‘This is still a rescue mission’: Update provided on day 64 of search for Frank Young

Head said their focus is on an area near the river called the Y, an area about five to eight kilometres from Frank Young’s house. As Chief Marcel Head from Shoal Lake explained, it’s an area local Knowledge Keepers encouraged them to check.

“There’s a lot of log jams that were along the river and this is one of them,” he said. “The Knowledge Keepers have always indicated just by experience, that these areas tend to catch any types of debris or any other items that flow along the river. That’s where they wanted the search team to try and concentrate on.” He added that area is where part of the Carrot River flows into the Man River.

Meanwhile, RCMP said they have used their resources and technology in their past searches, adding police don’t have any future aerial and boat searches planned unless new information comes in.

“Because the river has started to recede, Saskatchewan RCMP’s tactical support group plan on travelling to the community this weekend to conduct a thorough, targeted foot search on the banks of the Carrot River,” said Sgt. Richard Tonge of Carrot River RCMP. “One of their goals will be to locate any items that may be associated with Frank.”

Tonge said the last aerial search was conducted by helicopter on June 11.

He also touched on a request that was made to deploy the Canadian Forces Rangers to the area. Tonge said that request was ultimately denied because the Rangers are only used within 100 km of any place they are stationed. The closest to Red Earth Cree Nation is about 400 km.

However, Vice Chief Dutch Lerat with the FSIN said some members were in the area on an unofficial basis.

“The Rangers were involved from La Ronge area and further north. They worked with the local Knowledge Keepers on the lay of the land.”

Despite there being no sign of Frank after more than two months, the community and RCMP are still treating this as a rescue mission.

“We continue to perceive it as a rescue mission at the request of the family,” said Chief Fabian Head.

“I can’t predict with any certainty when and where we find Frank” added Tonge. “It’s a missing person’s case. We never close a missing person’s file until we have definitive answers about what happened to the missing person.”

The press conference was held on the same morning an Awareness Walk was planned for Red Earth Cree Nation. Chief Fabian Head said the purpose of this walk was to show the community and the province that they’re not giving up in their search for Frank.

(Submitted Photo/Prince Albert Grand Council)

First Nation leadership continues to call for additional resources from the federal and provincial governments, noting that rising inflation and fuel costs are putting a strain on local search efforts.

The communities are still looking for any help and volunteers. Anyone interested can contact the emergency response coordinator at Red Earth Cree Nation.

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derek.craddock@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @PA_Craddock

by Derek Craddock

‘This is still a rescue mission’: Update provided on day 64 of search for Frank Young

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