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A four-day search of the wilderness and shorelines near Patuanak, Sask., hasn’t turned up any sign of a missing woman from English River First Nation.
Connie Wolverine, 44, was last seen entering the forest around 8 p.m. CST on Sunday, said Candyce Paul, one of the people coordinating the volunteer search efforts.
Patuanak is about 425 kilometres north of Saskatoon as the crow flies.
Wolverine was on a boat with a group of people as the storm approached on Sunday evening.
“They had sheltered at her uncle’s cabin on the north end of the peninsula, north of Cross Island,” Paul said.
Beauval RCMP said Wolverine was reported missing Sunday evening.
RCMP searched with help from the Patuanak Canadian Rangers and the Civilian Air Search and Rescue Association (CASARA).
“It’s extremely thick forest growth, swampy area. She was barefoot, so we don’t feel she could have gotten too far in that area. Nothing was turned up in that search, no sign of her, no items, no nothing,” Paul said.
Over 80 people took part in an extensive ground search, many of them from English River First Nation and area.
“So now we have turned the search towards the shorelines and the river, up and downstream from there,” Paul said.
Community members with boats searched the shoreline Wednesday. Paul said the area has rapids and only people familiar with the area should participate in the search for safety reasons.
Search and rescue personnel from Meadow Lake Tribal Council and Prince Albert Grand Council assisted, and are using drone technology to search the area as well.
“We are asking people to pray, because at this point, that’s a long time to be out in the elements, in thick bush, mosquitoes, horse flies. It’s not a very comfortable situation for anybody that’s injured or lost,” Paul said.
Wolverine is a mother of three children. Paul said her family is involved in the search.
RCMP said she was last seen wearing a black jacket and black shorts. She is described as 5-foot-4 with medium-length brown hair.
She grew up in the area and is familiar with it, Paul said.
“That’s the part that makes it even more concerning, but it also gives us hope that, you know, she has the wherewithal to know what to do and where to go.”
Beauval RCMP are now asking the public to report any information on her whereabouts by calling 310-RCMP or anonymously through Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or saskcrimestoppers.com.
