James Smith Cree Nation chiefs renew call for First Nations policing

The call for First Nations policing continued Thursday after the RCMP provided more details about the mass murders on the James Smith Cree Nation last September.

Shortly after the Mounties’ media conference ended in Melfort, the chiefs of the James Smith, Peter Chapman and Chakastaypasin bands issued a joint statement.

James Smith Chief Wally Burns began by thanking the Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crimes Unit for sharing information with his community, but added the need still exists for First Nations police forces.

“We appreciate the dedication of the RCMP to the investigation and the countless interviews and evidence they gathered; however, many questions remain unanswered,” Burns wrote. “It’s time we start looking at the real truth of our own actions.

“The events in September of last year turned our lives upside down. At the time of the tragedy, I felt responsible. I examined my own actions along with many other community members, as we were traumatized by the tragedy and looked to see if we, in some way, could have stopped it. After much contemplation about the event, I know we need to develop our own police force.

“I am not stopping until we get boots on the ground. We asked for three officers, and I am still waiting for them. The true answer to overcoming these barriers to safety and protection is self-administered policing on our First Nation. I will keep echoing this truth until we have access to proper policing supports in place that fit the needs of our community.”

Currently, there’s only one Indigenous police service in the province, the File Hills First Nations Police Service. It was launched in 2002 to serve five southern Saskatchewan First Nations.

In the months since the deaths of 10 people on the James Smith Cree Nation and one in Weldon over the Labour Day long weekend, the possibility of adding more Indigenous police forces to Saskatchewan has been raised repeatedly.

While the RCMP and governments at both the federal and provincial levels have expressed support for the concept, the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations has said more help is needed.

Peter Chapman Chief Robert Head said in the statement that drugs were at the root of the Sept. 4 rampage by Myles Sanderson — as well as other incidents on First Nations in the province – and more policing is a necessity.

The RCMP confirmed Thursday that Sanderson went to the James Smith Cree Nation to sell cocaine.

“We request that the RCMP be proactive in cracking down on drug dealers that prey on our people and ask that they enact search warrants and other methods within their power to help rid the community of drug dealers that continue to operate out of our village because these are the people who are providing meth to our children, our grandchildren, and our youth,” Head said in the email.

“At present, we are still grappling with policies that keep the RCMP from providing us with adequate policing and protection on reserve.”

Chakastaypasin Chief Calvin Sanderson was equally adamant that Indigenous-run police forces must be created.

He pointed to the Mounties’ presentation Thursday, which made mention of the response of two RCMP officers from the Melfort detachment and the fact their vehicle reached 178 kilometres per hour during their trip to the James Smith Cree Nation. Still, Sanderson said, time was a factor.

“Where was their backup? Why weren’t other officers called in immediately to help them?” Sanderson wrote. “Over an hour passed before residents were alerted that there was a killer on the loose, and many of us feel the RCMP could have prevented more casualties if alerts had been issued sooner.

“We also need more attention placed on the current problems. Many people are plagued by addictions in the aftermath of the tragedy. Our calls for improved safety and policing are going unanswered. How can we prevent this from happening again? As leadership, we are working to answer the cries of our people for help, but the policies have to change so those involved in drugs and criminal activities can be removed, sent for treatment or provided with a pathway to healing.”

Sanderson concluded by saying First Nations need to have the ability “to direct police and co-ordinate efforts to eradicate drugs and other problems in our community.”