On a stormy and rain-filled morning on July 23, 1991, a group of eight people set out from Igloolik, Nunavut, on a journey to Hall Beach, now known as Sanirajak. Among them was two-month-old Sheena Airut, nestled with her family and fellow travellers in a 24-foot freighter canoe. The group was making its way through the frigid arctic waters when tragedy struck. Their vessel, powered by a 30-horsepower outboard motor, was navigating through the challenging conditions of the region.
Approximately 15 miles north of their destination, the canoe encountered submerged ice. The impact caused the boat to fill with water and capsize, plunging all eight occupants into the icy sea. The severe weather and the remote location made their situation perilous. One man, Abraham Oolalak, managed to cling to a piece of ice for 24 hours until he was found. He was the sole survivor of the devastating incident. The other seven individuals, including the infant Sheena Airut, disappeared into the water.
In the wake of the capsizing, a search was launched, involving forty people and fourteen boats. The rescuers faced difficult conditions, with heavy ice impeding their efforts to find the missing. The canoe was eventually located, but tragically, the other seven passengers were not. Within a week, officials made the difficult decision to end the formal search, as the likelihood of finding any other survivors was considered nonexistent. The case of Sheena Airut and the six others who vanished with her is considered a suspected accident. Their journey on that fateful July day ended in a heartbreaking loss that remains a somber event in the history of the region.Last Seen: Jul 23, 1991
