1 more Misipawistik Cree Nation boater found dead, 1 other still missing, Chief says

Posted on July 18, 2024 by Peggy

A 28-year-old man who was among a trio of Northern Manitoba boaters who went missing near the end of June has been found dead, the Chief of Misipawistik Cree Nation says.

Rayden Dick was found in the water by volunteer searchers Wednesday afternoon, Misipawistik Cree Nation Chief Heidi Cook told CBC News.

“It was a mixture of sadness and relief,” she said. “It was very hard, Rayden had a lot of siblings and like all of them, they have a really large extended family, so it was a very difficult time.”

“It is a big relief also to be able to have him back so that he can be laid to rest and the family can have closure and we can give him proper burial and memorial service,” said Cook.

Cook said the search continues for 29-year-old Delaney McGillvary.

RCMP previously said the body of a third man — later identified by the community as 31-year-old Tyler Ballantyne — was found in the water June 29. Cook said Dick’s body was located “quite a distance” from where Ballantyne was found.

The three men — all of whom hailed from the northern First Nation on the western shore of Lake Winnipeg — had set off together by boat on June 27 to lift nets on the lake, the release said. After they didn’t return home together as expected that night, local fishermen began a search the next day. Manitoba RCMP were also notified.

Cook said finding Dick was very important because it had been almost two weeks where searches hadn’t found any other items, the boat they traveled in, or either of the men who were still missing.

“We maintain hope but it gets challenging the more time that passes, so to know that we can still have hope for a recovery is incredibly important,” said Cook. “And I think we’re going to see an increase in people getting out there on the lake to try and bring home Delaney.”