Family and friends of 15-year-old Tina Fontaine gathered to say goodbye at her funeral near the community of Sagkeeng First Nation where she grew up.

Emotions ran high among the crowd at the Fort Alexander Roman Catholic Church.Fontaine's mother, who only recently re-entered her daughter's life, left the service early after an argument with the side of the family that raised Tina.

Friends and family could not hold back tears as their loved one prepared for her final journey.

"The past two months of her life were hard,” said Thelma Favel. “I just want her journey home to be a good one."

Fontaine's death reignited the national conversation around the issue of missing and murdered aboriginal women, something her family says will be part her legacy.

“I'm just so proud that everybody in the world is seeing this, not only this little community,” said Joseph Favel.

A warm summer rain fell upon the Sagkeeng First Nation as the service began. Thelma Favel, who raised Fontaine, called it a fitting tribute.

“The rain is taking her home completely today,” she said. “Her spirit is around us right now trying to comfort us.”

Fontaine's estranged mother, who only re-entered her daughter's life in the weeks before her death, left the service early. Some other family members told her she was not welcome.

“She had nothing to do with my Tina,” Crystal Fontaine, Tina’s aunt. “The only family Tina had was us. We were all there for her and nobody else.”

Family members claim Fontaine’s mother, Tina Duck, did drugs and drank with her daughter in the weeks before Fontaine’s murder. Something she doesn't deny, admitting they smoked marijuana together.

“There was no other drug use or nothing, and no prostitution or nothing,” said Duck.

As she deals with her own tremendous sorrow, Thelma Favel pleaded for others to watch over and guide their young people.

“I just pray for all the people, please look after your children,” she said.

Fontaine will be cremated and her ashes spread on her father's grave. He was also a murder victim, killed on the Sagkeeng First Nation. 

- With a report by Ben Miljure