The family of Samuel Bird is raising money to fund search and recovery efforts, focusing on what matters most — finding Samuel. Samuel was last seen in West Edmonton on June 1, 2025.
“Every day since Samuel’s disappearance four months ago, my family and I have been searching for my son — we have not been sitting back idly, waiting for answers,” says father Justin P Bird. ”To my family, volunteers, friends, advocates, EPS, the Confederacy of Treaty No. 6 First Nations and my community Paul First Nation — thank you for your support. We want to find Samuel and get him the justice he deserves. I love my son and I miss him.”
Funds raised will support the continued family-led search for Samuel, which includes coordinated efforts on land, air and water. These funds will be used for the services of certified search and rescue teams; equipment rentals including drones, helicopters, canoes and boats; cadaver dogs, security and safety supplies.
Government or institutional funding programs available for Indigenous families leading search and recovery operations are limited, difficult to access and subject to restrictive criteria.
“We’ve been self-funded and doing everything in our power to find Samuel,” says grandmother Geri Potts. “We are grateful to Paul First Nation and the Confederacy of Treaty No. 6 First Nations for walking beside us and respecting our voice as a family.”
“This case has touched hearts across Treaty No. 6 Territory,” added Confederacy of Treaty No. 6 First Nations Grand Chief Greg Desjarlais. “We fully support the family’s decision and we echo their call for long-term investment in Indigenous-led search and recovery teams. The burden cannot fall on families alone.”
“Leadership and our Emergency Management team has been working very closely with the family searching for Sam,” says Paul First Nation Chief Casey Bird. “As a Nation we will continue to search until we find him. As the official Command Post, we will manage the technical search the family requires.”
Time is running out as the oncoming cold weather will affect the ability to continue search efforts.
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