Search for missing five-year-old enters third week

After 22 days of searching for five-year-old Frank Young, the RCMP and the communities of Red Earth and Shoal Lake Cree Nations aren’t giving up.

“We continue to remain hopeful,” Red Earth Chief Fabian Head said Tuesday in an update on the search.

Head shared that 200 volunteers and 13 crews have been part of the search, contributing with search efforts by land and water. Other volunteers have been assisting searchers by providing meals and other necessities.

Young hasn’t been since seen April 19 outside his home on the Red Earth Cree Nation.

Around 92 square kilometres have been covered since the search began. Despite the length of time that has passed, the search continues and is not being referred to as a recovery effort.

Sgt. Richard Tonge with the Carrot River RCMP detachment said anywhere from five to eight boats are out patrolling the river alongside community members daily. Those vessels are carefully patrolling and searching the river and cover generally an area of about 10 kilometres each day.

On Saturday, about 40 km of river was patrolled and two small boots were located. However, Young’s family said they did not belong to their child.

Challenges like slippery conditions alongside the water and rainy and snowy weather have complicated their search and Tonge said the RCMP has used various resources to get its searches done.

Young is still considered missing at this time.

Tonge shared that almost 500 GPS searches have taken place and more than 600 people have been involved in the search. RCMP teams including search and rescue, tactical support, underwater recovery, police dog services and the Carrot River detachment have taken part in trying to locate Young.

Air searches by helicopter are happening about every second day.

The RCMP will continue to assess daily what each search looks like and Tonge offered assurance that the RCMP is taking the search seriously and will continue to use every resource.

A search Monday night south of the Young family’s house took place at the request of the family, Tonge added, though Young was not found.

Tonge also explained that searches have not been conducted in Nipawin because the town is about 90 kilometres away from Red Earth. Some searching in Carrot River as a result of a tip did take place, though the tip was determined not to be correct.

Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte with the Prince Albert Grand Council (PAGC) spoke, addressing thanks to those participating in the search by name.

Vice Chief Edward (Dutch) Lerat of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) called on political leaders in the province and beyond to pay a visit to their community to express their support for the search.

“It’s our community’s expectation that the leadership from not only the province but for other places, heads of government, would come and lend support to the community by showing their presence here in Red Earth,” Lerat said.

“We continue to hope and pray that Frank will be found safe. However, as time passes, our hopes are fading.”

Head said he’s grateful for the time, effort and commitments made by volunteers throughout the search and is thankful the Young family has remained hopeful up until this point.

Chief Marcel Head of Shoal Lake said he has been in contact with the Young family, last speaking with them Tuesday morning. He said they shared their frustration over little to no news after 22 days of searching for their boy.

Marcel Head called their frustration “understandable,” and said they continue to try to view the situation positively. He asked for prayers for the family and the search to continue.

The possibility of an abduction is always being considered, Tonge said, but he noted no credible tips have come forward and all leads have been discounted at present.

“We’re always prepared to follow up on any other information but we don’t have any evidence of an abduction and it is something that we still consider,” Tonge said.

While an Amber Alert has not been issued in Young’s disappearance, advocates have been calling for the development of an Indigenous alert system.

The Canadian Press reports First Nations groups say separate notifications are needed to help find missing Indigenous people who don’t fit the criteria to issue an Amber Alert.

Marcel Head said they had heard of these calls but shared their focus is exclusive to Young at the moment.

Additional volunteers will be welcomed, Fabian Head said, noting how exhausted searchers are becoming after three weeks. He expressed that prayers are powerful and that the community continues to remain hopeful they will locate Young.

Tonge said while resources are being evaluated each day, boat crews are lined up until May 18. The search will be reassessed at that time to determine whether more need to be scheduled.

He also commended Fabian and Marcel Head for their strong leadership and the hard work of their communities, also voicing that the support of the FSIN and PAGC is welcomed.

— With files from The Canadian Press