RCMP Tactical Unit members and volunteers from the Red Earth and Shoal Lake Cree Nations are focusing on the Carrot River as they continue to search for the missing five-year-old Frank Young.
Young was last seen on April 19 playing outside the home where he lived with his aunt and uncle in the Red Earth Cree Nation, about 300 miles northeast of Saskatoon.
Despite extensive ground, air and boat search of the community and the surrounding area, the young man has not been seen since that day.
After the spring thaw, local First Nations volunteers will once again focus on the Carrot River, particularly at a river crossing about five miles downstream of the Red Land known to locals as the “Y”.
The Carrot River rises in Lake Wakaw and flows northeast through the Red Earth Plains to the Saskatchewan River near The Pas, Man.
“There are a lot of log traffic jams along the river, and this is one of them,” said Shoal Lake’s Cree nation leader Marcel Head.
“Knowledge makers have always indicated that just by experience, these areas tend to catch any kind of debris or objects floating along the river, and that’s where they wanted the research team to try to concentrate.”
Young’s parents live in the Shoal Lake Cree nation, which has been active in research.
Police and volunteers are still searching for five-year-old Frank Young in the Red Earth Cree Nation area. (Google Maps)
Carrot River RCMP Sergeant Richard Tonge said police are also focusing on the banks of the Carrot River.
“As the river begins to recede, the Saskatchewan RCMP Tactical Support Group plans to travel to the community this weekend to conduct a thorough and specific search of the river’s banks. One of its goals will be to try to locate any element that may be associated with Frank, “Tonge said.
He said police have used all their resources to search for Young, including planes, boats and underwater recovery equipment.
Unless new information arrives, there will be no additional air or boat searches, Tongue said.
The last air search was conducted by helicopter on June 11th. Young’s last air search was on June 18.
However, the RCMP will continue to look for Young on foot and his case is active, Tonge said.
According to the head of the Cree Nation of the Red Earth, Fabian Head, the first local nations are spreading, as the search entered its 64th day on Tuesday.
“Our local SUVs, boats and local motor equipment are starting to break down and need service,” Head said.
An awareness walk was held on Tuesday near Young’s Red Earth house to let people know that he is still being searched.
The Cree Nation of the Red Earth organized an awareness walk for five-year-old Frank Young, who has been missing for two months. (Cap Fabian)
Both Fabian and Marcel Head said the provincial and federal governments should also offer more support to pay for the rising costs of seeking Young.
“The price of fuel has gone up significantly and it’s pretty hard to have to work with your old resources,” Marcel Head said.
The head of the Red Earth said 611 volunteers have so far traveled 92 square miles in search of Young.
Both leaders said they continue to treat Young’s search as a rescue mission.
“I know the family is still very optimistic and expects Frank to be back soon,” Fabian Head said.