Draped in red, Melva Mantla made a promise to her “little cousin” outside the Yellowknife courthouse on Tuesday.
“Breanna Menacho’s voice won’t go unheard.”
Menacho was found deceased in downtown Yellowknife May 6. She was reported missing earlier that day.
Devon Larabie, 27, has been charged with murder in her death.
Larabie made a brief appearance in territorial court via video from North Slave Correctional Complex (NSCC) Tuesday. He was remanded to custody and scheduled to appear in court next June 16.
Outside the courthouse, Mantla, along with half a dozen family members and friends of the 22-year-old homicide victim, wore red — a colour that’s come to symbolize Canada’s missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.
“This is not right what happened to her and to many of our lost sisters,” said Mantla.
“We’re here in support of them. We are going to stand beside her until the very end,” she added.
When Menacho was killed, Larabie was out on bail — he was released with conditions on March 20 after being charged with robbing a city convenience store at knife-point.
Mantla said Tuesday's show of solidarity won’t be the last.
“This is just the beginning,” she said.
The charges against Larabie have not been proven in court.