Today, Assistant Commissioner Rhonda Blackmore, Commanding Officer of the Saskatchewan RCMP, and Superintendent Joshua Graham, Officer in Charge of Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crimes provided the preliminary timeline of the mass casualty homicides which occurred on September 4, 2022.
Prior to the public release of the preliminary timeline, the Saskatchewan RCMP Family Liaison Team consulted with surviving victims and deceased victim's families from the James Smith Cree Nation and Weldon to ensure a victim-focused and trauma-informed approach to the presentation was honoured.
Saskatchewan RCMP Indigenous Policing Services (IPS) collaborated with the FSIN and Indigenous leadership to ensure the presentation was culturally-sensitive to the needs of surviving victims and deceased victim's families. Yesterday, Saskatchewan RCMP officers and employees had the privilege of partaking in several ceremonial activities in Melfort, including smudging, prayer and a pipe ceremony, to honour the 11 lives lost and surviving victims in James Smith Cree Nation and Weldon on September 4, 2022. Following a request of Indigenous leadership, Saskatchewan RCMP have raised an RCMP teepee outside of the Kerry Vickar Centre in Melfort to demonstrate their continued partnership.
The information shared with surviving victims and deceased victim's families yesterday, and with media and the public today, will not impact the two upcoming Saskatchewan Coroners Service inquests and the independent investigation being conducted by the Saskatoon Police Service and the Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team.
For these reasons, today's presentation provided the following information:
- The activities of Myles and Damien Sanderson prior to the morning of September 4, 2022; and
- The sequence of the attacks and their movements throughout the communities on September 4, 2022.
Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crimes worked closely with the Saskatchewan Coroners Service to ensure information included in the presentation will not impact the upcoming inquests scheduled to take place in 2024. For these reasons, we were not able to include:
- Information surrounding Myles Sanderson being Unlawfully at Large and efforts undertaken to locate and arrest him prior to September 4, 2022;
- Correctional Service of Canada information, Parole Board of Canada information and release decisions;
- The police response to the attacks;
- Specific details about what occurred at each location and inside each residence on September 4, 2022, and information relating to the cause and manner of the victims' deaths; and
- Information detailing the arrest of Myles Sanderson, his cause and manner of death, and any aspects of the Saskatoon Police Service and Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team's investigation.
The Saskatchewan RCMP Victim Services Unit and Family Liaison Team along with officers from the Saskatchewan RCMP Indigenous Policing Services Unit and Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crimes are working closely with surviving victims and deceased victim's families from the James Smith Cree Nation and Weldon, and those impacted by the tragedy.
The Saskatchewan RCMP is thankful to the media for their cooperation and commitment to providing the public with an accurate picture of what occurred in September 2022.
(There are parts of the presentation that may be difficult for some viewers. Discretion is advised.)
The bilingual livestream of this event is available on the Saskatchewan RCMP YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EV-R1zQ5oc
Opening remarks from Saskatchewan RCMP Commanding Officer, Assistant Commissioner Rhonda Blackmore:
Good afternoon, I'm Assistant Commissioner Rhonda Blackmore, Commanding Officer of the Saskatchewan RCMP.
Thank you all for coming today. I'm joined by Superintendent Josh Graham, Officer in Charge of Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crimes, who will present you with a preliminary timeline of the tragic events that occurred at James Smith Cree Nation and in Weldon on September 4th of last year.
But first, I would like to take a moment to acknowledge and honour the victims whose lives were taken as a result of this senseless tragedy and to all of those who were impacted and forever changed by it…
We remember:
Thomas Burns
Carol Burns
Gregory Burns
Lydia Gloria Burns
Bonnie Burns
Earl Burns Sr.
Lana Head
Christian Head
Robert Sanderson
Wesley Petterson
Damien Sanderson
I offer my deepest condolences to every person touched by this inconceivable loss of life and the weight of the heartache that comes with it.
I can't even begin to imagine how difficult the last seven or so months have been – as the survivors, the families, friends and loved ones of the victims, the communities, our province and country – are still reeling from this tragedy, and also because we know everyone has been waiting for answers. Answers to what happened, answers to why it happened – some of which unfortunately may never be known…
As the police service investigating these senseless acts, we've tried to maintain the delicate balance of keeping the public informed while respecting the privacy and immense grief of the survivors and the families, while also being mindful of not interfering with the Coroner's Inquests and independent reviews that are or will be underway.
Yesterday, I, and a number of RCMP representatives, met with some of the survivors and family members to ensure they were informed about what we'll be releasing in today's presentation.
The Saskatchewan RCMP remains committed to providing not only information, but ongoing supports to the survivors, the families and communities impacted. The Saskatchewan Victim Services Unit along with officers from our Indigenous Policing Services Unit and Major Crimes have been working closely with family members of victims and those affected by the incident from the very beginning… We want to ensure they feel supported, informed and that they are able to continue processing and healing while awaiting answers to their questions.
