(File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Public safety

‘Just about every weekend we are on high alert’: Muskoday Chief addresses rise in violence

Jul 12, 2023 | 2:00 PM

Citing incidents related to stolen vehicles, gang activity, and gunshots being heard during the middle of the day, the chief of Muskoday First Nation is searching for answers.

A community meeting is scheduled to take place July 18 and local RCMP members are being invited to attend. One of the main agenda items will be policing and public safety.

“We’re just trying to wrap our heads around how to nip this in the bud,” Chief Ron Bear told paNOW.

Within the past week there have been some alarming posts on the community’s Facebook page. In one post, residents were informed the local splash park was being shut down for the day due to incidents that required a greater police presence.

A separate post encouraged residents to be on alert when out walking and not to let their children out on their own. Attributing the issues in part to crystal meth use and gang activity, Chief Bear also noted the people causing the problems are not all from the community.

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“I spend a lot of time on the phone with the RCMP trying to get them out to investigate certain things,” he explained. “Just about every weekend we are on high alert about something.”

One of the more violent incidents in the past month was the murder of a 27-year-old man. Bear explained the incidents prompted threats within the community related to retaliation. He added elders are afraid to go outside and youth who were at the splash park last week were taken to the health centre for safety reasons.

At this time, the community does employ some community safety officers but they are of course limited in what they can do, and so the community must rely on the RCMP for help.

“My aspirations for the community is to work towards tribal policing,” Bear confirmed.

According to a statement from RCMP, during the evening of July 6, Prince Albert RCMP received multiple reports of people hearing a firearm being discharged on Muskoday First Nation.

“Officers immediately responded upon getting the first report and patrolled the community. They did not locate any injured persons, damage caused by a firearm discharge, or armed individuals,” the statement said.

The investigation continues. Anyone with information should contact Prince Albert RCMP or Crime Stoppers.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell