Paul Bickford
Northern News Services
Monday, April 9, 2007

SNOWDRIFT - Somewhere on a journey from Yellowknife to Lutsel K'e, a large amount of money - about $12,000 - went missing on March 28.

"We are investigating the theft of a considerable amount of cash," said Const. Brent Dooks, the acting commander of the RCMP detachment in the hamlet of Lutsel K'e.

"There was a package that arrived here that was missing approximately $12,000," he said, although he declined to say how much money remained in the package.

The money, which was the property of the Lutsel K'e Dene First Nation, was in a type of cash bag used by banks.

"The money was coming from a bank in Yellowknife to the band office here in Lutsel K'e," Dooks said.

Part of the journey was a plane ride to the community on Great Slave Lake.

"We're trying to determine where it was that the money went missing," Dooks said, adding the investigation is being assisted by the RCMP's General Investigation Section in Yellowknife.

The investigation includes identifying everyone who had access to the package from the bank to Lutsel K'e.

As of April 5, Dooks said there were no suspects in the theft.

The constable also cautioned the community against speculating about what might have happened to the money.

The community should allow the police to do a complete investigation and not point fingers, Dooks said, adding anyone who has information about the crime should contact the RCMP.

When contacted, Chief Adeline Jonasson, of the Lutsel K'e Dene First Nation, offered no comment on the matter.

The money was to be used to help stage a spring carnival, which went ahead on the March 31-April 1 weekend.