Sanikiluaq (Dec 04/06) - A man convicted of sexual assault against children is back in his isolated home town of Sanikiluaq, and RCMP have decided the only people who need to be concerned are the ones who live in Sanikiluaq.

Johnny Emikotailuk spent 18 years in Fenbrooke Institution for sexual assaults against children.

He was released on Nov. 15 and returned to Sanikiluaq.

RCMP informed residents of the community that Emikotailuk was returning, and at least one of his former victims still lives in the community.

The police refuse to release a picture of Emikotailuk to the media, saying that Sanikiluaq's concern is none of Nunavut's business.

"The protocol that governs the release is very specific. It says to use the least intrusive method," said Sgt. Mike Toohey of the Iqaluit RCMP. "Does someone in Kugluktuk need to know about this guy? You don't need to do a public notification."

People in Sanikiluaq saw the warning posted around the community, at local stores.

According to Nuiyak school principal John Jamieson, Emikotailuk's return was a well known fact in the hamlet.

"Everyone knows who this is. We are so small, information flows very fast, it is just common knowledge," said Jamieson.

His school didn't take any special measures. The parents had already read the notices at the stores, he said.

Emikotailuk is a 42-year-old Inuk male, standing 164 centimetres and weighing 69 kilograms. He has brown eyes and black hair.

The warning posted by police in Sanikiluaq reads, "Emikotailuk has a history of assaulting young persons in Sanikiluaq and he represents a risk to reoffend.

The RCMP believe that there is a significant risk to the safety of the public, particularly young persons."

When child rapist Jason Hikoalok was released in Iqaluit a few weeks ago, RCMP detained him at the airport, seeking conditions that limit his movements. No such conditions have been sought for Emikotailuk.