JSCN families share their hopes for inquest recommendations

By midday on Tuesday, all there was really left to do at the inquest into the killings on the James Smith Cree Nation and in Weldon was to wait.

The six jury members had been charged with their duties in the morning and spent the day deliberating, while the families of the victims discussed what kind of recommendations they want to come out of the jury room.

“Throughout this whole process and ever since the tragedy happened in our community, I always wanted change for our people. I always wanted things to improve for our people,” Darryl Burns said.

Darryl’s sister was Lydia Gloria Burns, who was killed in the attacks by Myles Sanderson on Sept. 4, 2022. Darryl Burns asked questions at the inquest on her behalf.

“Hopefully a lot of the communities, James Smith in particular, will learn from this (and) will start to improve life in the community,” he said.

Darryl Burns wants his community to be able to take better care of people who return from prison and to be able to continue the kind of supports they got while behind bars.

“For our people to continue their recovery when they come outside the walls, those same things have to be in place in our communities. And it’s a continuation of the stuff they learn in prison (that they can) put into practice in our communities,” Burns said.

He believes that would allow the community to help not only people returning from prison but also people who are homeless and those suffering from addictions. He said then the community will be a better place to live and a better place for kids and grandkids to grow up.

Deborah Burns agrees.

“Our community itself lacks and this shows,” she said. “Something like this shouldn’t have happened, and we should be better equipped for people coming out of the prison system.”

Deborah’s father was Earl Burns Sr., who was also killed in the attacks. She represented him with questions at the inquest.

She’s also hoping to see something come out to make changes mandatory; inquest recommendations aren’t binding to any of the bodies they’re directed.

Darryl Burns is also looking for improvements within the system when it comes to communication between agencies and those who deal directly with inmates. He said when a person had to keep telling their story over and over to new people, it starts to lose its meaning and the person doesn’t feel like anyone is really listening.

Chelsey Stonestand has been representing the family of her late aunt and cousin, Bonnie and Gregory Burns, at the inquest. She’s hoping there are recommendations coming from the jury directed toward every agency at play because, as she said, the issues brought up at the inquest are very complicated.

“It’s not just going to be one agency that can bring a resolve to different communities, it’s all the agencies working collectively,” said Stonestand.

She said it’s not just the justice system that failed Sanderson.

“The Indigenous community failed Myles, our community failed Myles, Myles’ family failed him, and Myles failed himself. There’s no one person responsible,” said Stonestand.

She said we all occupy these lands together and so there needs to be a collective approach to these issues.