Leaders at James Smith Cree Nation have a lot to ponder after the inquests revolving around the 2022 mass stabbings in their community came to a conclusion.
In addition to the testimony and recommendations that came out of the inquests, Chief Wally Burns also has about 260 letters that students wrote to him.
“I ask them questions like, ‘What do you want to see in our community?’ ” Burns said.
“One, they wanted to see a youth centre, a bunch of stuff in the youth centre — a pool, weights, anything that you can think of, we bought it.”
Another letter, he laughed, asked about how to be a politician.
Burns spoke Thursday, shortly after the end of the public inquest into the death of Myles Sanderson, the 32-year-old man who killed 10 people in James Smith Cree Nation and one person in the neighbouring village of Weldon, and injured 17 others.
It’s the second inquest in the past six weeks centred on the massacre on Sept. 4, 2022, and the ensuing capture of Sanderson three days later. The first inquest analyzed the stabbing massacre in its entirety, while the week-long inquest that wrapped up this week focused on Sanderson’s death.
The second inquest saw footage of a high-speed police pursuit of Sanderson behind the wheel of a stolen truck, including the miraculous manoeuver from an RCMP officer to send Sanderson into the ditch along Highway 11. Jurors also learned about Sanderson’s arrest moments before he went into medical distress from what jurors determined was an accidental cocaine overdose.
Now, the community tries to move on.
“To heal, that you’ve got to start moving forward, is to forgive,” Burns said.
That’s not easy for people like Burns’ brother Martin, who lost his son Thomas in the attacks and still deals with the pain on a day-to-day basis, Burns said.
Saskatoon Morning11:32The coroner’s inquest into the death of Myles Sanderson has come to an end, but closure for victims, family may not be
Host Theresa Kliem talks with the CBC’s Dan Zakreski, who has been covering the coroner’s inquest into the death of Myles Sanderson, who killed 11 people in September of 2022.
James Smith moves forward
In response to a criminal forensic psychologist’s testimony that Sanderson was not a born killer, but had become that way over time, Burns said the community has been considering ways to broaden young people’s perspectives.
He said the community is considering bringing in different athletes to speak with them and encouraging post-secondary education.
“I really love promoting our culture because that’s the only thing no one took away from us,” he said.
Burns reiterated his hopes for an inquiry rather than an inquest into the stabbings, as he had said earlier in the week’s proceedings.
Sask. RCMP responds to recommendations
At the end of the public coroner’s inquest on Thursday evening, six jurors returned to provide their findings: Myles Sanderson was declared dead at 4:39 p.m. CST on Sept. 7, 2022.
They also provided four recommendations, one to the Saskatoon Police Service about developing a dedicated team for tracking down people with outstanding warrants and three to the RCMP:
- Consider implementing mandatory enhanced driver training, including a specific tactic used in pursuits to force another vehicle to abruptly turn (commonly known as a PIT maneuver).
- Consider a policy review of criteria in high-speed pursuits in the interest of the safety of all involved.
- Consider additional training in the form of enhanced extraction techniques for arrest takedowns.
Assistant Commissioner Rhonda Blackmore, the commanding officer for the Saskatchewan RCMP, said the Mounties will consider and review the recommendations.
Blackmore also fielded several questions about the recommendation for PIT manoeuver training.
That’s not surprising, given how two days earlier, RCMP Const. Heidi Marshall testified to being given the order to take out Sanderson before forcing him into the ditch at dangerous speeds that could have injured or killed Sanderson and herself.
Const. Heidi Marshall described chasing Myles Sanderson into oncoming traffic on a major Saskatchewan highway and the decision she made that ended the chase. Sanderson killed 11 people at James Smith Cree Nation and the neighbouring village of Weldon in September 2022. CBC’s Dan Zakreski has the details.
Marshall didn’t have the training and was praised for how impressively the move was executed.
“These are situations that are low frequency, but very high risk,” said Blackmore.
“We always look at balancing: Does everyone need this training? Do certain individuals need this training? Who should have that training?”
Blackmore said the RCMP will also release an independent officer review “in the coming weeks” that examines the entire event, their response to it and how they can improve.
