Tribute To S/Constable Andrew Ooyoumut – S/9161

Sixty-one years ago, Special Constable Andrew Ooyoumut drown while in the service to the RCMP.  It was only in 2011 that his name was added to the RCMP Honour Roll as being the #227 entry and his name is now listed on the RCMP Cenotaph at “Depot” Division.

In 1946, Andrew Ooyoumut was hired by the RCMP as a Special Constable to be a hunter, translator and guide for the regular RCMP members at Baker Lake Northwest Territories (now Nunavut).

RCMP members could not have survived in the north without the aid of the Special Constables.

Andrew and was instrumental in bringing food and government cheques to the communities especially during the famine of 1950.  His efforts prevented starvation. 

Photograph of RCMP Special Constable Andrew Ooyoumut (Source of photo – Deborah Webster).

On July 21, 1954 and at the age of 37, Andrew drowned in the Kikatavyuk River while helping to catch fish to feed RCMP sled dogs.  

Andrew’s wife and four children suffered greatly after his untimely passing as he was their sole source of income.  At the time, the Force agreed to provide only two months of Andrew’s salary to his wife and family.  There were no supplementary funds thereafter.

For some reason, Andrew’s wife did not receive a pension from the RCMP or the federal government.  Most recently, RCMP Supt. Steve McVarnock outlined that an archival research had been conducted and discovered that Andrew Ooyoumut was not eligible to receive a pension. “Special Constable Ooyoumut was not a designated special constable for pension …. nor did he file an election form to be considered for a pension.”

 According to RCMP Supt. Dan Fudge stated “This man died on patrol with the RCMP,” He further stated. “We went out on the land and we could never have survived without the special constables and guides who came with us. They literally saved our lives on many occasions. He was an employee, and his contributions should be recognized, including all benefits that go along with that, which means pension.”

In September 2011, the RCMP recognized Andrew Ooyounut’s contributions to the Force and his name was added to the RCMP Cenotaph at “Depot” Division and entered into the RCMP Honour Roll.

Deborah Webster (grand daughter of Andrew Ooyoumut) outlined that “special constables played an important role in helping the RCMP patrol the North.”   She said her grandfather had a lot of duties with the force, but was never properly acknowledged after his death.

Deborah said she has been digging for access to information but has been “running into brick walls” and fighting for more than 15 years for recognition.

Deborah’s grandmother passed away in 1999. But she, her mother, and two aunts were in attendance at the RCMP Memorial Service at “Depot” Division on September 11, 2011.

At this annual RCMP Memorial Service, Special Constable Andrew Ooyoumut’s name was added to the RCMP Cenotaph and to the RCMP Honour Role.  According to Deborah, “this was a special day for our family. It has been a long time coming.”

RCMP Memorial Service in front of the RCMP Cenotaph. RCMP members in red serge with the RCMP Guidon (Source of photo – Ric Hall’s Photo Collection).

September 2011 – Photograph (left to right): Chaplain Bob Harper, Lucy Evo, Commissioner William Elliot, Sally Webster, RCMP Veteran Clarence Dent, Janet Togoona (daughter of Andrew Ooyoumut), Deborah Webster (grand daughter of Andrew Ooyoumut), Assistant Commissioner Roger Brown, Chief Supt. Wade Blake and Chief Supt. Steve McVarnock (Source of photo – RCMP).

Photograph of the RCMP Honour Roll entry for Andrew Ooyoumut (Source of photo – Deborah Webster)

Photograph of the RCMP Cenotaph at “Depot” Division. Andrew’s name is on the extreme left column (Source of photo – Sheldon Boles).

Photograph of the RCMP Cenotaph at “Depot” Division and S/Constable Andrew Ooyoumut’s is highlighted in red (Source of photo – Sheldon Boles)

For the RCMP, the “Depot” Cenotaph is a place of honour and acknowledges the members who died in the line of duty.  As is the tradition in the Force, all members passing the cenotaph turn their head and salute to pay the ultimate sign of respect to the fallen members.