North

Gerald Zoe identified as young man pulled from waters near N'dilo

The body of a young man found in the water off N'dilo, N.W.T., over the weekend has been identified as Gerald Zoe. Members of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation are trying to cope with the loss of Zoe, and the disappearance of another young man - Mark Lynn.

Yellowknives Dene First Nation coping with Zoe's death and disappearance of 21-year-old Mark Lynn

The body of a young man found in the water off N'dilo, N.W.T., over the weekend has been identified as Gerald Zoe, pictured here in his Facebook profile photo. (Facebook)

The body of a young man found in the water off N'dilo, N.W.T., over the weekend has been identified as Gerald Zoe.

Several young people found Zoe's body floating in the water east of N'dilo at around 6 p.m. Sunday.

N'dilo Chief Ernest Betsina says Zoe was from Behchoko.

"The family in Behchoko, they certainly are grieving. Our condolences are certainly with the family. Our prayers are with the family. We're trying to assist them as much as we can," said Betsina.

Betsina said he's making sure that the young people who found the body are getting the help they need.

"After the incident, the next day I met with our YKDFN [Yellowknives Dene First Nation] Wellness Department and I told them to make sure that they speak to the individuals that did discover the body and make sure that they are OK and to ask them to come to the office and to speak out [about] what they saw," he said.

"There's no use keeping it within themselves."

Another Dene man missing

Betsina says members of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation are also struggling with the recent disappearance of another young man, 21-year-old Mark Lynn.

RCMP are looking for information about Mark Lynn, who was reported missing on Aug. 24. (Yellowknife RCMP)
Lynn was last seen in the community of Dettah on Aug. 24 and was reported missing four days later.

"Any time there is a tragedy it certainly affects a lot of people. It affects the whole community because almost everyone knows each other," Betsina said.

Betsina says he's also been in touch with Lynn's family to offer his support.

"The RCMP are taking a look at tips in and around Dettah so the family is more or less waiting to see what the RCMP is going to report back to them."

Anyone with information on Lynn's whereabouts or the circumstances surrounding Zoe's death is asked to contact the Yellowknife RCMP at (867) 669-1111.