James Smith Cree Nation acknowledges those who helped after mass stabbings in 2022

By Ben Tompkins

Those who helped during last year’s mass stabbing on the James Smith Cree Nation were officially thanked by the entire community on Monday.

The public thank you was directed to everyone who assisted the community and members after the Sept. 4, 2022 tragedy.

On that day, 11 people were killed in the First Nation and nearby Weldon with 17 others injured.

The event Monday began with a grand entry and flag-raising ceremony, with help from the Digging Bear Drum Group.

Following that, an introduction commenced from master of ceremonies Lawrence Joseph and Sheldon Wuttunee.

Opening remarks were heard from local and provincial Chiefs, along with greetings from federal, provincial, and municipal government members (included Melfort MLA Todd Goudy and Melfort Mayor Glenn George).

To wrap up, James Smith Cree Nation Chief Wally Burns, Peter Chapman Chief Robert Head, and Chakastaypasin Chief Calvin Sanderson gave the James Smith tragedy donor thank you acknowledgement.

These included RCMP, STARS Saskatchewan, First Responders, volunteers, Rio Tinto, banks, businesses, local and First Nations governments.

“It’s a privilege to have each and every one of you here today to express our opinions, and also the resilience that we have as First Nations people, especially our community of James Smith,” Burns said. “I’m also very thankful to FSIN for coming up and asking us to host this gathering.

“Thanks to the knowledge keepers, our healers, elders, and also our membership. Our youth that are here are the ones that really inspire me for hope,” he added. “Hope for myself has changed, and if we grab it right now, I think we have the resilience with our young people.”

Head explained how families in the community are still mourning, which emphasizes that there’s still more to be done.

“We have a lot of work to do in regards to healing and moving forward in a good way and in a healthy way,” Head said.

“The ceremonies and these gatherings that we have here are going to help those families to reach out and get some of that support they need in order to start living healthy again and start feeling the love and the joy of this world because for the last year, it’s been very hard for everyone to smile because of what happened.”

The traditional health gathering, titled ‘Staying Strong Together’, will also feature youth land-based events, such as elk/bison hunt and fishing, meat preparation, hand drum making, beading and quill work, ribbon skirt teachings, outdoor cooking, wilderness first aid, and more for ages 14 to 18.