Red Earth community mourns after Frank Young’s body found

After 81 days of searching, five-year-old Frank Young’s body was found washed up on the shore of a river just two kilometres east of where he went missing.

During a media conference Tuesday, members of the Red Earth Cree Nation community and others spoke about Young and the end of the search in the Prince Albert area.

Shoal Lake Cree Nation Chief Marcel Head said they are collecting prayers and thoughts for Young’s family, and praying for them to receive the strength they need to get through the tragic situation.

Head said their community is working to help the family come to terms with the loss, and thanked the many people, groups and organizations who came together over the past three months to help search for the missing boy.

He said the river was dense and challenging at times.

“Frank’s body was found exactly where we were getting direction (and) description that he might be,” Head said. “He was caught in the thicket of the deadfall.”

Sgt. Richard Tonge, who commands the RCMP’s Carrot River detachment, gave some more information on where Young’s body was found on Saturday.

Tonge said the area of the river where Young was found had been searched several times using technology like sonar and underwater drones. But with high water levels, undefined riverbanks and years of fallen trees along the bottom of the river, Young’s body was not located until Saturday.

“Despite our best efforts and using cutting-edge technology, nature’s powerful,” Tonge said. “Sometimes our technology cannot overcome nature.”

Young was found by Red Earth’s emergency response co-ordinator and another person, who pulled the boy’s body into their boat and brought him to the RCMP.

“This is not how anyone wanted this search to end,” Tonge said.

The officer said there were no indications of suspicious circumstances around the discovery of Young’s body, saying there were no obvious signs of trauma, the boy’s clothing was intact, and all factors were consistent with Young’s body having been in the river for a considerable length of time.

The investigation continues. Tonge said the RCMP is working with the Saskatchewan Coroner’s Service to determine what exactly led to Young’s death. An autopsy was set to be performed Tuesday.

Chief Fabian Head of the Red Earth Cree Nation said they are thankful to have found the boy’s body despite the outcome not being what anyone hoped for.

Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte of the Prince Albert Grand Council said the leadership from Red Earth and Shoal Lake Cree Nations has been excellent over the past several months.

“We also didn’t give up, and that’s important,” Hardlotte said. “Let’s watch over our children. Let’s love our children.”

FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron said the journey of the past 81 days has been a difficult one. Cameron said now is the time for healing to begin.

Young’s grandmother, Theresa Whitecap, said she is devastated, but expressed thanks on behalf of her whole family for the support they’ve received and those who volunteered during the search effort.

“When my grandson went missing, they were right there beside us,” Whitecap said. “They guided us, they showed us their love … That 81st day when my grandson was found, they were right there with us.”

Whitecap called it a very emotional time.

“We were hoping to see Frank join us. As you know, that did not happen,” she said.

A one-night wake service is set for Wednesday at the Red Earth Cree Nation. After that, Young’s body will travel back to the Shoal Lake Cree Nation, where he will be laid to rest on Friday at the Shoal Lake Cemetery.

In response to the tragedy, Head said the Shoal Lake Cree Nation will be launching an awareness campaign reminding parents to take care of their children and remove distractions.

“We need to pay close attention and keep a close eye on our children,” Head said.