Missing Arviat hunter found dead

Arviat residents have been mourning the death of 36-year-old Brent Iootna, a hunter whose body was found on the ice about 12 km south of the community on Jan. 31.

Iootna was reported missing on Jan. 26, two days after he had departed Arviat on a hunting trip with his dog team.

Despite blizzard conditions and near-zero visibility, ground searchers relentlessly combed the area around Arviat on a daily basis. Searchers only had about six hours of clear visibility during the search.

A coroner has determined that Iootna died of exposure.