Daily Herald
The night of Jan. 19 was the official Premiere Night for the first season of Searchers, and for residents who gathered to celebrate the occasion in Prince Albert, it was a little bit more.
Members of the crew and cast joined the audience at the dimly lit Mahon Auditorium at the Prince Albert Public Library to view parts of the Saskatchewan-made docuseries. All eyes and ears were glued to the screen as everyone there present focused on the new production.
“There were many challenges that we faced during this production but physically the biggest challenge was the elements because we were outside for 10-12 hours in the day,” director Cory Generoux said while talking about the production. “We were in the cold in the heat, that’s why I thank the crew a lot.”
The new docuseries focuses on Saskatchewan missing persons cases, and the efforts of rescue teams who brave the elements to search for them.
The series opened with an episode on the search for and rescue of Caroline Halkett, a diabetic elder who left her residence in La Ronge, but failed to return. The series captured the emotional pains of Hackett’s disappearance and the subsequent search through interviews of the loved ones.
“Talking with the families, sometimes it gets very heavy (for) them mentally (and) emotionally,” Generoux said. “It does get taxing. because you are hearing the hurts from their families who carried their missing loved ones.”
The series also focused the search and rescue of Neveyah, a seven-year-old old non verbal Indigenous girl with autism who disappeared from home and her loved ones in Ochapowace Nation. Her guardian Alyshia Assibiboine was interviewed, and her pains and loss aptly captured and felt even by the audience.
As the search progressed days turned into nights, pain and tension was heightened as searchers moved deeper and deeper into the steep valleys, thick brush and mountains in search of the victim.
“Hope means trying to keep the spirits up especially with the family members, relieving that stress from them. Hope is keeping that little fire going,” said Hank Korchalo, who led the search for Neveyah.
While the opening night show focused on two positive stories where rescue crews were able to find the missing person, Generoux said not all searchers are successful. He said those interviews are particularly challenging.
“It’s difficult to talk to these families to open those wounds and then to try to close those wounds because you don’t want to send the family member home feeling the way that they are feeling (and) revisiting the worst part of their lives,” he said.
Generoux also highlighted the fact that search and rescue crews are necessary in rural and remote communities.
The night also was used to appreciate Tom Charles, who inspired the idea of searches. It coincidentally happened to be his birthday, posthumously. Charles passed away in 2021.
The night was anchored by the Executive Producer, Wally Start and he appreciated all who made this possible.
Prince Albert Northcote MLA Alana Ross was among those in attendance. Ross said it was great to see a docuseries that highlighted the work being done by Indigenous communities and search and rescue teams around the province.
“(They) work tirelessly to rescue those in need,” Ross said. “Thank you to all of you for your participation in this and to your families, I know you must worry when your loved ones are out there, sacrificing time and doing the important work of finding ways to make sure other families are safe and happy.”
Ross also congratulated the cast and crew of Searchers for creating the series. She said locally produced shows like this not only bring economic benefits to the province, but create opportunities for aspiring directors and film crews to practice their craft right here in Saskatchewan.
