Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to pay tribute to a young lady in Tuktoyaktuk, Ms. Devalin Pokiak, who demonstrated not only bravery but the ability to use her skills that her father taught her to ensure his rescue, Mr. Speaker.
On May 15th, CBC states: a hunter from Tuktoyaktuk is recovering from a long ordeal in the Beaufort Sea late last week when he became stranded on a drifting piece of ice for more than 14 hours. The hunter from Tuktoyaktuk is recovering well. Randall Boogey Pokiak and his daughter were driving the snowmobile north of Tuk on Friday when a piece of sea ice suddenly broke off and Mr. Pokiak started drifting out. He was up hunting and the ice just broke loose from the main shoreline. Tuktoyaktuk sergeant Calvin Roberts told CBC on Tuesday, his 15-year-old daughter had to take their second snowmobile and travel by herself in a snowstorm 50 kilometres south to a location nearest camp. Neither Pokiak nor his daughter drove to the camp which had a cell phone. Mr. Eddie Dillon and his daughter carried a satellite phone another 10 kilometres to get satellite service. The girl drove to the cabin and she grabbed a cell phone and then she called for help. The RCMP initially planned to send out a plane but Mr. Roberts said there was freezing rain in the area and police dispatched a helicopter from nearby Inuvik. Searches later found Mr. Pokiak on an ice pan, which Roberts said was about 15 by nine metres in size. Police say Mr. Pokiak was not injured in the 14-hour ordeal.
Mr. Speaker, I would really like to thank Devalin. That demonstrated courage to do this to save her father’s life. I also would like to thank...
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
I also would like to thank Ms. Alana Mero from Inuvik Search and Rescue and Frank Pokiak that was in the helicopter and also Jack Kruger. Jack has been part of Search and Rescue in the Northwest Territories for years, out of Hay River, and Jack told me that if it wasn’t for Devalin keeping her wits traveling 50 kilometres by snow machine to Mr. Dillon’s camp during the snowstorm putting the search in motion, the outcome could have been tragic. Mr. Speaker, I really want to thank Devalin for her courage and give her a big round of applause. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.
