BIG ISLAND LAKE — Residents near Big Island Lake Cree Nation say fear is growing after two violent incidents – a fatal shooting on Dec. 30 and what one resident, Dale Laursen, described as a home being "riddled with bullets" on Jan. 2.
Laursen, who lives near the First Nation, said the community is already on edge, and the tension increased after a home was struck repeatedly by gunfire.
“I think we have a major problem up here,” said Laursen, adding that the situation has left families uneasy about safety and transportation.
School bus concerns
The school in Pierceland normally sends a bus to Big Island Lake Cree Nation to pick up students who attend classes in the village. But with the band office and the on-reserve school shut down after the shooting, parents in the surrounding area are refusing to send their children on the bus.
Laursen, whose own children recently graduated, estimated that about 26 students from Big Island attend school in Pierceland.
“It's just a danger,” he said. “It's not just our bus, it's the kids. A lot of them kids are walking to that school to meet that bus and are walking amongst what's going on up there, and that's a concern.”
Pierceland Mayor Coral Dale confirmed that the school bus normally enters the reserve for pickup, but said the lockdown means the bus isn’t currently going onto the First Nation.
“Now that the reserve is in lockdown, I'm sure the bus is not allowed on there, so at this point, it's not an issue,” said Dale.
She added that some families who normally rely on the bus are now driving their children into town themselves.
The Northwest School Division said it has consulted with Pierceland RCMP, who have given the division's transportation department the go-ahead to drive buses onto the First Nation.
"They are not concerned about our bus operations, but out of an abundance of caution, we have moved one pick-up spot," said Kaitlin Harman, communications officer for the division.
The pick-up point has moved to the security of the First Nation's checkpoint, she said.
No immediate danger to Pierceland
Dale said she understands why area residents are uneasy, but said that police have reassured the village that the violence hasn’t spread beyond the First Nation.
“Well, people are always concerned when there's an incident like that, but the police have assured us that there's no immediate danger to our community at this point,” she said.
She suggested the shooting may be “drug or gang related” and contained within the First Nation.
“Everybody’s fearful when we hear those things, that’s for sure. But that violence has not moved into our community of Pierceland, thankfully.”
Laursen said his crime-prevention group has been told by police that there is no gang activity in the area, but he disagrees.
“If you ask the police, they say there's no gangs up there, but if you ask the people, that's what they say, it’s all gang-related.
“Nobody will buy anything that's red up here because of the gangs,” he said, adding that’s the gang’s colour.
Big Island Lake Cree Nation Chief was unable to be reached for comment.
RCMP investigation ongoing
Saskatchewan RCMP continue to investigate a fatal shooting on Big Island Lake Cree Nation that left one person dead and three others injured on Dec. 30, 2025.
The incident triggered a dangerous persons’ alert for the area, which was in effect from about 8:23 a.m. to 4:49 p.m.
The RCMP hasn’t released the name of the deceased but said it was a 31-year-old man, and his family has been notified.
Monday, an RCMP release stated they are not able give a further update on the condition of the hospitalized victims as that would be considered their personal health information, which they are unable to provide due to Privacy Act obligations.
The motive for the shooting remains under investigation, and police say updates will be provided when available.
They are also investigating a Jan. 2 incident. Police say that at approximately 10:50 p.m., Pierceland RCMP received multiple reports of the sound of a firearm being discharged. Officers responded and searched the area, but no injured persons were located, states a release issued Jan. 3. On Monday, Jan. 5, RCMP added that investigation has determined that shots were indeed fired and that they struck multiple residences on Big Island Lake Cree Nation.
Currently, investigators have not determined if these incidents are connected, say RCMP.
Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to report it to the police by calling 310-RCMP. Information can also be submitted anonymously by contacting Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or www.saskcrimestoppers.com.
“If you saw something, say something,” says Inspector Ashley St. Germaine, senior investigative officer with Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crimes Branch.
“While investigators continue to collect and analyze evidence, including video surveillance, eyewitness accounts will be key to providing answers to the victims and their families.”
RCMP also said on Monday that residents of Big Island Lake Cree Nation will notice a continued increased police presence as these investigations continue.
RCMP officers from across the province are involved in investigating these files and providing additional patrols on Big Island Lake Cree Nation, including police officers from Pierceland RCMP Detachment, Saskatchewan RCMP’s Major Crimes Unit, North Battleford Forensic Identification Section (FIS), North Battleford and Prince Albert Provincial General Investigation Sections (GIS), North Battleford Crime Reduction Team (CRT), Meadow Lake CRT, Combined Traffic Services Saskatchewan (CTSS) and the Historical Case Unit (HCU).
ljoy@sasktoday.ca
