Jillian Dickens
Northern News Services

Broughton Island (Nov 28/05) - A wildlife officer and a former hamlet contractor have been charged with theft after $8,500 worth of construction materials went missing over the summer.

Officials in Qikiqtarjuaq say they believe this cabin was built with materials stolen from the hamlet. It burned down the day before RCMP members were scheduled to visit the site. - photo courtesy of Qikiqtarjuaq hamlet

Wildlife officer Russell Brandon and brother Dave Brandon have been charged with theft over $5,000, said Cpl. John Berger.

The charges were laid after lumber and other materials earmarked for a swimming pool renovation, the construction of a storage building for the airport and hamlet, and an outdoor basketball court,

The brothers are expected in court on Dec. 14.

Since the materials went missing, the community projects have been delayed at least a year, said Qikiqtarjuaq senior administrative officer Mike Richards.

The theft was discovered in early July by the hamlet foreman.

According to Richards, hamlet employees told the foreman that the materials had been loaded on a qamotiq and taken to a cabin outside of the community.

The foreman found the cabin and identified materials used to built it matched those owned by the hamlet, said the SAO.

Richards filed a complaint with the RCMP.

When police arrived at the cabin to investigate, they discovered it had burned to the ground.

Charges were laid in early November, when the previous RCMP officer was transferred and new officer Cpl. Steven Power got on the case.

On Nov. 10, Richards publicly stated in front of hamlet council that the Brandon brothers had been charged.

In a letter to the director of Wildlife Management, Richards states that "Russell said he would compensate the hamlet for losses by delivering first aid training to hamlet staff in lieu of payment."

Russell Brandon was transferred from Qikiqtarjuaq to Kimmirut before he was charged.

Wildlife management director Drikus Gissing said he could not comment on the matter while it is under investigation.

"I can however tell you that Russell was not moved to Kimmirut because of this incident, but got the Kimmirut position through a competition process, before he was charged," said Gissing in an e-mail to Nunavut News/North.

Qikiqtarjuaq mayor Lootie Tomasie said he fired Dave Brandon from his job in early July.

According to Tomasie, Dave Brandon then went from Iqaluit to Yellowknife to Whitehorse.

His whereabouts are not known.