydminster.
• On May 15, the vehicle is recovered in James Smith Cree Nation, abandoned and painted silver. Again, police don’t know who drove her vehicle there.

“We have spoken to a number of individuals and we have a number of people of interest,” Lisa Riou, a homicide detective with EPS said at a press conference the police service held with the family in July. At that time, Merasty’s uncle, Victor Michel, said he believed whatever issues may have led to her disappearance started in Prince Albert.

With no contact, no sightings and no information, her whereabouts is become increasingly more suspicious and concerning to both police and Merasty’s family.

“I really want to express that with all the action that’s been taken so far to find Natanis Merasty, the family has not been successful, and they need help because it’s getting cold and snow is coming and they just want their family member home,” Cooper said.

Merasty was last seen wearing a black and grey sweatshirt, black leggings, white shoes and a black fanny pack. She also has a tattoo of the letters “DJM” on her fingers and a rose tattoo on her hand.

Anyone with information is asked to contact local police or Crimestoppers.

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panews@pattisonmedia.com