A call for more volunteers as search continues for missing Nunavut MLA

Search and rescue teams are calling for more volunteers to assist in the ground search for Uqqummiut MLA Pauloosie Keyootak and two other missing travellers on Baffin Island.

Keyootak, his 16-year-old son and another adult were expected in Pangnirtung last Wednesday, but didn't arrive. A search was triggered on Sunday morning after the territorial government was made aware that the group was missing on Saturday night.

The search now includes parties from Pangnirtung, Qikiqtarjuaq and Iqaluit, as well as Canadian Forces aircraft.

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"We've had a team out from Pangnirtung. They have covered from Pang to Iqaluit Lake," said ​Ed Zebedee, the territorial government's director of protection services.

"Qikiqtarjuaq called me yesterday and they'd like to put a team out. We've left it up to them where they may want to go to search," added Zebedee.

Zebedee said the search and rescue team has covered the trail over to Iqaluit Lake on Sunday, and then on Monday they started aerial searches.

"We also got assistance from the Canadian Forces. They sent up a Hercules aircraft and yesterday they sent up a Cormorant helicopter, and we had a Twin Otter flying again yesterday," added Zebedee.

There is no timeline on how long the resources will be available for the search.

"Nobody from the joint search and rescue coordination centre has said to me we're going to be pulling our resources in a day, or 12 hours, or a week — we're going to fly as long as they give us the aircraft," said Zebedee.

Search moving south

Zebedee said the team is starting to move south in their search block.

The trail from Iqaluit to Qikiqtarjuaq is about 483 kilometres said Zebedee.

"Depending on how hard they ride, the elders tell me it's about 11 to 15 hours," added Zebedee.

Although the area is currently experiencing mild weather and clear skies — optimal for search parties — the terrain is difficult to navigate.

"The searchers tell me that the trails are very rough," said Zebedee adding that the recent storm has exacerbated the rough, mountainous trail from Iqaluit to Qikiqtarjuaq.

"By the end of today we'll probably have covered about a 15,000-square-kilometre area both with ground and air search," said Zebedee.

More volunteers needed

Between 15 to 18 searchers are assisting with the efforts. The Iqaluit Search & Rescue Committee has sent out a call for more volunteers to help.

They're seeking more volunteer spotters — no previous experience is necessary.

The team is also seeking anyone with administrative experience to answer phones or respond to inquiries related to the search efforts.

Zebedeee said he's grateful to the volunteers who have assisted with the search so far.

"They're put in hundreds of hours and it's a difficult search," said Zebedee.

Asking hunters to wear orange vests

Search teams are also asking anyone planning to head out on the land to pick up a bright, orange vest from the search headquarters so spotters can distinguish them from the missing men. 

"Last night we located three individuals on two snow machines, which matches what we're looking for," said Zebedee. "The search aircraft dropped a night flare on them and then circled them," 

Unfortunately the party was not Keyootak's party; it was three others returning from a fishing trip.

Zebedee said two other hunters have been confused for the missing men, which puts a strain on resources.

Searchers hopeful: 'They know what they're doing'

Zebedee said that he's optimistic about the group's status, despite the fact that they've been missing for a week.

"They're hunters," he said. "They know what they're doing. We've had individuals out much much longer than that."

According to Zebedee, Keyootak's group was not carrying communication equipment such as a GPS device, a satellite phone or a Spot device with them on their trip.