The Saskatoon Tribal Council held a conference on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. to allow families of the victims of Sunday’s stabbings to share stories about the family they lost.
Mark Arcand said they were there to support these families.
“This weekend was one of the darkest in the history of our province and people. We are here to do whatever we can for the families that have been affected by these tragedies,” said Arcand.
He talked about Bonnie Burns, his sister, as well as his nephew Gregory Burns, noting that family came first for Bonnie.
“She’s not a victim, she’s a hero,” said Arcand.
“She always put other people before her. That’s what we want people to remember.”
He added that the situation that occurred on Sunday should not happen to anyone.
“We have no answers, but what we can talk about is what family means to us.”
“During this difficult time, we are just climbing a mountain now as a family, both of our communities. And that mountain is the devastation of what happened to our family members,” added Arcand.
He said we should focus on what we can do to help other people.
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Arcand spoke about what happened on Sunday, and about what he was feeling once he found out what happened to his sister.
“That morning I couldn’t think straight, and I was worried about the rest of my family.”
He said he went alone to the crime scene, and phoned family to check on where they were.
Arcand said he initially felt anger, but said that anger doesn’t solve anything.
“I’ve gotten a lot of advice from elders over the days to grieve, to grieve properly.”
Arcand said Bonnie protected her children, adding that she was killed right outside of her home.
“She was protecting these three little boys, this is why she was a hero. She’s a true matriarch of the First Nations’ way of living, which is our women take care of our homes,” Arcand said while holding back tears.
Arcand said that the RCMP need to do their work, and that we need to support their work.
A gofundme page was also put up to help support Burns’ family.
“Her life was cut short, and Gregory’s life was cut short, but as a family we are going to carry on. We’re going to carry on and get through this terrible tragedy.”
“As much tears that are flowing, and you know it’s part of the grieving process, but being with family and sitting down and having a meal, and just talking, and just remembering is the most important thing,” said Arcand.
The council said a number of families were being housed in Saskatoon, noting that many of them escaped with nothing but the clothes on their backs.
Item donations like clothing, toys, and hygiene products are being accepted at the White Buffalo Youth Lodge at 602 20th Street West.
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