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Community Forum · Est. 2006
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#12
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02-06-2026, 03:45 AM
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Re: Body of 19 Year Female Canadian Found Surrounded by Dingos on Australian Island
Angela and Todd James, parents of Piper James, have taken part in an emotional smoking ceremony where their daughter's body was found. The family will return to Canada this week with their daughter's remains and will hold a celebration of Piper's life later this month. Angela and Todd James held hands as they walked into the surf on K'gari, where their daughter Piper's body was found more than two weeks ago. The heartbroken pair embraced for several minutes, remembering the daughter they will never see again, before taking part in an Aboriginal smoking ceremony. The pair were joined by about 10 of Piper's friends from Canada and those from a nearby hostel for the ceremony held by Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation. "Our shattered hearts with Piper's help will all mend," Mr James said. The couple, who arrived in Australia from Canada earlier this week, are expected to return to the island tomorrow to meet Piper's friends at the hostel where she had lived and worked before heading home. Butchulla elder Kate Doolan said it was an emotional time. "The ceremony today was about Piper and her family, and bringing healing to the family and how they can move forward in their healing journey after the loss of their daughter," she said. "We're cleansing out the energy… to help release her, and give the family and her safe passage back to their homeland." A preliminary report from the state's coroner found while Piper was bitten by dingoes before she died, drowning was the most likely cause of her death. The Coroners Court of Queensland said further testing was required to conclusively determine the cause of death, which is expected to take several weeks. The Queensland Department of Environment and Tourism have since euthanased six dingoes involved in Ms James' death. |