Families impacted by mass stabbings at JSCN find support at traditional health gathering

By Nigel Maxwell

Nearly a year has passed since Joyce Burns’ husband Earl was stabbed and killed, and the scars are still very fresh.

Joyce was one of many survivors at this week’s Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) traditional health gathering at James Smith Cree Nation. As a result of the injuries she personally suffered on Sept. 4, she now lives with a stoma and rarely leaves her home, but she told paNOW that she found comfort being surrounded by the community.

“It was good to get out and be with other people and enjoying whatever is provided,” she said.

Eleven people were killed and 17 were injured during a rampage in the First Nation and nearby Village of Weldon last September. Myles Sanderson, the 32-year-old killer, died in police custody a few days later.

Acknowledging the anniversary of the attacks is approaching, Joyce admitted she feels nervous.

“I know it’s gonna be a tear jerker, and it’s going to bring a lot of emotions because it was a very difficult day,” she said.

Earl’s daughter Deborah Burns described the support this week as initially very overwhelming but quickly added she found joy and comfort in knowing First Nations from across the province, FSIN, the Prince Albert Grand Council and the community’s own leaders were out to support the families. She also noted cultural teachings have helped with her own mental health.

“I’ve gotten back into ribbon skirt making, beading, and making my kids own regalia for powwows,” she explained.

Noting her father’s love for powwows and sweat lodge ceremonies, Deborah said she has not been to one since her father’s passing, fearing the triggers it may cause. And looking ahead to the anniversary, the emotions have been tough to hide.

“There’s days where it’s triggering because I remember what we were doing on this exact day and we were with him,” she said.

Moving forward, Deborah explained the family has planned a special monument in honour of her father.

Vanessa Burns is also one of Earl’s daughters and the former partner of Myles Sanderson.

“I’ve just been avoiding a lot of things, barely getting out there, but it’s actually nice to get out and see the support from people I don’t even recognize,” she said.

With respect to her own healing journey and years of abuse she suffered at the hands of Sanderson, Vanessa said her own path is really only starting.

“I barely sleep some nights,” she explained. “Sometimes I just shut down and isolate myself.”

Vanessa also acknowledged she thinks about Myles every day.

“Why did he do this?” she asked.

Mental health supports

As part of this week’s events, a number of special sessions have been held and a mental health workers from various corners of the province have been available to provide counselling and support. Nicole Ouelette, from Red Pheasant First Nation, was among them and noted that the events of Sept. 4 are still very raw and a lot of processing still has to happen.

“They are still reliving a lot of that day and how it affected their families,” she explained.

Laverne Laliberte, also from Red Pheasant, said simply providing and offering services is not enough, and they have to meet people where they are at.

“Clearly from providing the services we have this week, we can say that a lot of people have not dealt with last year’s tragedy and maybe because they are not yet ready,” she said.

Janice Brittain has been teaching another form of mental health support, through beading. Youths, as well as elders and leaders have all come to either learn the skill and hone their existing skills. Brittan noted one case where a young girl opened up to her about her feelings.

“She had said it was scary the time it took place. She said everybody was running. All you heard was screaming and crying. She said ‘Sometimes I still think of it and I can’t watch scary movies,’” she said.

Brittain said she encouraged the girl to use beading to think about other things, but also reminded her not to listen to people who tell her to forget what happened, because you can’t.

Leadership

Robert Head, one of three chiefs at James Smith Cree Nation, thanked the FSIN for the health gathering and acknowledged the community is still reeling from last year’s stabbing rampage.

“The community has a long way to go in terms of everyone feeling a love of life again. You know there’s a lot of heaviness within the community,” he explained

Reflecting back on the events of Sept. 4, Head recalled feelings of chaos, loss, pain and sadness. He also recalled how multiple agencies came together to support one another and how they created an emergency command centre.

“That was a very tough few days, because we had searchers, we had fake sightings and we had all kinds of people that were scared,” he said.

Head also acknowledged the efforts of PAGC Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte, who he said was there every day for two weeks.

“He arrived at 8 a.m. every morning, and he was the first one on the emergency command centre meeting and he did such a great job for us to bringing resources,” he said.

Head also acknowledged the support and prayers the community received from all over Canada, as well as the world.

“And that helped us so much, because it helped us keep going every day.”

Looking ahead to the Sept 4 anniversary, Head explained the community’s powwow will take place during the long weekend and will include presentations and tributes to the victims. Planning is still ongoing for an event on Sept. 4.

FSIN Vice-Chief Dutch Lerat was also present on Thursday. He explained that while the federation helped facilitate the annual gathering, it’s the community that’s responsible for the various supports.

Noting the presence of various ceremonial lodges on the grounds this week, Lerat acknowledged it will take a while before the pain goes away. But he also re-affirmed the FSIN’s commitment to help the community.

“That’s the objective of the federation – to ensure that continues and moves forward,” he said.