This is the first in a two-part series on the disappearance of Charlene Catholique.
It started with a phone call. Veteran reporter Roy Dahl was settling into his workday in the office of Native Press on 49 Street, now The Black Knight Pub.
Around 10 a.m. a call came through to DahlSA国际影视传媒檚 desk. SA国际影视传媒淭hat wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 unusual,SA国际影视传媒� said Dahl, SA国际影视传媒淏ack then, everything happened by telephone.SA国际影视传媒�
The newspaper often received random calls from the public notifying them of wedding anniversaries, events, SA国际影视传媒渨e were a conduit to the community,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
But this call was different.
It was from Ernestine Catholique, and she was distressed: her niece, Charlene, had been missing since Saturday night.
Could you help me get the word out? She asked Dahl.
On July 21, 1990, 15-year-old Charlene Catholique, like many Yellowknife teenagers, went to the arcade, in the basement of a furniture store on Franklin Avenue.
SA国际影视传媒淭he arcade was a local hangout. YouSA国际影视传媒檇 go there on a Friday or Saturday night and thereSA国际影视传媒檇 be 50 or 100 or so kids.SA国际影视传媒� said Dahl.
At that time, Dahl described Yellowknife as a strong community in a state of promising transition. The SA国际影视传媒済old phaseSA国际影视传媒� was gearing down and there were murmurs of diamonds.
The population hovered around 18,000 and most people knew each other.
SA国际影视传媒淭here was an air of comfort,SA国际影视传媒� said Dahl, describing lunches on the long picnic benches at The MinerSA国际影视传媒檚 Mess where one could go alone, and dine with 10 or so others they knew from around town.
There was drug and crime underground, said Dahl, but low-level: marijuana selling and bootlegging once and while, and SA国际影视传媒渃ertainly not the violence attached to it like today.SA国际影视传媒�
Teenagers roamed freely, especially in places like the arcade, even late at night.
SA国际影视传媒淭here wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 any fear. All the kids went there, and in ErnestineSA国际影视传媒檚 mind, there was safety in numbers.SA国际影视传媒�
Charlene was staying with her aunt Ernestine on Sissons Court. She had come to Yellowknife from Lutsel KSA国际影视传媒檈 to attend a Dene Nation Assembly in Dettah with her cousin. She was described as sensible and almost shy.
But when she didnSA国际影视传媒檛 come home that night, her aunt started to panic, prompting her to call the paper.
Dahl told her to not worry, telling her, maybe sheSA国际影视传媒檚 staying at a friendSA国际影视传媒檚 place? She is a teenager, and itSA国际影视传媒檚 close to the end of the school year. SheSA国际影视传媒檒l show up eventually.
Briefly, that seemed to settle her down.
The confirm the last time someone saw Charlene was in the early hours of Sunday morning, July 22, a month after the summer solstice. SA国际影视传媒淭here wouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 have been any darkness,SA国际影视传媒� said Dahl.
She was walking along Highway 3 about half a mile from the intersection, in the direction of Yellowknife or Behchok谦虁 (reports differ on where she was headed).
SA国际影视传媒淪he was reported missing by family in Yellowknife around the same time she was last seen,SA国际影视传媒� confirmed Cpl. Mike Lewis from YellowknifeSA国际影视传媒檚 .
A week later, Ernestine called again: Charlene was still missing. SheSA国际影视传媒檇 heard she left the arcade with an older man and another friend of hers to go to a party in Fort Rae (now Behchok谦虁).
Dahl drove out to the area she was last seen, his mind racing with possible scenarios. SA国际影视传媒淐ould someone have grabbed her and taken her into a bush? We drove along the side of the road and looked for something, anything and found nothing SA国际影视传媒� no clothing, jewellery. Nothing.SA国际影视传媒�
Dahl wrote about CharleneSA国际影视传媒檚 disappearance for the Native Press, and once it hit newsstands, everyone in town was talking about her.
SA国际影视传媒淵ou could even go into the Gold Range and people would say SA国际影视传媒� have you seen Charlene?SA国际影视传媒� said Dahl.
Stg. Rod OSA国际影视传媒橞rien from YellowknifeSA国际影视传媒檚 unit was assigned as the lead investigator to the case and told Dahl they were doing everything they could to locate her.
The case is still considered active and open and is with YellowknifeSA国际影视传媒檚 Historical CaseUnit (HCU).
SA国际影视传媒淭he , civilian agencies and private citizens have conducted many physical searches over the years based on information received from the initial investigation and tip information that has been provided over time,SA国际影视传媒� stated Lewis in an email.
Each missing person investigation differs depending on the circumstances, added Lewis, including the physical evidence and the technology available at that time.
When Charlene went missing in 1990, there wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 much to go off, other than public interest, which quietened down over the years. Until 1996, when Dahl received another phone call.
He was now working at CKLB Radio making announcements and producing commercials that summer and it was mid-morning when a call came through.
SA国际影视传媒淚t was a deep male voice, it sounded distorted, like when you use a computer program,SA国际影视传媒� said Dahl.
The caller said just three words: SA国际影视传媒淐harleneSA国际影视传媒檚 been found.SA国际影视传媒�
Before Dahl could press him further, he hung up.
Dahl contacted the straight away and they advised him that if he called back, to make sure his recorder was on and ask as many particulars as possible.
SA国际影视传媒淚 think it was a hoax, somebody playing on the community fears,SA国际影视传媒� said Dahl. Nevertheless, it renewed his interest in the case, one that still haunts him to this day.
SA国际影视传媒淲e donSA国际影视传媒檛 know how far she walked down the highway before she was picked up by someone. She must have been picked up by someone. She could have walked one mile or ten. We donSA国际影视传媒檛 know,SA国际影视传媒� said Dahl.
He believes CharleneSA国际影视传媒檚 case may go unsolved like countless missing and murdered Indigenous women. SA国际影视传媒淚t may remain open. Like an open wound,SA国际影视传媒� said Dahl.
Later that same year, 24-year-old Mary Rose Keadjuk vanished. She was last seen at the Gold Range Hotel, where she was staying with friends. In May 1992, the partially-clothed body of 17-year-old Mariella Lennie was found floating near Con Mine. Next month, her unsolved case will turn 30 years old.
SEE: YK COLD CASE FILES: What happened to Mariella Lennie?
The highway to Behchoko has changed since 1990, added Dahl, and people have moved away. The is hoping that the rise of social media and technology may help the investigation.
SA国际影视传媒淎s a reporter you write about so many tragic events and this is one that sticks with you. ISA国际影视传媒檓 always reminded of Charlene. I keep seeing that picture in my head: itSA国际影视传媒檚 the only picture we have of her, a hopeful smile, an expressive face, and looking forward to the end of the school year and a future that will never happen.SA国际影视传媒�
Anyone with information on Charlene Catholique or any open investigations is asked to contact the NT Major Crimes Unit at at 867-669-1111 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Have you got a cold case you want Yellowknifer to investigate? Email anna.james@nnsl.com
