RED EARTH CREE NATION — Red Earth Cree Nation said it has made a call to the federal government to send in the army Rangers to help find missing five-year-old Frank Young.
"At the moment we are currently awaiting response from the Rangers for additional support for search and rescue service support," Chief Fabian Head said at a press conference held in Prince Albert May 16.
The Canadian Rangers are a sub-component of the Canadian Army Reserve who live and work in remote, isolated, and coastal regions of Canada.
Young was last seen near his residence on Red Earth Cree Nation April 19 at approximately 12:30 p.m. He is four feet tall, approximately 66 pounds, has black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing Paw Patrol rubber boots, blue and green dinosaur pyjamas and a navy blue windbreaker-style jacket.
"Despite this being day 28, we still view this mission as a rescue mission," Head said.
The chief said, to date, there have been 611 volunteers, 13 search and rescue crews and 490 GPS search trucks.
Chief Bobby Cameron of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations was at the press conference to echo the call.
"There was a lot of fatigue that has transpired the last month from the searchers, so we're doing this call out, this request and this expectation to Prime Minister Trudeau and Premier Scott Moe," he said.
Michelle Vandevord, the Prince Albert Grand Council Search and Rescue Team associate director, called for help from First Nations across the country.
"We need more people on the ground and if you're able to, I'm asking my First Nation sisters, brothers, cousins to please help the family and come and help search," she said. "We will not give up until Frank is brought home. We need assistance."
Teresa Whitecap, Young's grandmother, spoke on behalf of Young's family. She said they were overwhelmed with all the support they had from a vigil in Prince Albert on May 15.
"The family is overwhelmed with worry and grief and they were overwhelmed by the public attention; however, they are extremely grateful for all the support," she said.
Whitecap recounted the efforts to find her grandson, saying that when he was first missing, the whole neighbourhood searched and that when Carrot River RCMP were informed later in the day they acted immediately.
"Once we find Frank, we are going to hold a big community feast for all the people that have come and help search for him to say thank you to them."
Carrot River RCMP continues to ask the public to report any information on the whereabouts of the missing child. Anyone who saw Frank Young on April 19, or has any information about his whereabouts, should call Carrot River RCMP at 306-768-1200. In an emergency, call 911 immediately.
