Security concerns remain top of mind at Big Island Lake Cree Nation

Safety remains a big concern for residents of Big Island Lake Cree Nation after two shooting incidents in the community.

One person died and three others were injured in shootings on Dec. 30, then multiple homes were struck with bullets on Jan. 2.

RCMP are still investigating and no arrests have been made.

This week, the First Nation, located about 400 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon, hosted a meeting that included band leaders, RCMP, the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations and other agencies.

It was a chance for residents to come together in a community that has been relatively quiet in the wake of the shootings, with the school shut down and the local store running reduced hours.

Jocelin Sandfly, who manages the store, said in an interview on Thursday that one of the things she would have liked to see addressed at the meeting was the need for more mental health support. 

"Everybody's on alert, on tip-toes. Anxiety is high," she said. "You're just wondering what's going to happen next. It's always in my mind that something's going to happen and you don't know, but you just expect it to happen."

Sandfly said she reduced the store hours to 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., instead of the regular 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., because she's worried about her young staff.

She said she agrees with the decision to close the school this week, as she's been anxious to keep her children close.

One of the people who travelled to the community for the meeting was Lloyd Yew, a former RCMP officer who now works with Turtle Island Private Investigators, commonly known as TIPI Security.

He said the company is talking with the band about potentially helping out in the community.

"The good people are not feeling safe. They're feeling threatened with the recent shootings that they had here. People are scared," he said. "They want TIPI to come in and help them and get their community back. That's what we specialize in."

RCMP have said they will have an increased presence as they investigate the shootings. The band also has security guards posted at the community's entry points.

The band also funds a detox centre on the reserve, and it seems to always be busy, said Joseph Keesaynew, who was one of its first clients when it opened and now works there.