NAUJAAT
A day trip to hunt caribou turned into an extensive search effort for two young men in Naujaat last week.

Albert Amautinuar, 16, and Luke Angotialuk, 19, departed Naujaat early Monday morning, July 20, to hunt caribou for the day. After their Honda got stuck, the community began a search. Angotialuk was found July 21 and Amautinuar on July 22. - photo courtesy of Lori Tulugak

Albert Amautinuar, 16, and Luke Angotialuk, 19, left Naujaat early Monday morning, July 20. They didn't think to bring a Spot device or satellite phone because, as Amautinuar says, "We thought we were going home right away."

Both were familiar with the area, about six kilometres outside the community.

The two saw caribou. They left the Honda and approached the caribou on foot.

"I got one and Luc got one. We started cutting it up and went back to the Honda to take back to my caribou," said Amautinuar. "The Honda was stuck,"

They didn't manage to get the Honda unstuck so they started walking home.

"We were walking together first, but when I couldn't go any farther I lay down and went to sleep.

Luke kept walking."

When Amautinuar woke up Tuesday, he started searching for a Honda trail and the main road to go back home, "hoping someone was going to find me out there."

Meanwhile, Angotialuk was found by searchers.

"When he was found they quickly tried to go get Albert," said Lori Tulugak, the hamlet's acting economic development officer. "They went back to that area (where Luke had left him) and he wasn't there. They knew that he was walking."

The search intensified.

"There were a lot of Hondas and people out looking. They would find footprints," said Tulugak.

Amautinuar kept walking.

"I knew I was going to be found. I knew I was going home one way or another," he said, adding he was eating plants and quenching his thirst with snow and water.

Around noon July 22, George Putulik and Kevin Mablik, who is in a relationship with Amautinuar's mom, found him.

"It was a good feeling to see them," he said.

While the search was going on out on the land, in Naujaat people rallied to make sure everyone involved in those efforts was fed.

Tulugak organized this, as well as the call for donations to pay for gas.

The search and rescue committee, which raises funds throughout the year, was out of funds.

"I was accepting cash donation and any e-mail money transfers from any community. I got quite a few," said Tulugak, who passed on the money to the search and rescue committee. This included a $700 donation from Baker Lake.

"Also, before Albert was found, there were people outside Annie and Joe Angotingoar's place that were praying for him to be safe and found, and when they heard the news that he was found safe and sound, you could hear people screaming out, shouting for joy," said Tulugak.

"This community is so strong and willing to help those who need help," said Tulugak. "We are very grateful for all the support that we got. I thank every single one that donated money from Rankin Inlet, Whale Cove and Iqaluit, prepared food, and people who volunteered to search."

A mini-celebration was held at 3 p.m. near the community hall for Amautinuar's arrival.

This was a first for both young men. Asked if he would do things differently, based on this experience, Amautinuar said they would stay together, instead of ending up going separate ways.

"Don't fall asleep just anywhere, keep walking with my partner," he said.

Both are happy to be back home and are thankful for the search efforts by their community that made that possible.

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