Justin Trudeau visits James Smith Cree Nation nearly 3 months after Saskatchewan stabbings
Global News
The wind blew fresh snow around as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau trudged through nearly knee-high drifts around the grave sites.
Nearly three months after a deadly stabbing rampage, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is in Saskatchewan Monday to visit a First Nation community rocked by the tragedy.
Trudeau is in James Smith Cree Nation for meetings with leaders and community members.
On Sept. 4, 11 people were killed and 18 others were injured in the community, as well as in the nearby village of Weldon, Sask., which are northeast of Saskatoon. Myles Sanderson, 32, the suspect in the attacks, later died in police custody after ingesting drugs following a four-day long manhunt.
The slayings amplified calls for more Indigenous-led policing, and Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino has promised to “work around the clock” to table legislation this fall that would declare Indigenous policing an essential service.
Trudeau, accompanied by Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu, went to Saint Stephen’s Anglican Church, where seven of the victims are buried. They were joined by James Smith Cree Nation Chief Wally Burns, as well as Peter Chapman First Nation Chief Robert Head and Chakastaypasin First Nation Chief Calvin Sanderson.
The wind blew fresh snow around as Trudeau trudged through nearly knee-high drifts to get around the cemetery. He laid down tobacco and made the sign of the cross at each of the graves. Trudeau also took a moment of silence after the chiefs briefly spoke at the different locations.
Following the meetings, Trudeau will participate in a grand entry ceremony with James Smith Cree Nation members. He will then make an announcement and hold a media availability in the afternoon.
On Sept. 28, Gov. Gen. Mary Simon visited the Saskatchewan cemetery where most of the victims killed in the rampage are buried, stopping a few minutes at each burial site. Simon also stopped for 10 minutes at a ditch where retired military veteran Earl Burns died in his school bus that rolled off the road after he was attacked.
