"Play it loud. Let your ancestors hear you."
With that, a group of young drummers led a march Nov. 26 down Lakelse Avenue from its intersection with Clinton Street where teen Sebastian Moore was stabbed and died a year ago to the day.
Family members held large photos of the Caledonia Secondary School student and were joined by approximately 60 other relatives, friends and supporters.
Many wore either black or pink toques with 'Seb' embroidered on them, which were distributed before the march began.
One of those attending was Moore's grandfather, Rick Moore, who described the past year as being very difficult.
Called 'Grandpa Rick', Moore said Sebastian, one of more than dozen grandchildren, was very close to him.
"He was born premature and flown down to Children's (Hospital) in Vancouver," said Moore. "We drove down to be with him when he woke up. That was how our connection started."
Seb, said Grandpa Rick, quickly acquired his own nickname, Dukes.
"Even as a baby, he'd raise his arm up toward me. I'd say he's got dukes so that's how he got that name."
Grandpa Rick said Seb also had a sense of humour and loved practical jokes, including putting small stones into his boots.
With a year now since his passing, Grandpa Rick remembers something a relative told him years ago: God gives the hardest challenges to those who have the strongest hearts.
"Everything now is in God's hands," Grandpa Rick said. "The wheels of justice are slow, but they are starting to turn."
The march ended with a gathering at George Little Park.
RCMP have yet to fully comment on what has transpired in the year since Moore was stabbed, other than to say the investigation is ongoing.
In a brief statements released at the time of Moore's death, police offered few details, saying only that officers responded Nov. 26, 2023 to a report of a homicide to find a deceased youth outside a residence in the 3000 Block of Clinton St, just north of the intersection with Lakelse Ave.
One other young person was taken to hospital with serious but undisclosed injuries and another youth was arrested and subsequently released.
The area was taped off for several days allowing full access for investigators with a specialized RCMP unit.
Officers also canvassed the area inquiring about CCTV footage.
