Friends, family and neighbours are scrambling to find River Clement, who has been missing since Aug. 15 in the Tulita area.
"Community members are assisting Tulita in searching for the youth on the land and water," said NT spokesperson Julie Plourde. "The Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary is assisting with searches in surrounding areas.
"Tulita is asking anyone with information on the whereabouts of River Clement to please contact the local detachment at 867-588-1111."
Clement, 16, was last seen at Cranberry Crescent in Tulita at approximately 5 a.m. on Aug. 15.
His aunt, Lynda MacCauley, detailed the search in a timeline posted on social media. According to her, Clement last contacted his grandmother at 5:21 a.m. by text message.
Belongings of his were identified by his family after being found in a boat that had been parked at the dock overnight, but when the boat was found at 6 a.m., it was drifting in the river.
"The items consisted of a pair of pants, runners, a cellphone and an old boat key," MacCauley wrote on Aug. 17. "We donSA国际影视传媒檛 know if RiverSA国际影视传媒檚 intentions were to get in or use the boat. Upon arrival of retrieving the boat, there was also a pair of socks sitting on the dock where the boat was parked, possibly believed to also be River's.
"We canSA国际影视传媒檛 confirm if River was in the boat or not, or if he was on the dock or not when the boat was untied. However, the boat did have five life-jackets on board when it was docked for parking the evening before. When the boat was retrieved, only four [life-jackets] were accounted for. It is possible that if River was in the boat that he may have used one to try get back to shore as the boat was unable to start."
MacCauley also wrote that family members have been searching frantically, driving around the area, traversing the waterways and calling around to Clement's friends to see if anyone had seen him, but there's been no further word so far.
Canadian Rangers from Tulita, Deline, Fort Good Hope and Normans Wells were deployed to assist in the search on Aug. 16 until Aug. 17. North Wright Airways has donated a pilot, plane and flying time and has offered a flight to the family.
MacCauley said the family has put out a call to anyone in the area who could lend a set of eyes and help in the search.
"We are doing everything we can right now to keep the search going for our River, but it is overwhelming and exhausting for the family and community," she wrote. "I am reaching out to ask if anyone has experience with situations like this and finding ways to keep resources going when official support is pulled back. Every bit of guidance, every resource and every share makes a difference. We cannot stop, River is out there, and we need all the help and support we can get.
"We need volunteers willing to continue searching the waters, volunteers to do initial ground searches. We need donations of food and baked goods to feed our searchers. We need financial support to provide them with gas to continue on the river. We need volunteers for night-time security to monitor the out-of-town boats parked on the shores. We are asking for quads, drones, financial support SA国际影视传媒� anything you can possibly think of to help."
MacCauley added that anyone who is able to help should reach out to her by email at maccauley_3906@hotmail.com or on Facebook.
