Glen Korstrom
Northern News Services

FORT McPHERSON (Jul 10/98) - Joe Vittrekwa is presumed drowned in the river he loved so much.

The 50-year-old Fort McPherson Gwich'in was steering his boat down the Peel River, a river he knew well.

Police say he usually wore a life-jacket but on July 3 he chose not to wear one.

Water leaked into Vittrekwa's boat and witnesses on the shore saw him bailing the water out.

Next, his boat was found on the shore -- empty. Vittrekwa's body had not been found at presstime, and some searchers had not completely given up hope.

Word of Vittrekwa's plight spread with the speed that sound travels from a drum beat, and searchers came from Aklavik, Inuvik and Tsiigehtchic.

"I have a lot of fond memories of Joe. He was a well respected man. A man who could be trusted. He was honest, very honest and generous," said Vittrekwa's aunt, Elizabeth Kaye, who sped to Fort McPherson from Old Crow to help any way she could. And 13 others joined her from that community.

"(Vittrekwa) has done a lot, in his own quiet way, he's done a lot for the elders in the community and he's done a lot for the youth."

Kaye said Vittrekwa and his common-law wife Effie Snowshoe have run a camp down the Peel River at the place called Cutoff for many years. There, they both teach area young people Gwich'in culture and how to survive off the land.

"He was a dog musher. He has his own dogs and he's entered many dog races," said Kaye, who grew up so close to Vittrekwa that she felt like a sister.

Vittrekwa, who was born in Aklavik, did have three younger sisters: Mary Rose, Dorothy and Betty. Both his parents, Ellen Wilson and Jim Vittrekwa, are still living in Fort McPherson.

He and Effie Snowshoe did not have any children, though because they camps to teach children how to survive in the bush, Kaye said they did their part to instill values in youth.

Vittrekwa followed in the footsteps of his father, Jim.

"(His was) like my way of living -- out in the country, hunting and fishing," Jim said.

"(Joe) was a very happy guy. Sometimes he wants something, well he asks for it. If we have it we give it to him."

Jim said Vittrekwa did not drink much alcohol and was an easy going guy.

Kaye agreed.

"We had a wonderful Sunday service. All the people went across to where the women were cooking," Kaye said.

"They were hoping and praying that they will find him and they're praying for the family."