Fort McPherson (Oct 16/06) - It's been more than three weeks since William Teya went missing, on Sept. 21.

And while family members say it's been a difficult time, they have also been comforted by dozens of volunteers, who are searching everywhere for the beloved elder.

"I just want to send a big thank you to all the people supporting us, all the phone calls, all the people coming in from Aklavik and Fort Good Hope. It really helps," said Annie Kaye, Teya's daughter.

Kaye added she'd especially been moved by the gospel songs of Aklavik singers, who have been performing in the community.

She said it was inspiring to see so many people looking for Teya, because it showed how many people cared for her father.

While dozens of volunteers are searching Fort McPherson and the surrounding waters every day, RCMP said they won't keep looking much longer.

"The public search has been scaled back," said Sgt. Merle Carpenter of the Fort McPherson RCMP.

By "public search," he meant efforts funded by public money, such as the hiring of helicopters and police dogs.

With only limited resources, he said, the RCMP cannot keep searching for someone indefinitely.

He also added that volunteers are organizing what he called an inspiring campaign.

"There must be 100 people looking for him," Carpenter said.

And while she said every volunteer is important, Kaye doesn't care if the RCMP stop looking.

She said there are enough people from Fort McPherson and other communities who are trying to find Teya.

"It doesn't matter about the RCMP. We are not giving up hope," she said.

Mary Teya, who is William Teya's wife, also thanked volunteers.

"They don't want to give up," she said.

"Even they are still searching."