No one pays 58-year-old Lawrence Corbiere to be help in the search for missing and murdered indigenous women and girls in the Red River, but he helps anyway.
"This is to support, do whatever I can," he said.
Corbiere said he likes to help with the ground searches, while others help by bringing food and other supplies to the site where volunteers are dragging the river near the Alexander Docks.
Mike Ilyniak said he felt he needed to help by donating food and a blanket. "I won't be on a boat or throwing grappling hooks, but what little I can do, I thought I would just come and do that," said Ilyniak.
Corie Siddle donated food and coffee. "They need support and they have to know that we're out there and that we care and it doesn't matter whether you're aboriginal or caucasian, it's important and we have to try and make a difference."
For some on site, the search is personal. Holding a picture of a woman, Darryl Contois said, "That's the one that went into the river and that's the one that we're searching for."
The woman in the picture is is Contois’ half-sister, last seen walking into the river last week. She had been dealing with depression.
"That's where we're at, and I'm glad with the tremendous people coming out and supporting what we're doing here," said Contois.
The number of volunteers fluctuates throughout the day and organizers say they can't afford to turn anyone away who wants to help, and they won't. Monetary donations can be made at Assiniboine Credit Union under the account set up as ‘Drag the Red’
