Memorial Ceremony for Murder Victim 4 year old Carnel Chamberlain Tomorrow

Levi Rickert, editor-in-chief in Native Currents. Discussion »

Carnel Chamberlain Memorial Ceremony Sunday

ISABELLA INDIAN RESERVATON – "It is sad here. You can feel the heaviness since we found out about Carnel’s death," stated Louise "Weezy" Hunt, a tribal citizen of the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe speaking on Wednesday in the aftermath in the death of young four year old Carnel Chamberlain, whose badly burned body was discovered one week after he was reported missing under the porch of the house he lived with his mother, Jaime Chamberlain.

“You don't see kids out playing like before,”

she continued almost two weeks after the discovery of his body on June 28 on the Isabella Indian Reservation.

Tomorrow, the family, tribal community and community at large will celebrate the life of the young tribal member at the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort Entertainment complex at 2:00 pm. Doors will open at 1:00 pm. The venue was chosen to accommodate the expected large crowd that will attend the memorial ceremony.

Hundreds of people turned out to search for Carnel after he was reported missing by his mother, Jaimee Chamberlain at 10:12 pm on June 21 when she called the Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Police Department to report him missing.

Actress Kateri Walker, Saginaw Chippewa, Makes
Tobacco Ties for Ceremony

“I will tell you that it was amazing how the community turned out to search for him. Tribal Council members and people from the greater community turned out. Our Tribe appreciates the support,”

commented Frank Cloutier, public relations director of the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe of Michigan.

Several efforts have been underway from various departments within the Tribe to contribute to the success of the memorial service. On Wednesday, the Seventh Generation Program helped, with assistance of community volunteers, put together hundreds to tobacco ties that will be given away at the memorial ceremony.

“We are eagerly awaiting our first opportunity as a family/community for some closure,”

commented family spokesperson Kevin Chamberlain, who served as chief of the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe during the late 1990s.

posted July 14, 2012 7:30 am edt