Family and community come together to search for missing Ahousaht man

Drumming for their brother, cousin and friend, men from the Ahousaht First Nation trying to draw out Travis Thomas from wherever he is on Bartlett Island.

The island was where he mysteriously disappeared  72 days ago.

” Hopefully what he hears, he’ll come out wherever he is. We’re wondering and we’re worrying about him because it’s getting too cold now,” said the missing man’s aunt Karen Frank.

Why the beloved young Ahousaht man and coach is still missing isn’t clear. His mother has been here calling for him every day on the island and remains of the seafood he’s eaten has been found.

 “So we’re unsure of what’s going on here or why we don’t know. It’s our goal to get him home,” said Ahousaht Emergency Co-ordinator Luke Swan.

Ahousaht shut down offices, its school and businesses Thursday so that everyone could put their boots on the ground to look for Thomas. The support network of the community was evident

 The support network of this community evident every step of the way.

 “It’s been 72 days now but we’ll be here until we bring him home,” said Swan.

Every crevice and corner of this Island is being covered as drummers keep the faith that Travis Thomas will simply walk out of the bush and see all the people here to help him.

Thomas is described as a 40-year-old Indigenous man, 5’11” (180 centimetres), 175 pounds (79 kilograms) with black hair and brown eyes. He has several tattoos on his chest and arm.

Anyone who has any information about Thomas’ whereabouts is asked to contact the Ahousaht RCMP Detachment at 250-670-9612 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Another member of the Ahousaht community also went missing in a nearby area on July 22. Richard Amos was reportedly heading toward Catface Mountain, east of Ahousaht (Flores Island) to go fishing. His canoe and a red shoe were found late in the day on July 22 at the Shot Islets. Amos has still not been found.