Just weeks after Pope Francis’ 24-30 July “penitential pilgrimage” to Canada, when he profusely apologised to the country’s Indigenous peoples for the “catastrophic” errors of the past, associated with the residential schools system that separated children from their families and their culture, Canada was in a state of shock after one of the deadliest murder sprees in the country’s modern history.
At least ten people were killed and 18 injured in the James Smith Cree Nation, an Indigenous reserve in Saskatchewan, and in Weldon, a rural town nearly 165km away from Saskatoon, the province’s most populous city. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) identified two suspects, 31-year-old Damien Sanderson and his brother Myles Sanderson, 30.
It said there were 13 incident locations in James Smith Cree Nation and Weldon, which are about 25km apart. James Smith Cree Nation, which has an on-reserve population of about 1,900, declared a state of emergency on Sunday that will be in effect until 30 September. On Monday morning Damien Sanderson was found dead in the James Smith Cree Nation in a “heavily grassed area” near a house, according to RCMP assistant commissioner Rhonda Blackmore, who said his injuries were not believed to be self- inflicted.
She told reporters: “We believe some victims have been targeted and others have been attacked randomly.” Police launched a manhunt for the two men on Sunday, which continued for Myles as The Tablet went to press on Tuesday. Before the discovery of Damien’s body, the RCMP charged both men with first-degree murder, attempted murder and breaking and enter- ing. Police warned that Myles, who has a “lengthy criminal record”, may be injured and may seek medical help.
Justin Trudeau, Canada’s Prime Minister, described the incident as “horrific and heartbreaking”. “I am shocked and devastated by the horrific attacks today,” Mr
Trudeau said. “Those responsible for today’s abhorrent attacks must be fully brought to justice.”
As news of the stabbings broke, a dangerous person alert was sent to all mobile phones across the provinces of Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Alberta – an enormous region almost half the size of Europe.
Police refused to speculate on the motives behind the attack, but Chief Bobby Cameron of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations suggested that they could be drugs-related.
“This is the destruction we face when harmful illegal drugs invade our communities. We demand all authorities to take direction from the chiefs and councils and their membership to create safer and healthier communities for our people,” Mr Cameron said.
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