Kimmirut volunteers recall difficult search for mayor

The search for a missing Nunavut mayor ended Saturday.

The mayor of Kimmirut, Nunavut, Jamesie Kootoo, went missing after a caribou hunt in November.

On Saturday, the Kimmirut Search and Rescue team chartered a helicopter and was able to locate Kootoos remains - months after he went missing - and bring them home.

Maliktoo Lyta, who speaks for Kimmirut Search and Rescue, said Kootoos remains were found 41 miles north of the community near a large lake known as Taasialuk.

The community spent months searching for the missing mayor. Those who live in Kimmirut said that at the time he went missing, it snowed heavily and kept up all winter.

Tommy Akavak, who was in charge of the fundraising efforts for the search, said thousands of dollars poured in to help with the search.

"We received donations from all over the North and southern Canada," he said.

One of Kootoos sons said the family is relieved they have found him, and they can now put him to rest.

Kootoo leaves behind five adult children and five grandchildren.

Kootoo was an experienced hunter and had had harrowing experiences on the land before. In 2008, hespent 18 hours in a ravineafter his snowmobile fell in. He ended up with a broken pelvis in that accident.

Plans for a funeral are underway.