A story of strength and survival

I would like to add to the article about the Aupaluk pair who were stranded on the land (May 2), with some more information about the truly remarkable nature of this story.

First of all, some facts to clarify the situation: Edward Saluarsiak, 20, is paralyzed from the waist down, but enjoys driving a snowmobile whenever he can.

On Tuesday, April 22, Edward and Susie Oningnak, 22, took part in a fishing contest about 20 miles southwest of Aupaluk, along with most of the community. When the weather started to get colder with some snow, the two decided to go home early, just before 7 p.m.

When everyone else came home around 9 p.m. in blowing snow, and Edward and Susie had not yet made it back to town, a search was immediately begun by many volunteers. The search became more intense by 3 a.m. with more local volunteers, many of whom would not sleep at all for the next two or three days.

This was the first time Edward had been away from town for more than a few hours, and the nurse felt his medical condition warranted a medical emergency, with the possibility of a burst bladder, kidney failure, and-or internal bleeding.

The KRG and KRPF tried to bring in a helicopter or plane for the next two days, but the weather was miserable, with very low clouds alternately bringing freezing rain, blowing snow and rain. The Sureté du Québec assumed control of the search and rescue operation on the afternoon of Thursday, April 24. The KRG helicopter, piloted by Peter Duncan, with searchers Vallée Saunders and David Watt, arrived late the next afternoon, on April 25, and began searching immediately, while the SQ plane arrived the next morning, on Saturday, April 26.

In the meantime, Tasiujaq and Kangirsuk both sent volunteers in several waves, so that by midnight a group of 12 fresh, out-of-town volunteers joined the Aupaluk searchers, who had been without sleep for over 36 hours. At the height of the search, more than 80 volunteers from Tasiujaq, Aupaluk, Kangirsuk and Quartaq, headed out in teams every six hours, around the clock.

Most family members of these searchers came to support the community as volunteers in the command center, or to help out in the homes of those out on the land and to visit and comfort the families of the lost people. School staff members provided meals for the entire town by operating a restaurant-cafeteria in the daycare center, with the food paid for by the SQ.

This meant nearly 200 people worked as volunteers during the last four days of the search, in a town with a population of only 150!

We must thank all of these people, men women and children, for their tireless work and support, for their energy and time and for their prayers. We thank the SQ, KRPF, and KRG for their support and direction during the search. We thank the communities of Tasiujaq, Kangirsuk and Quartaq for their volunteers. Even Kangiqsualujjuaq was offering volunteers by phone. They were ready to go at the exact moment that we received news that Edward and Susie had been found.

Also, a special thanks to Kangiqsualujjuaq for their very generous monetary contribution to our effort, which helped with expenses that the SQ did not cover. Thanks, too, to all the people from around Nunavik who called to offer support and encouragement. A very heartfelt thank-you to the mayor of Aupaluk, Johnny Akpahatak, and my fellow volunteers in the command center office, all of whom worked around the clock, sleeping on the floor when necessary, to be able to answer the satellite phone and radio calls coming in from searchers at all hours of the day and night.

Some final notes to clarify the story: Even though the SQ decided to officially call off the search due to fading hopes that Edward and Susie were still alive, the local search, with the support of the KRPF, was not about to stop. After the SQ had left, the KRPF and the northern village of Aupaluk continued the search with the helicopter, as seven more 45-gallon drums of fuel were flown in that same day, and teams were scheduled to continue throughout the night and for as many days as it would take to find our lost people.

It was two members of the Tasiujaq team, which was continuing a grid search, who found Edward and Susie when they went off the trail for a break. Edward had the energy and strength to drive one of the snowmobiles back to have some tea and food at the team’s qamutiks, which had been left a few kilometers away.

Then, once they were ready to come home, Edward again drove the entire 20 miles back to Aupaluk, since this is the most comfortable way for him to support himself.

To the dismay of the nurse, Edward and Susie were brought straight to their respective homes where they sat and greeted everyone, who then flocked in to welcome them with hugs and kisses and tearful cries of joy. After an examination, Edward and Susie were both found to be in perfect health, several pounds thinner and sunburned, but without any serious problems, and even Edward’s toes were not frozen in any way. A miracle and a story of strength and survival, if ever there was one.

As a final note, we are waiting for a debriefing with the SQ, KRPF, searchers, and Edward and Susie, to evaluate our efforts and plan for a better operation next time. A meeting is also planned to determine which groups will assume control of such a serious search and rescue, and to finalize the respective roles and responsibilities of the municipality, the KRG, KRPF, the Sureté du Québec and the Canadian Rangers.

God bless everyone who shared in the wonderful happiness of finding Edward Saluarsiak and Susie Oningnak alive and well.

Martin Scott
Emergency Measures Coordinator
Aupaluk
aupaluk@omhkativikmhb.qc.ca