Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation leadership says Pelican Narrows remains on high alert following a series of violent incidents that have left the community shaken and searching for solutions.
During a Wednesday news conference, Chief Peter Beatty said additional RCMP officers, Saskatchewan Marshals and emergency response teams remain in the community as investigators continue examining Sunday’s fatal shooting and other recent incidents.
Leadership has also hired an external security company to operate checkpoints at the community’s only road access point.
“We have an external security team there,” Beatty said. “They ask for identification, and 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.”
Beatty said PBCN has been in contact with federal Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree and plans to travel to Ottawa next week to discuss additional supports for the community.
He described the current situation as traumatic, with many residents fearful and hesitant to leave their homes.
Vice Chief Justin Halcrow said schools have been closed for the remainder of the week and several local offices have reduced operations as leaders focus on safety and healing.
“I know our community is very, is on high alert,” Halcrow said. “I know they’re living in fear, and we are doing all we can as leadership to get the resources into the community.”
Councillor Olivia Custer said the violence is being driven by organized crime, addictions and long-standing social challenges rather than reflecting the character of the community itself.
“What happened on Monday is not who we are,” Custer said. “Our community showed up. Our security showed up. Our health staff showed up. And this is who we are.”
Custer also called on governments to provide long-term investments in public safety, health care and youth programming, arguing Pelican Narrows deserves the same level of services available in other communities.
“We are not asking the government to save us,” she said. “We are asking the government to do what they already agreed to do.”
Leadership says community safety measures, including security checkpoints and ATV restrictions, will remain in place as efforts continue to address the ongoing public safety crisis.