On the morning of July 23, 1991, a 24-foot freighter canoe carrying eight people from Igloolik to Hall Beach (now Sanirajak) capsized about 15 miles north of its destination after striking submerged ice. Two-month-old Sheena Airut was among the occupants. The boat filled with water and all eight were thrown into the frigid sea; one man, Abraham Oolalak, survived after clinging to a piece of ice for 24 hours until found. The canoe was later recovered, but Sheena and six other passengers were not located.

A search involving forty people and fourteen boats worked in difficult, ice-choked conditions. Officials suspended the formal search within a week, concluding the chance of finding survivors was nonexistent. The loss is recorded as a suspected accident.

If anyone has memories of the voyage, the people who were on it, or information that might shed light on the events that day, please share what is known.