Search continues for 6-year-old boy in Shamattawa in northern Manitoba

Posted on September 20, 2024 by Peggy

The head of the organization representing northern Manitoba First Nations says it’s concerning that a young boy has been missing for more than 48 hours, but he and community members remain hopeful for his safe return.

Six-year-old Johnson Redhead of Shamattawa First Nation was last seen Wednesday morning when he went to a breakfast program at the local school until 9 a.m., but didn’t show up to class after that, according to RCMP.

Police were contacted about Johnson’s disappearance around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday. Community members and RCMP officers immediately started a search in and around the northeastern Manitoba First Nation, combing wooded areas, trails, roads and sheds and checking construction equipment, police said.

“I’m very proud of the people there, that they’re relentless and they commit themselves to do everything that needs to be done,” Grand Chief Garrison Settee of Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak told CBC News on Friday.

RCMP said on Friday that Johnson is non-verbal and was last seen wearing a mostly blue sweater with a grey hood.

‘A young child’s life is on the line:’ grand chief

Settee said Shamattawa’s remote location makes it challenging to send resources there, but he added that when situations like this happen, “We have to look at how we can deploy our teams more effectively and more efficiently.”

“Lives are on the line,” he said. “Especially in this case, a young child’s life is on the line.”

The terrain in the area is also “very difficult” for ground search and rescue because there are a lot of trees and marsh, Settee said.

“We need everything at our disposal to be able to do a ground search effectively,” he said.

A number of community volunteers, along with RCMP members, have been searching around the clock for Redhead. Six additional RCMP officers have been deployed to the community, Settee said.

RCMP said in a news release late Friday afternoon that a police dog has arrived in the community, two drones are being deployed and a helicopter will be en route as soon as weather conditions allow.

A man sits in a chair. — Grand Chief Garrison Settee of Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak, which represents northern First Nations in the province, says he commends the searchers working around the clock to try and bring Johnson Redhead home safe. (CBC )

Settee also said a team from Pimicikamak Cree Nation was heading to the community to help with the search. Members of Mathias Colomb Cree Nation have approached MKO and said they want to help out, too, he said.

Additionally, members of the 4th Canadian Ranger Patrol Group and the Winnipeg Volunteer Search and Rescue are already in Shamattawa to help with the search. Settee said MKO is also sending in a crisis team to support the community.

“This touches a lot of people’s hearts, especially when it comes to a young child,” said Settee. “Everybody’s moved, everybody’s touched and everybody wants to help.”

Settee also said he commends the members of the First Nation who are searching around the clock for Johnson.

“Everybody wants to find him and everybody is hoping that he will be found.”