“I think families have to not be completely reliant on the police and just try to dig up new information themselves.” I was surprised to hear that from retired sergeant Chris Gheysen, a 30-year veteran of the Ontario Provincial Police and one of the original investigators in the unsolved murder of Sonya Cywink. Sitting next to Gheysen was Meggie Cywink, Sonya’s sister, who had clearly taken his advice to heart. In August 1994, Sonya’s body was found in a secluded park about 40 kilometres outside London, Ont. The 31-year-old Anishinaabe woman was found partially clothed, with signs of blunt force trauma on her small frame. She was 24 weeks pregnant when she was killed. Those brutal details about her sister’s death have haunted Meggie for years and she has vowed to uncover the truth of what happened to Sonya. Our story, “A Sister’s Promise,” documents Meggie’s journey as she hits the streets of east London searching for tips in her sister’s case. We’re there as the 62-year-old woman tracks down people of interest and grills them about what they know about Sonya’s death. I’ve done a lot of reporting on missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls and have met many family members forced into the role of advocate. Mothers, aunties, sisters — still grappling with grief but compelled to seek justice and be the voice of their lost loved one. But I’ve never seen anyone take it this far. What Meggie is able to uncover is remarkable, but the closer she gets to finding answers, the riskier her investigation becomes. What are the dangers when family members take matters into their own hands?
Watch "A Sister's Promise" now on YouTube, or tonight at 9 p.m. on CBC-TV and CBC Gem. Thanks, Connie Walker Host, “A Sister’s Promise” | 
