As part of his visit Monday to James Smith Cree Nation, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced over $60 million dollars in supports for the community. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Trudeau pays respects to stabbing victims at James Smith Cree Nation

Nov 28, 2022 | 11:59 AM

Nearly three months after a mass stabbing gripped the community of James Smith Cree Nation and Canada as a whole, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has come to pay his respects.

Among his first stops Monday was the cemetery behind Saint Stephen’s Anglican Church where, escorted by local leaders, the prime minister remembered and honoured victims of the attack.

Despite the freezing temperatures and wind, Trudeau seemed almost unphased, walked through the knee high snow, and took his time at each individual grave site to say a prayer.

Trudeau leaves a memento at a grave site. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

(Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

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Following his trip to the cemetery, Trudeau went to the band office and met privately with leadership as well as the victims’ families.

Speaking later at Bernard. Constant School, Trudeau said the entire country was “reeling” after the violent attacks on Sept. 4.

“I’m so humbled to be here, to listen (and) also to offer resources and support on behalf of the Government of Canada and, quite frankly, on behalf of all Canadians who were just heartbroken as all of you were by what happened in September,” he said.

“Of course, the healing process will take a long time and what I wanted to really say is that we will be there as partners to all of you as you move forward.”

Trudeau was presented with both an eagle feather and blanket. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

Later in the afternoon, during a media conference at Bernard Constant Community School, Trudeau announced the federal government is investing $42.5 million over six years to build a new wellness centre on James Smith Cree Nation and repurposing the existing Sakwatamo Lodge.

The funding also will enable James Smith Cree Nation “to develop and design programs that best serve the needs of their members including increasing access to mental health, trauma, and substance use services,” a media release from the Prime Minister’s Office said.

There’s also $4.5 million “to support the healing, mental health, and well-being of community members impacted by the tragic events of September, and to support Indigenous-led approaches to community safety.”

Trudeau also announced $20 million over four years to top up the Pathways to Safe Indigenous Communities Initiative. That program will look to implement the Federal Pathway and end violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people.

Chief Wally Burns receives a parting gift from the Prime Minister. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

Response from tri-communities of James Smith Cree Nation

In a written statement Chief Wally Burns said he and fellow leaders – Chief Calvin Sanderson of Chakastaypaysin First Nation and Chief Robert Head of Peter Chapman First Nation were grateful to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for making a special trip to their First Nations and hope the visit will be a step toward solving the multi-faceted issues that the community continues to face, which they say contributed to the tragedy

“We are thankful for his visit — his kind words were profoundly touching as our community members continue to mourn the loss of their loved ones. We recognize that Prime Minister Trudeau and his government were responsive to our immediate needs for emergency health supports immediately after the incident, which helped us during a time of great turmoil. His visit gives us confidence that we can continue to work together to meet our long-term goals that include our need for treatment centres and self- administered policing,” Burns said.

Representatives from various victims’ families were present to hear what the Prime Minister had to say. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

This past October, the Prince Albert Grand Council (PAGC) signed a letter of intent with the federal and provincial governments to start a process that will help create new public safety initiatives for PAGC’s member nations, including the tri-communities of James Smith Cree Nation.

“This visit by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reaffirms our position that we all need to take a united front to the challenges ahead if we want to ensure safer communities for our families. We are pleased that we have had a good working relationship with his government since 2019 when we first received a mandate from our 12 Chiefs to begin the work towards community safety and self-administered policing for our member nations. This past letter of intent signed with both levels of government is putting us on the right path, and we are confident that the Prime Minister’s one-on-one visit will give him a better understanding of the complex issues that our communities continue to face,” said Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte of the Prince Albert Grand Council.

“We appreciate the Prime Minister of Canada’s condolences to First Nations families from James Smith and encourage ongoing efforts of his government to work in collaboration with First Nations leaders to repair a broken justice system. We promote implementation of Treaty rights and revenue sharing to provide the resources desperately needed to First Nations to heal from intergenerational trauma, caused by residential schools,” said FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron.

Reaction from Victims’ families

Darryl Burns, brother of Gloria Burns, said it meant a lot to him to see the Prime Minister travel to the community.

“It means that we are not a forgotten people,” he explained.

Burns said issues on first nations reserves have been pushed to the back burner for a number of years and tragedies like the one on Sept. 4, brings everything to the forefront. By issues, Burns explained he was talking about the impact from colonization and residential schools.

“And we are still living with those effects today even though residential schools have been closed for a number of years. All those negative impacts are being passed on from generation to generation.”

Kelly Burns, Janelle Kinch, and John Burns brought a picture of Carol and Thomas Burns. Janelle explained more programs are needed for youth and adults.

“Take out the drugs and alcohol on our reserves, that’s the main priority now and focus on our healing with our other families in our community.

John explained it was important for him to bring the picture to show who was lost in the tragedy.

With files from CKOM News

nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell