Ranger found frozen in Qikiqtarjuaq

GREG YOUNGER-LEWIS

The death of a long-time Ranger has shocked the community of Qikiqtarjuaq, after a search team found him frozen to death outside a grocery store.

Jassie Kooneeliusie, 56, was a seasoned hunter and decorated military reservist, when he died shortly before Christmas.

Friends and family attending Kooneeliusie’s funeral last week, recall an outgoing companion who liked to joke around inside the Tulugak coffee shop.

They also remembered Kooneeliusie as someone who took every chance to go hunting for caribou far outside the community.

Ranger Master Corp. Jonah Audlakiak made several trips with Kooneeliusie out on the land.

Audlakiak said his long-time friend often knew more than others about good spots to hunt, but always remained modest.

“Some of the hunters, you have to listen to them,” Audlakiak said. “He never really bossed anybody around.”

Kooneeliusie spent two decades as a Ranger, earning a reputation for good marksmanship. He earned several decorations, including the special service medal for having served for four years and completed three annual exercises. He also received the Canadian Forces Decoration for 12 years of honourable service.

But Kooneeliusie had more than a knack for surviving out on the land, Audlakiak said.

“What I miss about him is he was a good person to talk to,” he said. “I never had any problem with him.”

Kooneeliusie never married. He has one adult daughter, a sister and several brothers, including Qikiqtarjuaq mayor Lootie Toomasie.

He held one of the community’s rare jobs for several years, which involved clearing the airport runway.

Kooneeliusie, who lived alone, went missing for about three days. Eventually, family asked for search and rescue volunteers to look for him.

An hour after the search began, a volunteer discovered his body on Dec. 22 at night, lying beside the Northern store.

Police suspect Kooneeliusie reached the final stages of hypothermia before he lost consciousness. His hat, jacket and boots were strewn around him in the snow, suggesting he was deluded into thinking he was too hot.

“That’s usually how you find someone [with severe hypothermia], is at the end of a trail of clothes,” said Cpl. Joan Kuyp, who’s investigating the case.

Kuyp said it was too early to know whether alcohol was a factor in Kooneeliusie’s death. However, autopsy results from Edmonton are expected in the coming months.