Leaders with Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation and Prince Albert Grand Council are calling on federal and provincial governments to take immediate action following two recent deaths and escalating violence in Pelican Narrows.
The call comes after the homicides of 16-year-old Jay’siiah Webb-Long and 26-year-old Jaden Custer, along with a recent string of drive-by shootings, firearm incidents and other violent crimes in the community.
“This is not normal, and it cannot be allowed to become normal,” said PBCN Chief Peter Beatty. “Pelican Narrows is grieving. Families are afraid. Children are growing up around violence that no child should have to see.”
According to the release, RCMP data shows Pelican Narrows, Deschambault Lake and Sandy Bay rank among the top 15 police service areas in Canada for violent crime per capita.
Leaders say calls for service in Pelican Narrows have increased by 76 per cent over the past decade.
Councillor Olivia Custer said the community is doing everything possible with limited resources but needs outside support to address the crisis.
The organizations are calling for more RCMP resources, including drug and gang enforcement officers, along with investments in addictions treatment, youth programming, surveillance systems and reliable cellular service.
PAGC Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte said the violence reflects broader systemic issues across northern Saskatchewan.
“Public safety is not a luxury. It is a basic right,” he said. “Our people deserve the same level of protection, prevention and justice response as any other community.”
(TOP PHOTO – PAGC Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte. File Photo)