BUFFALO NARROWS – Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation is asking for more government support for public safety services after one individual was killed and one was seriously injured by a shooter in the Pelican Narrows community on June 1.
Police are still searching for the suspect.
RCMP stated in a news conference on Tuesday that the Pelican Narrows detachment area has seen a 49 per cent increase in violent crime over the last decade.
Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation held a media conference on June 3 outlining some of their activities to help keep the community safe.
Leaders said there is a high number of unresolved homicides in the community that are a concern.
Chief Peter A. Beatty said as a result of the recent shooting, the community was under a complete lockdown, while the incident was ongoing.
"We hired an external security team to stop people at the road access to Pelican Narrows," he said. "They asked for identification. If you're carrying alcohol, they'll confiscate the alcohol. Or, if they find drugs, they'll confiscate that and report it to the RCMP. That's an ongoing operation. Hopefully, we can keep them there for an extended period of time."
Beatty said in addition to the RCMP, the Saskatchewan Marshals Service is also on the ground investigating.
"It's been very traumatic for the community and our members that live there," he said. "They are still very much concerned. A lot of them are in fear, apprehensive of going anywhere. That's the current climate in Pelican Narrows. Leadership, the local council and myself and Grand Council, and all of the people involved in law enforcement as well, we are trying the best we can to get things back to some state of normalcy."
Coun. Olivia Custer said there are a number of community safety measures that are active and growing.
"We implemented a quad ban that is already showing results," she said.
"Community checkpoints are being strengthened," Custer added. "We have asked the RCMP to increase their presence in the community, patrolling around the community, especially around the health centre."
She said staff are co-ordinating cultural counselling, and community healing activities to help keep the children safe and supported.
"Our community of Pelican Narrows is strong, resilient, and a loving community," Custer said. "The people who live here are not defined by violence."
