'There's still grief and there's still sorrow' in Sagkeeng a year after Serena McKay's death

A year after videos surfaced showing Serena McKaybeing fatally beaten on a Manitoba First Nation, a teacher says the community remains in mourning.

But as sentencing begins this week for one of McKay'sschoolmates who pleaded guilty in connection with her death, the community is looking for ways to heal, including building asweat lodge at the school inSerena'sname.

McKay was a Grade 12 student set to graduateSagkeeng Anicinabe High School in Sagkeeng First Nation, 100 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg,when her body was found April 23, 2017 outside ofa home in the community.

AllanCourchene, a Grade 12 teacher at the high school, saida year laterthe tragedy is still being felt in his community.

"There's still grief and there's still sorrow," he said. "Something tragic like this, itwill never go away. It's always on the backs of people's minds how could it have been prevented?"

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Days after her death, twoof her peers from the school, aged 16 and 17, were charged with second-degree murder.

The 17-year-old, who has since turned 18, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in December and is expected tobe sentenced in a Winnipeg courtroom this week. She cannot be named because she was a minor at the time of McKay's death.

Likely died of hypothermia

Court previously heard McKay and the two accused were together at a house party on April 22, 2017 along with four other teens.

At some point, McKay waskicked out of the party and a fight broke out between her and the younger of the two accused, court heard.

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Two videos recorded on the older accused's phone show McKay being beaten in a yard.

After the fight, the two teens went back inside the house, where they spent the night.

McKay, who remained outside,did not survive.

Court heard she likely died of hypothermia. According to a pathologist, she may have been unable to seek protection from the cold because of her injuries and the amount of alcohol in her system.

Healing lodge planned in McKay's honour

McKay, who grew up in Winnipeg, was a longtime family friend of Courchene's and was living with him and his wifewhile she attended high school in the community. He said McKay was wonderfully artistic. She was eager to graduate and begin working.

"I think of her everyday. I have a big picture of her right by desk," he said. "She's always in our hearts."

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In her honour, the school set up an annual $1,000bursary for a student who shows a passion for pursuing the arts. The next recipient will be selected in June.

Courchene said he is also in the process of securing funding to builda healing and sweat lodge at the school in McKay's name. He envisions it as a space where students can connect, talk and hold traditional ceremonies.

"The sweat lodge in the community is a place of prayer where people could freely talk and give them a lot of teachings," he said. "They could talk if there are any ailments that are bugging them. We don't want anything like that to happen [again]."

Courchene said he is hopefulthe healing lodge can be in place by next September.

• Crown seeks adult sentence for 2nd teen guilty in death of Sagkeeng student Serena McKay

The second teen, who was 16the time of McKay's death, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in January. She will be sentenced at a later date and the Crown is asking for an adult sentence.