19-year seek for lacking Enoch Cree Nation man coming to an finish – Edmonton

After almost 20 years of looking for (William) Billy Jay Sharphead, the historic seek for the lacking Enoch Cree nation man is coming to an finish.

“Its been 19 years and it’s been tough — it’s tough to spend on a regular basis eager about it, so we’re making an attempt to heal as properly. We’re making an attempt to do one thing with our lives somewhat than have this weighing heavy on our hearts,” Billy’s sister Joanne Sharphead mentioned.

Billy was final seen in 2003 when he was 35-years-old.

This weekend, Sharphead’s household, with the assistance of the Search and Rescue Canine Affiliation of Alberta are looking out an space on Enoch Cree Nation, west of Edmonton, in a remaining try to search out him.

“We’ve had searches each giant and small, looking out all these areas, the cutline, the ski hill, locations the place he went to camp,” Joanne Sharphead mentioned.

“Someone had mentioned means again when, and I can’t keep in mind when however for us to test the pond,” Joanne Sharphead mentioned.

However looking out on land with human stays detection canines and on water after so a few years posses challenges.

“It’s extraordinarily tough. You’ve gotten all this vegetation that might be protecting all the things and we’re simply hoping that the canines by coaching, by luck occur to select up a scent of one thing,” Mary-Ann Warren with Search and Rescue Canine Affiliation of Alberta mentioned.

Joanne Sharphead mentioned lacking and murdered indigenous males is a matter that wants extra consideration.

“I’m not making an attempt to remove from the ladies, after all, however I all the time say our warriors are necessary and we ought to be telling their story,” Sharphead mentioned.

She is sharing the story of her beloved brother as a sort man who cherished artwork, his tradition and his household.

“We simply maintain his reminiscence alive as a result of that’s all we are able to do at this level,” Sharphead mentioned. “It helps us to manage.”