RED EARTH CREE NATION — Red Earth Cree Nation held a media conference Friday regarding the search for five-year-old Frank Young.
Chief Fabian Head and RCMP Sgt. Richard Tonge and other officials were on hand to provide the media with an update on the search activities.
Frank Young was last seen Tuesday playing in his family's yard near Carrot River wearing his Paw Patrol rubber boots, green dinosaur pyjamas, and a windbreaker.
Chief Head said the family of the missing youngster are devastated and need privacy to process what is happening. He said they would not be talking to the media at this time.
Chief Head said they have been providing as much information to the family as possible and meeting with them on a daily basis.
Frank’s parents are Darrel and Tanya Young from Shoal Lake First Nation, and Frank has been staying with Jarvis and Barbra McKay since Frank was 18 months old, according to information confirmed by FSIN.
It's been a difficult time for Red Earth Cree Nation, said Head, as the community has also lost three members in the last seven days, two elderly members and one adult.
Head said they will be reaching out to the federal government for more mental health wellness support in coming days.
Firefighters, police, search-and-rescue teams and community members have been searching on the ground and by air, using a high-definition camera.
Sgt. Richard Tonge, Carrot River detachment commander, acknowledged the “incredible ongoing search efforts.” He said there were more than a dozen search and rescue groups from many communities in Saskatchewan and Manitoba and from Lloydminster.
Six hours were spent in aerial searches Thursday, he said, using a high-resolution camera during the day and thermal imaging during the night. Civic air search and rescue will continue aerial searches, he added.
He said the RCMP underwater recovery team conducted several searches Thursday and that they were ongoing today in tandem with Prince Albert Grand Council and their specialized boat.
He also noted the searchers had had the aid of search and rescue dogs from the Lloydminster area.
Tonge said there is nothing to suggest Frank was abducted.
Chief Marcel Head of nearby Shoal Lake Cree Nation, the home community of the missing boy's parents, joined the conference from the Shoal Lake leadership office. The office is closed, he said, as all the staff have joined in the search.
He also said Shoal Lake has been providing food services for searchers and workers and has been heartened by the support shown by nearby communities.
He encouraged more people and communities to volunteer as those currently searching are going to become exhausted and others will be needed. He said to make sure to report to Sgt. Tonge and search leader Roy Head so they know who is coming in from other communities.
Michelle Vandervoort, associate director for Saskatchewan First Nation Emergency Management and president of Prince Albert Grand Council Rescue and Recovery Team, recounted their response.
Tuesday, they received a call from the Red Earth leadership team and immediately started working with RCMP to gather details and assemble their team, she said.
They deployed early Wednesday morning and have been working side by side with community leaders and the RCMP search manager since that time. The team brought in a specialized underwater drone and side scan sonar to assist with water search efforts, she said.
To date, she said, Search and Rescue Saskatchewan Association of Volunteers members from Porcupine Plain Search and Rescue, Parkland Search and Rescue, Prince Albert North Search and Rescue, Buckland Fire and Rescue, Wadena Search and Rescue, North Corman Park Search and Rescue and from Kamsack have been assisting. Friday morning, she added, a notice went out for more groups to join the search.
She acknowledged Red Earth leadership and volunteers from Red Earth and Shoal Lake Cree Nations as well as the RCMP.
“It's very difficult to be searching for someone you know and love,” said Vandervoort.
She added, “It's times like this that bring out the best in people and I'm pleased with how everyone has come together as a team.”
FSIN Vice-Chief Dutch Lerat joined the media conference to thank those involved in the search.
“As a nation, our children are sacred to our people, as they are to all peoples. We at the FSIN are heartbroken ... and we are very hopeful for a successful conclusion to the crisis.
He said the support for the search for Frank Young has been uplifting.
