SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A desperate three-day search for a missing hunter from Behchoko north of Yellowknife has ended in tragedy.

Antoine Betsidea, 46, was found dead Wednesday after he became separated from his hunting party Sunday near MacKay Lake, about 350 kilometres northeast of Yellowknife. - photo courtesy of Facebook

RCMP stated in an e-mail that the body of Antoine Betsidea, 46, was found on Wednesday morning. Police stated that Betsidea was hunting near MacKay Lake, about 350 kilometres northeast of Yellowknife, not far from the Tibbitt-to-Contwoyto winter road when he became separated from his hunting party. Betsidea was last seen on a snowmobile at about 3 p.m. Sunday afternoon. According to Cathy Menard, chief coroner for the NWT, his snowmobile was located from the air and then his body was subsequently recovered by RCMP officers. She said it is her understanding that there were blizzard conditions when Betsidea went missing. She added it is suspected he froze to death.

"They were out hunting caribou and got separated. What I understand is that the bad weather came up suddenly after they split up. That was very unfortunate," Menard said. "The other hunters were able to make it back to the main road but were unable to find Mr. Betsidea."

Menard said she understands the body was found on MacKay Lake. She added it is not entirely clear whether Betsidea had been able to start a fire before perishing. The area they were hunting is in the Barrenlands where trees and firewood are scarce.

Menard said Betsidea was wearing proper clothes for being out on the land in January. The coroner's office has now taken over the investigation. Menard said body will be sent to Edmonton for an autopsy. The results usually take four to six months to complete. Menard said foul play has been ruled out in the death. The ground and air search, led by RCMP, also involved Civil Aviation Search and Rescue, Yellowknife Ground Search and Rescue, members of the Canadian Armed Forces 440 Squadron, Environment Canada, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, NUNA Logistics as well as local hunters, area workers and members of the Tlicho community.

Menard said it goes without saying that people out on the land at this time of the year must do everything they can to protect themselves, particularly if they become separated from the people they are with. It is not known whether Betsidea had a GPS system or a SPOT satellite locating system with him when he went missing.

Sgt. Donnie Duplissea from Yellowknife RCMP stated in an e-mail that about 35 people in total were involved in the search. He stated he cannot say exactly where the body was found because the investigation is ongoing.

Betsidea was originally from Deline but had lived in Behchoko for the past two decades. He was the father of eight children.

Behchoko Chief Clifford Daniels said his community is in shock.

"You always expect your hunters to come home," he said. "He was an avid outdoors person. It was very unfortunate that a blizzard occurred at that time. Hunters go out prepared for these situations and these incidents remind us not to take anything for granted. Weather and Mother Nature can change at any time. Be as prepared as you can be and travel in pairs."

Funeral arrangements had not been announced as of press time.

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