Part of this support means ensuring a thorough investigation is conducted and allowing the Coroner's Inquests and independent, external reviews to unfold in an open and transparent manner. Everyone impacted by what happened at James Smith Cree Nation and in Weldon deserve answers…
In addition to the Coroner's Inquests and the independent investigation by the Saskatoon Police Service and the Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team, an Independent Officer Review was initiated on September 8, 2022, and remains underway. The results of this review, which is being conducted by investigators outside of the Saskatchewan RCMP, will be available to the families and the public, but not in advance of the Coroner's Inquests. Again, that is to maintain the integrity of that important process.
The information that we provide here today will not delve into anything that the Inquests will address. This preliminary timeline is intended to lay out what our initial investigation determined to be the sequence in which the homicides and attempted murders occurred. The quotes that you'll hear as part of the presentation came directly from the statements of survivors. Overall, RCMP investigators and specialists documented, examined and processed 42 different crime scenes, buildings, vehicles and more as part of the investigation. Over 1,250 investigative tasks have been assigned and new tasks continue to be identified. 697 exhibits were seized during the course of crime scene processing. And 257 witness interviews were completed by investigators and RCMP Behavioural Sciences Branch experts. It has been and continues to be an incredibly complex, large-scale investigation, of which the details are unimaginable. Understandably, there may be parts of this presentation that are difficult to hear…
We have previously heard of the heroic actions taken by individuals on September 4th. You will hear again today of individuals who went towards danger to assist and protect others, and put themselves at great risk. Some of those individuals paid the ultimate price by losing their lives. Those individuals should be regarded as heroes for the actions they took to save other lives. They have my deepest respect for those selfless acts.
I want to thank the people and leadership of James Smith Cree Nation, Weldon and surrounding areas for their support during the initial stages of the investigation and as we continue to investigate this horrific tragedy. I am humbled by the level of support we have received and in awe of the strength and resiliency of these communities as they continue to heal from these unspeakable acts of violence.
There have also been many individuals who have helped us during this incident, particularly during the initial response – including local residents, community first responders, victim services workers and healthcare workers. I want to extend my sincere gratitude for all you have done to assist not only the RCMP, but also the individuals most impacted by this tragedy. Thank you.
And finally, I want to thank our officers and employees – all of those who were part of the initial response, to our specialized teams, our support personnel and everyone in between who continues to investigate, ensuring all avenues and possibilities are explored, as well everyone continuing to provide support to the impacted communities. I can tell you this incident has had a personal impact on many of our employees who were the first responders to the initial scenes, who processed those scenes and have continued to follow up on all aspects of this investigation. Thank you for your commitment and dedication and continuing efforts to answer as many questions as possible for the families and survivors of this tragedy.
Closing remarks from the Officer in Charge of Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crimes, Superintendent Joshua Graham:
I know this is a lot of information to take in and for many this will be a difficult day.
There were many brave actions carried out by community members from the James Smith Cree Nation and Weldon on September 4th of last year. I'd like to thank you all for doing your part in keeping one another safe. Your actions were nothing short of selfless and heroic.
Although I'm not able to provide specifics into our response and ongoing investigation until following the Coroner's Inquests, I can say that our investigators and employees responded quickly following the reports of the stabbings and homicides on the James Smith Cree Nation and, as the calls continued to come in, all available resources were deployed. RCMP officers and supports from all across Canada were brought in to help in those first days.
Given the breadth and complexity of what happened, the investigation remains ongoing nearly eight months later. Being the Officer in Charge of the RCMP officers and employees completing this ongoing work, I see the hours, level of detail and unwavering dedication that has been and continues to be put in by them.
Some of the investigating officers were even previously posted to the James Smith and Weldon areas. Their community experience and perspective has been vitally important to this investigation. The very nature of this – having officers living in, working in and raising their families in communities across this province – speaks to the connection RCMP officers have with the people and places they serve.
Many of the officers and employees have dealt with other traumatic experiences in the line of duty. This was at the core of their motivation to do a thorough and complete investigation to help, eventually, bring some closure to the survivors and families in this case.
These homicides, the investigation into them and the apprehension efforts have impacted all of the RCMP investigators and civilian employees who responded. They poured their hearts and souls into this investigation. Although they can never truly know the pain that you have felt, please know that they have mourned your losses along with you and have been dedicated to bringing closure and healing to you and your communities through their actions each day.
This investigation remains a priority of the Saskatchewan RCMP. Major Crime investigators, forensic specialists and civilian employees continue to do important work on this investigation in preparation for the upcoming Coroner's Inquests. We have a core team of people who have displayed outstanding dedication and tireless service to the RCMP and to helping the impacted communities. The presentation you saw here today is the result of the diligent work of those investigators and employees. They have my sincere thanks and appreciation.
On Sunday, September 4, 2022, we truly witnessed the worst and best of human‐kind. The worst in the tragic murders and horrific injuries inflicted that day. The best in the brave, caring and selfless acts of community members and first responders that came to the aid of the injured and dying. Please know that you and your communities remain in the thoughts of all Saskatchewan RCMP officers and employees…
Thank you.