Medal of Bravery
Awarded on: 1988-04-05
Invested on: 1988-06-10
While out on his trap-line around noon on 6 November 1986, Johnny Jack Baker rescued one man and attempted to rescue his own brother from the frigid waters at the mouth of the Keewatin River. Their snowmobile had broken through the thin ice, throwing both men into the water. When Johnny Baker arrived moments later on his snowmobile, he saw both victims trying to pull themselves up on the ice as it continued to break around them. He called for them to work their way back towards him and the thicker ice. The other man heeded his instructions, but his brother, in his panic and shock, kept going further out. Meanwhile, Johnny had managed to tie some pieces of rope together, weighted one end with a glove and threw it to the closer victim, whom he then pulled out. In an attempt to reach his brother, Johnny pushed his sleigh onto the thin ice, which gave way, sending him into the freezing water as well. He was able to use the sleigh to pull himself out just as his brother went under for the last time. Despite his grief at the loss of his brother, Johnny took the shivering victim to shore where he built a fire, gave him some dry clothes and drove him back to the settlement, eleven kilometres away.