Brothers alive, well and grateful
Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Nov 13/00) - John Aviligak could feel the energy that had kept him alive for seven days slipping through his fingers. It frightened him to think he might die hungry and cold, lost on the tundra, never to set eyes upon his wife or two daughters ever again.
"My brother was saying to me don't give up hope, even though we had used just about everything. From day one he said hang on, don't give up," said Aviligak, 42.
"He's younger than me and he was giving me this advice."
Aviligak and brother Gordon Ailanak, 35, were the subjects of a seven-day search and rescue mission outside Kugluktuk.
Instigated on Oct.30 after the pair failed to return from a day-long hunting trip in the Cox Lake area, the search came to an end Nov.5 at 1:20 p.m. when they were spotted walking on the tundra near Blue Nose Lake, about 60 kilometres from their original location.
Aviligak said a storm blew them off course and a broken snowmobile forced them to double up on one machine. They attempted to get back to Kugluktuk on Oct.29, but when their remaining snowmobile ran out of gas, they were forced to set up a shelter and wait out the storm. Snow and high winds kept them huddled together under two blue tarps and three caribou skins for three more days.
"It's the toughest experience I've ever had in my life," said Ailanak.
"It was the toughest week, but I didn't give up one bit. I kept pushing and pushing."
The weather cleared the fourth day and the brothers to began the long walk home. They rationed their food - one piece of fish and bannock per day - and were almost out of supplies when the plane spotted them.
"Sunday it was nice. I was going out to shoot a muskox, but I saw a plane in the distance. Sure enough they found us," said Ailanak.
"When they saw us, it was pure joy. I've never felt joy like that before. It was a really good feeling."
The plane dropped a parcel of food and clothing and a ground crew arrived by snowmobile within a few hours.
They returned the 160-km to Kugluktuk that evening. They were examined at the health centre. Neither brother sustained any injuries.
Fred Cornelssen, a member of Kugluktuk's search and rescue society, said search crews and residents of Kugluktuk were relieved.
Two Twin Otter aircrafts and up to 26 people were deployed in the ground search. Countless other residents volunteered their time.
"They were both walking and waving their arms in the air when they saw the plane," said Cornelssen, shortly after the pair was found.
"They were all right, probably damn cold and hungry, but they were alive."
Cornelssen said the families of the two brothers "were very relieved and excited. They were hugging us and thanking us. There were lots of tears."
Aviligak's wife, Mary Alluktik, said she'd had a hard time when he was away.
"I was giving up hope and crying every night. I couldn't take it any more," said Alluktik.
She waited until her daughters went to bed and then cried herself to sleep. The tears started again when her husband walked through the door.
"I just held him," she said.
"It was so good to hold him again."
Connie Tangon, Ailanak's wife said support from Kugluktuk's elders kept her going. She said she hadn't been able to leave his side since he returned home.
"I've been with him since Sunday. I love him with all my heart," said Tangon.
A community feast was organized Nov.7 to celebrate the safe return of the brothers and to thank everyone in the community for their assistance. The brothers' sister, Maggie Alanak, travelled all the way from Holman to give her thanks.
"I'd like to thank all the people out there who were praying for them to be safe. God answered our prayers," she said.
