Uqqummiut MLA Mary Killiktee says improved resources are needed for rescue teams based in Clyde River and other small communities. (Photo by Daron Letts)
Hunter’s death underlines need for better search and rescue equipment: Uqqummiut MLA
Mary Killiktee says volunteers forced to borrow snowmobiles, supplies to perform life-saving work
The death of a hunter near Clyde River underlines the need to provide search and rescue teams in small Nunavut communities more support and better resources to enhance their life-saving capabilities, says Uqqummiut MLA Mary Killiktee.
She spoke in the legislative assembly Thursday on what she said is a lack of equipment being provided to search and rescue teams.
Killiktee highlighted the urgency of on-the-land rescues by referring to the death last month of an elder she later identified as Jusua Kautuq Ilauq. He was hunting on the land outside of Clyde River when a blizzard struck overnight on Feb. 10. He was injured in a snowmobile crash after being divided from his fellow hunters.
She didn’t name him when speaking in the legislature, but later told Nunatsiaq News who she was referring to.
“They found him trapped where he had an accident,” she said. “He asked if he could be picked up by helicopter. ‘I don’t think I’m going to make it by Ski-Doo.’ That’s what the hunter said.”
She said he believed he would die of his injuries if he wasn’t airlifted to a hospital, which she said was not possible at the time.
“He told the rescuers that, but they had no other option,” and so they attempted to transport him by snowmobile to receive medical care, she said.
He died the next day, on the way to Clyde River while being carried by snowmobile.
“If they had a helicopter, there was a chance — maybe a good chance — that this elder would still be with us,” Killiktee said.
She suggested providing “permanently stationed search and rescue assets in Nunavut, including fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters,” that are closer to remote communities than Iqaluit or from the south.
She noted past appeals from MLAs for a review of search and rescue resources following the death of a snowmobiler in Baker Lake in April 2024.
“Our department was looking at the pre-feasibility study at that time and a report was produced on our findings, and we found that we would have to expend a lot of money in order to set up a base,” responded David Joanasie, the minister for community and government services, during question period.
He said the $2.7 billion plan to open three military support hubs in the Arctic including one in Iqaluit, announced Thursday by Bill Blair, the minister of national defence, will provide improved aerial support for rescue efforts in the communities.
Killiktee said that even with that increased capacity, more support is needed for the on-the-ground search and rescue teams mustered by the hamlets.
Rescue teams in her constituencies of Clyde River and Qikiqtarjuaq are largely left to their own devices when an emergency hits, she said.
“The government supplies gas, food and stove oil — that’s it,” Killiktee said in an interview.
She listed snowmobiles, qamutiik, satellite phones and communication equipment, first aid supplies as well as tents and sleeping bags as the kind of gear volunteer rescue teams have to round up on their own to carry out searches.
What Ms. Killiktee is asking the governments for is nothing new. Other Nunavut communities have been asking for the same resources for 2 decades now and these requests are falling on deaf ears. Southern politicians do not understand the realities of living up North. Hunting out on the land year-round for subsistence is a vital part of Inuit culture. There is only so much they can do with little to no resources to ensure that they return home safely. These requests to equip communities with standard search and rescue equipment is common sense and would save lives. The cost for these resources is a drop in the bucket compared to what the federal government spends in other areas, and to other countries.The government of Canada, and the GN should be ashamed of themselves for ignoring such a longstanding, urgent request from the communities. As far as I’m concerned, the death of a hunter resulting from a lack of search and rescue equipment should be blood on their (the governments) hands.
Southern politicians, blah, blah….
Nunavut receives billions in support from tbe south. Start using that money well rather than always asking for more. And what of the royalty monies made by Inuit orgs in mining regions? Hundreds of millions. Learn to do things for yourself, don’t tell us the resources aren’t there, everyone knows they are.
Why do we have paramedics in our communities? We have been paying for this service since 2021, and yet they can’t help increase safety and response for Nunavummiut?
Paramedics are only in the communities to provide primary care services because there’s a shortage of nurses. They are not search and rescue workers.
Why the paramedics?
Maybe it’s because not many nurses and health care professionals want to live in Nunavut. Scariest place in Canada.
Kugluktuk has had a search and rescue group for at least 20+ years.
They applied for funding to purchase equipment like sat phones etc.
Maybe consult with them to see where they were able to get funding for and what challenges they faced. Kugluktuk search and rescue is a non-profit society run by local volunteers.
So does Cambridge Bay. They have a very effective ground search and rescue group.
The GN is swimming in so much money, year end is almost here and you will see each department scrambling to spend money before year end, colourful light bulbs, posters other useless things for the GN to quickly spend their budget on, ignoring what is really needed for Nunavut.
I get the idea behind the need for a helicopter.
But perhaps we should examine what of steps could have been taken to avoid an accident.
When you’re out on the land stay with your group and make sure your group stays together. Don’t go faster than the slowest person. That’s how people get lost.
Always operate your vehicle worth regards to your conditions. If you’re breaking trail in poor visibility don’t go faster than your visibility. You might crash.
As always, take extra precautions when traveling with elders. Bring extra supplies in case of any delays or emergencies.
Never travel while impaired by alcohol or drugs.
If people took care is basics like these, we might not need so many helicopters.
If you need a helicopter on standby, you’re a terrible hunter.
It would also help if local Rangers would take part in these emergencies, and also for local search and rescue be prepared and work with emergency personnel depending on situation come with a plan and if need be provide warmth and shelter and direct contact with emergency personnel as to explain how and when person(‘s) will be brought back into community or if an urgent rescue is needed with a helicopter.
This is a very scary concern, if any communities have a local search-party, maybe its best for them to call Quebec as the people here have concerns about money and where its spent, the budgets they are looking at have no place in their Chart of Accounts, they also have medevacs that land in NFLD instead of dircet flights they are diverted to Labrador, i wonder who they get directions from? They should have direct action from leaders?
This problem is organisationally an easy fix. Four machines and qamuatiks rigged with the necessary equipment (shelter, first aid equipment, communications equipment, food, fuel etc.) At 25 communities this is about $20,000 each a total of approximately $2,000,000 over 5 years? Advanced first aid training- possibly even paramedic training could be oganised in conjunction with Arctic College through colleges in the south, this would take a bit of work but is a worthy program. Operations and maintenance of this needs to be factored in but is in the realm of the possible – No, realm of the necessary. A worthy cause for NTI, mines and Government of Nunavut to engage in a 3P project. It does not have to take a lot of time to set up. There are already groups like the Rangers, Hunter Trappers Orgs etc. that are prime organisational candidates to provide the first crews of such a project. It is also something the youth, can easily engage in serving as a platform for further interest and professional development. Put resources to work for our mot important resource – our people. Maintain the service once it gets started.