CP
May 11, 2004
FORT CHIPEWYAN, Alta. (CP) -- The body of a trapper
missing in northern Alberta was pulled out of Lake Athabasca on Monday
by his family and friends.
Napoleon Wanderingspirit, 59, had disappeared under
the ice April 30.
Friends believe the lifelong Fort Chipewyan resident
had a seizure and drowned.
``He was a happy guy,'' said Larry Paquette, Wanderingspirit's
brother-in-law. ``He got sick 15 years ago and his mind wasn't right
after that. He took seizures.
``He didn't go into the bush this year, but he wanted
to go down when the water opened.''
Paquette and Wanderingspirit were friends for about
50 years.
``He was never a quitter. He was strong. He could pack
three medium-sized beaver like nothing.''
Wanderingspirit enjoyed the trapper's life and the
traditional values that came with living off the land, Paquette said.
``That's what he liked, the traditional life. He liked
to walk and shoot and work hard, but he enjoyed it.''
Wanderingspirit's body was found about 225 metres from
the shore. No foul play is suspected, said RCMP Const. Tamara Ford.
Police and fire department officials called off the
search for Wanderingspirit three days after
he was seen falling through the Lake Athabasca
ice. His friends and family, however, organized their own search.
Wanderingspirit was single and had no children.
© CP 2004
