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Dark skies and heavy rains didn't stop the RCMP Musical Ride show on James Smith Cree Nation territory in Saskatchewan during a special stop on the Canada-wide tour last July.
Members of the community donned hats and hoods to shelter from the storm as they watched the choreographed display of 32 horses and equestrians. It was the Musical Ride's first visit to James Smith Cree Nation, and the timing of the visit was meaningful.
The show took place just weeks ahead of the one-year anniversary of the 2022 mass-stabbing tragedy, and intended to bring a sense of healing to fractured communities and reinforce the RCMP's promise to serve and protect.
"This event was special to us because our people love and respect horses, it's in our blood," says Eddie Head, Director of Justice in James Smith Cree Nation. "It was very timely that the RCMP came in to acknowledge what had happened in our community, and honour it with the Musical Ride. It's good to know that there is respect from both sides."
Heavy rains couldn't dampen spirits
In spite of the rain, the community and the riders showed a commitment to the performance, their presence perhaps symbolic of their desire to foster a sense of unity between the RCMP and the communities it serves.
"Anytime we do these performances, we hope for the best conditions — especially during these special visits, you want everything to be perfect," says Sergeant Major Scott Williamson, the RCMP's riding master. Williamson, whose first RCMP posting covered the territorial grounds, says the torrential rains were "as bad as anything I had experienced before."
"It almost made it more special because the community sat through this downpour," says Williamson. "They sat there — soaked to the bone. Our riders pushed through almost dangerous conditions, between lightning, thunder, and poor footing. But everyone came together. We knew that we had an opportunity to give back to the community after everything that they had gone through."
Finding light in the darkest of times
Williamson says animals can play a critical role in bridging connections with communities. When he lost the horse he rode in the ride named Arctic, in 2022, he recalls the impact it had on him. "I had to make the difficult decision to euthanize him," reflects Williamson. "I said to the vet, the only thing I'd ask is that you remove his tail for me." At the time, he wasn't sure what, but he knew he wanted to do something special with it.
After talk of the James Smith tour visit surfaced, he wondered if the horse's tail held any meaning to the First Nations peoples. Learning that it did, he offered to present Arctic's tail to the community as a token of reconciliation.
"For me, it was also about Arctic's legacy — I could not have thought of a better way for it to live on. Having started my career in that area, it was a full circle moment," says Williamson. James Smith Cree Nation Chief Wally Burns plans to showcase Arctic's tail in a display case alongside other gifts the community has received. "Horses give the gift of healing to our community," he says. "The RCMP visit shadowed a lot of the horse therapy we've already engaged in."
Assistant Commissioner Rhonda Blackmore, RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme (top row, fifth and sixth from the left) and members of the Musical Ride visited James Smith Cree Nation last summer, during a special stop on the cross-Canada tour.
Beyond acknowledging Arctic's passing, the event also gave the opportunity to celebrate a new foal born into the fold.
Each year, new foals born at the RCMP's breeding farm are given names selected from the "Name the Foal" contest. One of this year's contest winners was 13-year-old Napew Burns from nearby Kinistino, Saskatchewan. Napew submitted the name Wayacawiw, which translates from Cree to "she or he stands ready to run." RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme presented Napew with a prize to celebrate his contribution.
Better together
While the James Smith Cree Nation and surrounding communities continue to heal, Head says he is thankful for the RCMP visit and the opportunity to have hosted the officers with a traditional fish fry, where many were introduced to bannock, a First Nations staple dish. "The visit was a reminder to the community that there is protection," he says. "No matter who we are, what religion or community, we must honour and respect each other. We live together — we need to work together."