AFN chief says it could take 'decades' for James Smith Cree Nation to heal
Assembly of First Nations Chief RoseAnne Archibald visited James Smith Cree Nation (JSCN) on Sunday.
“It's really important that the community knows that people care about them,” said Archibald.
It’s been three weeks since the stabbings on the First Nation and in Weldon, Sask. that left 10 people dead and 18 others injured. Both suspects are dead.
During her time on JSCN, Archibald met with band council members, visited the area where victims' funerals were held, participated in a sweat lodge and also spoke to one of the people injured in the stabbings.
“The atmosphere, it's still very sombre. People still are grieving,” she said. “So many people were killed and injured in this community and it could take decades really to heal.”
On Monday, she met with JSCN Chief Wally Burns and other leaders during a breakfast in Prince Albert.
Burns and Archibald discussed what the JSCN band has been “fighting for” for the last two weeks.
“New resources for holistics, a lot of it in the mental health area. Housing is a big concern in our community,” said Chief Wally Burns.
The two groups spent a lot of time discussing mental health – addictions, awareness, funding and “how can we better our community with more resources."
Archibald wants to see a long-term commitment from the provincial and federal governments. During her visit, she says she was constantly told about the level of addictions and drugs that many feel are infiltrating the community.
“I know that there have been some initial commitments, but for example, they do need a treatment center,” Archibald said. “They need those mental health supports, they need supports around addictions.”
According to Burns, Canada's Governor General is expected to visit the band in the next few days.
Archibald departs for Ottawa on Tuesday before returning to Saskatchewan on Wednesday.
On Thursday, she’ll participate in an event at Mosaic Stadium in Rergina ahead of National Truth and Reconciliation Day.
With files from Lisa Risom.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs forward William Nylander sits out 3rd straight game to open the playoffs
Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander sat out his third straight game to open the playoffs Wednesday night because of an undisclosed injury.
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.