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INUVIK - Even though the official search for two missing Inuvik men was called off last Monday, family and friends continued scouring the Mackenzie Delta for any sign of Victor Allen and Isaac Shingatok who are believed to have died after their boat was swamped.

The funeral for the two other victims of the accident, Delma Kisoun and her daughter Asta Kisoun-Hind, 7, was held on Friday.

The RCMP continued to provide logistical and technical support to volunteers from the community who were searching shorelines and dragging the river bottom all week.

On July 23, the four and 13-year-old Peyton Kisoun-Hind were travelling a 16-foot aluminum boat for Kendall Island when the craft was swamped.

Only Peyton was found alive, managing to get to shore where he was rescued by searchers.

Inuvik Staff Sgt. Bill Eubank said searchers worked at a frantic pace on the weekend following the tragedy.

"This entire search has been an example of co-operation like I've never seen before" said Eubank. "All the organizations in town are relatively small. Some of them have been going ... well, the searchmaster pulled a guy off the water who had been going 30 hours straight."

It becomes a safety issue if the searchers don't get the rest or food the need, he added.

Inuvik residents were trying to come to terms with the loss of respected elder Allen and well-known community member Shingatok.

As of Friday, searchers had sill not yet recovered their bodies.

Most in the community have accepted that the missing men will probably not be found alive.

Peyton told RCMP he did not see Allen or Shingatok come up above water after their boat was swamped. RCMP said they do not believe anyone in the boat was wearing a life jacket except the young girl.

Recovery of the bodies remains a high priority.

One of Allen's close friends, Edward Lennie said he was in contact with the searchers and he was trying to help them in any way possible.

"I'm in deep thoughts right now and the only thing I'm thinking of right now is to direct the searchers the right way. They're phoning me. Right now my thoughts are on the country where his (Allen's) body is," said Lennie.

Victor Allen's friends were saddened to hear of his passing. Many were at a loss for words and all said it was difficult to speak about Allen before his body had even been recovered.

Longtime Inuvik resident Otto Binder became friends with Allen when both men were in their 30s.

"He was a good friend. What I remember most about Victor was that he was a good storyteller," said Binder. "He and I went hunting together. We always had a great time out in the bush."

He said Allen was incredibly skilled on the land.

"He will be greatly missed by all. I miss him," said Binder.

"He was my friend so it's pretty hard to talk about a good friend when you lose him unexpectedly."