It has been 25 days since Frank Young was last seen at Red Earth First Nation, east of Carrot River. (submitted photo)

By Susan McNeil

Frank Young

Edmonton woman plans vigil for missing Red Earth boy

May 13, 2022 | 5:00 PM

The area of Red Earth Cree Nation in northeast Saskatchewan where Frank Young went missing from is almost 900 kilometres from Edmonton, Alta., but a vigil will be held there nonetheless in the hope Frank is found.

Samantha Meng is planning a vigil at the Alberta Legislature building on Sunday, starting at 8:00 pm.

At first she thought only a few people would be willing to gather to light candles and pray for five-year-old Frank to be found.

“Originally, I thought it was going to be maybe 10 of us and overnight, it just really blew up. It has caught like wildfire,” said Meng.

As a mother herself, Meng was immediately touched when she heard reports of Frank, who has been missing since April 19.

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She had been working on a project which saw her and a group making 100 red ribbon skirts for the families of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls in advance of the May 5 walk.

“It has just really stuck with me. I sit and I look at my kids and I wonder how it would be if one of my own went missing,” Meng said.

The personal connection she felt has made her want to do something to keep Frank’s name and case in the spotlight in the hopes it might make a difference.

“It’s almost as if I’ve taken Frank on as one of my own. My heart is just so sad and I’m just so heart broken for this little guy,” she said.

To Meng, it felt like there was a lot of public attention when Frank went missing at first and then it faded far to quickly.

Searchers from across Saskatchewan have been looking along the Carrot River that runs through the Red Earth community for weeks and those that remain are getting tired.

They also need support with resources, like fuel for boats and ATVs and food. The community has put out a call for more volunteers to search.

Meng wants people to know that there are still people who care.

“I really want the family to know that there are people out there who are still thinking about him daily, still wondering where the heck he is,” she said.

‘It kind of hurt my feelings a little bit that there hasn’t been enough coverage and he’s just faded off into the abyss.”

Many people have contacted her to say they want to be part of the vigil. For those that can’t attend in person, Meng has planned for the vigil to stream online at both the Edmonton Red Ribbon Skirt Project for MMI Facebook group and on the Instagram page; The Wildrose Warriors.

People that have the ability and desire to help financially can donate to the search and rescue fund, with information available through the Red Earth First Nation.

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.co

On Twitter: @princealbertnow