Calls for more government support as search for missing boy continues

“We’re now on day 22 in the search for Frank. For the past seven days, RCMP have been present in the community and focusing efforts on the river. We will continue to assess day by day what the searches look like. The Saskatchewan RCMP continues to take this search seriously and we’re using every available resource to search for Frank and we continue to work closely with the community of Red Earth Cree Nation and partner agencies in this search.”

Tonge added a pair of boots were found during a search over the weekend. The family though, confirmed they did not belong to Frank.

As part of the search efforts, Tonge said they’ve had about 490 GPS tracks with crews working over 2,000 hours so far. Tonge said they have five to eight boats on the water, with a helicopter also searching the river every second day.

Chief Fabian Head from Red Earth Cree Nation and Chief Marcel Head from Shoal Lake Cree Nation said they remain hopeful Frank will be found, adding they’re grateful for the continued support and prayers they’ve received.

Vice Chief Edward (Dutch) Lerat from FSIN also remains hopeful in the search, but also had a message for senior government officials, asking them to take this situation seriously.

“We are somewhat concerned about our people’s ability to have equal opportunity as it relates to the highest levels of government. We have not had the support that would normally come to a community with such a tragedy and challenge at hand. I’m not saying our young boy’s missing status is a cause for any political headline-grabbing or photo-op, it’s our community’s expectation that the leadership from not only the province but from other places, heads of government, would lend support by showing their presence here at Red Earth.”

Lerat said Saskatchewan NDP leader Ryan Meili visited the community and met with the family last week. Lerat refuted claims that Meili’s visit was purely political saying Meili was there as a concerned Saskatchewan resident and father.

Late last week, Meili brought this issue to the Legislative Assembly, questioning why Premier Scott Moe has not made the effort to visit the First Nation.

“Sometimes showing you care means showing up. This is the Premier who refused to visit overcrowded ICUs, refused to go see the reality in our emergency rooms, and has given no indication after over two weeks of the disappearance of Frank Young that he’ll be going to see a Saskatchewan First Nations community in crisis. The people of this province should be his first priority, especially in their hour of need.”

The Premier is currently on a trade mission to Dubai, promoting Saskatchewan resources.

Chief Fabian Head said some members of the Sask Party visited the community over the weekend, including Prince Albert – Northcote MLA Alana Ross, Jim Lemaigre from Athabasca and Carrot River Valley MLA Fred Bradshaw.

While the search for Frank continues, RCMP still said there is no evidence of an abduction and therefore no need for an Amber Alert. This comes despite calls from First Nations leaders to issue one.

“Where is this criteria coming from that we are not allowed to have this awareness because this is hindering any justice for our families,” said FSIN Vice-Chief Aly Bear.

RCMP said Amber Alerts are only issued when there’s evidence of an abduction.

Meanwhile, there have also been renewed calls to create a separate Indigenous Alert system.

Activist Stephanie Harp in Alberta said Indigenous people across the country go missing all the time, and an Amber Alert is rarely used.

“It’s heartbreaking but this is the life and this is the real-life of an Indigenous person, this is the real-life of a child, this is the real-life of an Indigenous mother, of an Indigenous father that has to go through this constantly.”

Chief Marcel Head though said he’s not 100 per cent sure if having a separate alert system for Indigenous peoples would have made a big difference in the search for Frank. He added an Emergency Advisory Alert was issued following Frank’s disappearance. That advisory ended last week.

He added he has spoken to Frank’s family and while there is frustration that no evidence of their son has been uncovered, they are remaining as hopeful as they can be.

“It’s very understandable. I talked to them this morning and tried to help them keep a positive outlook on this. We covet the prayers of all the people out there, pray for this family, especially the parents.”

In closing the First Nations Chiefs said they were grateful for the support of community members, search and rescue volunteers, RCMP, and media outlets in the search for Frank.

They also thanked nearby communities like Carrot River and Nipawin who have provided donations of food and finances.

– With files from The Canadian Press

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panews@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow

by paNOW Staff

Calls for more government support as search for missing boy continues

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