The leader of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations of Canada said the stabbings that left 10 dead and 15 wounded in two indigenous communities in the province of Saskatchewan could be drug-related.
This is the destruction we face when harmful illegal drugs invade our communities,” said Chief Bobby Cameron.
“We demand that all authorities take the direction of the Caciques and Cabildos and their members to create safer and healthier communities for our people,” said the leader of the indigenous federation.
Canadian Mounted Police Commissioner Rhonda Blackmore confirmed that “ten dead in 13 locations” were located in two communities in the James Smith Cree Nation and the nearby town of Weldon, both in central Saskatchewan.
According to preliminary investigations, some victims were intentionally stabbed, while others were randomly assaulted.
A Officials from James Smith’s Cree Nation declared a state of emergency and created two emergency operations centers to “provide health support to the three communities” of the reserve.
Calvin Sanderson, head of the Chakastaypasin community, which is part of the James Smith Cree Nation, said the entire community was affected by the stabbings. “They were relatives of ours (…) it’s pretty horrible,” he said.
Security forces are still trying to locate the suspected perpetrators of Sunday’s attacks, Damien Sanderson and Myles Sanderson, 31 and 30 years old, respectively.
Regina police said they were working, with the support of the RCMP, on several fronts to apprehend the suspects, having “mobilized additional resources for public safety throughout the city,” according to a statement.
You suspects were first sighted in Reginacapital of Saskatchewan, but alert and search operations were extended to neighboring Manitoba and Alberta, a vast region half the size of Europe.
Rhonda Blackmore added that in addition to the ten fatalities, several people were injured, 15 of whom had to be transferred to different hospitals.
The Saskatchewan Health Authority, quoted by the Associated Press news agency, said several victims were being treated at various locations.
“A request for additional staff was issued to respond to the influx of victims.said authority spokeswoman Anne Linemann.
The attacks are “horrifying and disturbing,” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Twitter.
Source: Observadora
