Iootna, 36, left Arviat during the afternoon hours of Jan. 24 with his friend, Basil Kayavinik, and his dog team.

The two became separated and a search for Iootna began shortly after Kayavinik returned to the hamlet on Jan. 26.

The search was hampered throughout the six days by blizzard and near-blizzard conditions.

The weather was so bad that two of the 30 searchers, John Tugak and James Kigusiutnaaq, spent a day on the land. Well-equipped, they built an iglu and tarpaulin tent to wait out the blizzard.

Weather also kept an RCMP plane from joining the search.

Iootna's body was discovered by members of Arviat's ground search-and-rescue team.

The coroner has determined Iootna succumbed to exposure. Three of his five dogs were still alive when ground searchers arrived on the scene. The hunter still had fuel, some food, a sleeping bag and a caribou parka when his body was found.

Cpl. Bill Mooney, of the Arviat RCMP detachment, said news of Iootna's death saddened the community.

"He was a really nice guy, so, of course, there's a lot of sadness right now."