Manitoba's government is offering condolences to the family of Helen Betty Osborne this weekend on the 50th anniversary of her death.

Osborne was a 19-year-old student from Norway House Cree Nation and was attending high school in The Pas when she was abducted by a group of non-Indigenous men from the town and killed on November 13, 1971.

It would take 15 years before murder charges were laid.

An inquiry determined that racism, sexism and indifference marred the investigation from the beginning.

“It was racism that fueled the murder of Helen Betty and long-standing obvious systemic racism that galvanized First Nations to seek justice for all Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and gender diverse peoples," says Grand Chief Arlen Dumas of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs in a statement.

"We thank all who have recognized this day and who have pledged in Helen Betty’s name to make this society a safer, more caring place for First Nations women and girls," Dumas says.

Manitoba's Indigenous Reconciliation and Northern Relations Minister Alan Lagimodiere and Sport, Culture and Heritage Minister Cathy Cox say in a statement that Osborne's death is a sombre reminder of the important work that remains ahead to advance reconciliation and healing.

Leader of Manitoba's NDP party, Wab Kinew, says that five decades later there is still much work to do in terms of justice in the province.

"Her murder spawned many calls for Justice which led to changes over the years, including the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry whose work is unfinished," Kinew says in a tweet.

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With files from The Canadian Press

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