'We left work to come here to look for Ralph': Search ongoing for man missing near Behchokǫ̀
Eva Beaulieu has been stationed on the highway between Yellowknife and Behchokǫ̀ for a week, looking for her brother Ralph.
She drove from Fort Resolution, where the Beaulieu family is from, to help with the search.
RCMP say they are continuing to co-ordinate a search and rescue mission to find Ralph Beaulieu, 54, who was dropped off at his cabin near Behchokǫ̀ on April 23 and was supposed to be picked up May 8 but never showed up.
"He's a bush person," Eva said. "He knows what to do, where to go, how to do things."
"I can't jump to conclusions and say what has happened to him because I don't know."
She was joined by two of her nephews and two cousins who also came down from Fort Resolution to help search.
"I'm staying positive that he's still out there wandering and hoping that he will wander back into camp," she said.
Peter Liske, a Canadian Ranger, said he's been involved in searches before and felt it was important to help out with this one too.
An RCMP officer and a search and rescue member drive out to look for Ralph Beaulieu, who was reported missing on May 9. (Mark Winkler/CBC )
"We did this before," he said, "it's emotional."
Liske said the searchers have found a few items from Beaulieu, but haven't been able to find his footprints.
"It don't make sense," Liske said.
More searchers wanted
Const. Ryan Price with the N.W.T. RCMP said they're helping the search team and confirmed that some articles of clothing had been found.
"Hopefully we're going to have some luck," Price said.
Shirley King, a close family friend, drove with Eva from Fort Resolution to help with the search.
Ralph Beaulieu, 54, was expected to get picked up at his cabin south of Behchokǫ̀ but did not show up. (Submitted by N.W.T. RCMP )
"We left work to come here to look for Ralph," she said.
King said Ralph was supposed to be at the cabin for a couple of weeks.
"We do need more ground search," King said. "We just need closure."
King also said the area has been difficult to search because of the terrain.
"It's really rough, fallen trees," she said.
RCMP said there has been some interest from people who want to help with the search.
"Those interested in helping out are asked to coordinate with Yellowknife Ground Search and Rescue or the RCMP Search Manager on site before heading out to search," the RCMP said in a news release.
On Thursday, RCMP said police dog services attended the search area on Wednesday to take part in additional searches.
"Today, CASARA is going to put up a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) with a high definition camera to search some areas that were not easily accessible on foot," Cpl. Matt Halstead, a spokesperson for the RCMP, said in an email Thursday morning.
Lorraine Villeneuve, also from Fort Resolution, wants to see more people come out to help.
"I'd just like to see more people coming to help support," she said.
"I'd like everyone to light a candle and say a prayer for Ralph's safe journey home."
Signs posted on the search area on the highway between Behchokǫ and Yellowknife. (Marc Winkler/CBC)
