Homeless in La Ronge targeted in bear mace attacks

By Derek Cornet

The homeless population in La Ronge is speaking out after becoming victims of repeated bear mace attacks in the last month.

larongeNOW spoke to five homeless individuals who expressed fear of the attacks, which are escalating and starting to occur on a more regular basis. They said it’s a group of four to six young people who are responsible, and they are likely between the ages of 14 and 18.

The most recent attack occurred on Monday night.

“We’ve been getting attacked at our campsite. There are about 12 of us who ended up in the hospital in about three weeks,” said one individual who larongeNOW agreed not to identify.

“I have a sickness. I have asthma and liver disease and they bear maced my tent. I couldn’t handle it. I ended up in the hospital. They had to do stuff to my eyes and they had to give me a puffer. They had to give me oxygen because I couldn’t breathe.”

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The group responsible has been showing up on bikes, wearing black clothing and masks. They tend to ask for cigarettes or alcohol before they begin to attack. Their bear mace is destroying tents and clothing, and the homeless are frightened to go back to their camps.

Last night, several slept outside of the La Ronge Canada Post location so they would be in the public’s view.

“I wish (the community) would do something, because this is getting ridiculous, because our lives are in danger. Every night we have to worry where we are going to sleep,” the individual said.

“We never did anything for them to come and attack us. We are just trying to live our lives how we have to, and now we are getting attacked almost every day.”

Another individual larongeNOW spoke to said they are being terrorized.

“They keep coming back every night, every night, and keep attacking us. They won’t let up. They are terrorizing. We can’t even go back to our camps,” they said.

“We shouldn’t have to fear for our lives. Some of us have asthma and we are worried. If they get close enough with that bear mace, they can kill us.”

Tina Johnson is the manager of Scattered Site, which will be closed down on June 28. She said the situation is disheartening, explaining that several clients have ended up in the hospital due to the attacks with one man admitted for more than a week. She added doctors were afraid he would lose his vision.

Johnson said she believes the incidents could be occurring because there has been a lot of discussion in the tri-communities recently about homelessness and people are more aware there are people sleeping in the bushes. She said what is occurring reflects poorly on the young people living in the community.

“These guys have nothing, and what they are doing is not right,” Johnson said.

“Violence against anyone, whether it is homeless people or just anyone in the community, is wrong and parents need to be having these conversation with their children about violence and destruction of property. Even knowing where their children are at night.”

larongeNOW reached out to La Ronge RCMP on this matter, but didn’t hear back by publishing.