James Smith Cree Nation powwow honours RCMP helping to bring closure and healing
By Mara Shaw
Reconciliation
Eddie Head, director of justice in James Smith Cree Nation extends gratitude to Constable Heidi Marshall for the role she played during the 2022 mass-stabbing tragedy.
Image by Cam Lee/Pattison Media
December 12, 2024
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Local powwow grounds in Saskatchewan were festive with vibrant colours, beating drums, and a powerful sense of unity as the James Smith Cree Nation community came together for a traditional celebration of culture and resilience. The annual event, was also an opportunity to honour the RCMP for its critical role during the 2022 mass-stabbing.
This year's powwow began on September 6, just days after the two-year anniversary of the tragic incident that left its mark on the community. In 2023 the RCMP honoured the one-year anniversary with a Musical Ride tour stop that brought community members and local police together in a special way.
This year, it was the James Smith Cree Nation that sought to honour the RCMP, marking the significant growth in the relationship between the two. "Our community was very happy to see them," says Eddie Head, director of justice in James Smith Cree Nation. "They were the highlight of Friday evening."
Staff Sergeant Ryan Case, who is the officer in charge of the local detachment, says the relationship with the community has seen more open lines of communication since the incident and the powwow invitation was testament of that. "It was unexpected, but also very much appreciated and quite humbling," says Case. The recognition extended beyond the incident itself, according to Case. It symbolized a clean slate, fresh starts, and mutual respect going forward.
The gift of gratitude
The weekend-long powwow event opened with a grand entry procession, a traditional parade that welcomed community leaders, Elders, and honoured guests including the RCMP. The sound of drums and voices chanting echoed across the grounds as dancers in traditional regalia marched around the dancing area. Officers in Red Serge were welcomed and invited to join in the ceremonial marches, signalling the beginning of the celebration.
In a ceremony, RCMP officers and civilian staff from the communications branch in Saskatchewan were honoured with star blankets. Many of the blankets were made by community members. Head spoke of the cultural weight of these blankets, which represent both the circle of life and healing. RCMP Constable Heidi Marshall describes a palpable wave of emotions she felt when the patterned blue and beige blanket was placed over her shoulders. "It was such a profound moment in reconciliation," reflects Marshall.
Marshall, who played a critical role in the 2022 police chase—and whose operational training and quick thinking ultimately led to the capture of the offender—says she was not expecting such a meaningful gift. "The blanket ceremony was so special. I know it's a tremendous honour to be gifted a star blanket, and these ones are just beautiful," says Marshall.
Bringing healing through culture
In a leadup to the powwow, the community invited the RCMP to participate in a sacred sweat ceremony. For First Nations communities, this powerful experience allows participants to release heaviness through a physical and spiritual cleansing. "It's a huge experience for somebody that has never been to a sweat, but the gratitude they have after the sweat is remarkable," says Head. "As an Elder once told me, 'A sweat is like you being in your mother's womb.' That's the nature of it. It cleanses you."
"Before I went to the powwow and the sweat, my emotions were all over the map," says Marshall, who has been consumed by the tragedy for the past two years. She says it wasn't until the days after the event that she began feeling its transformative impact. "I think I was just hoping for some freedom from my mind. And finally, on Sunday I woke up and I said to my husband, 'Oh my God, I actually feel lighter. I feel like this weight is off my shoulders.'"
For Marshall, this pivotal experience symbolized a commitment to deeper understanding, and an openness to learn more about First Nations culture.
Trotting ahead
Thinking back to the 2023 Musical Ride visit, Head says the RCMP's efforts to be a part of the community are meaningful. "That's a part of our healing," says Head. "The more you bring events like that for our community, the more we start to heal."
"Every time we've got something going on in the community, I get a hold of [Case], and he says, 'I'll be there.' He's part of the community."
Head says the community has invited the Musical Ride back to James Smith Cree Nation in 2027 for the fifth anniversary, hoping for a sunlit performance to further strengthen these bonds.
Building a firm foundation
Though the powwow might have been a weekend-long affair, the impact of its opening day left a lasting impression on the RCMP officers who attended. For Case, seeing a community member wearing a traditional ribbon skirt and an RCMP hoodie resonated with him. He says it was a visual representation of continued partnership.
Through events like this powwow, the James Smith Cree Nation and the RCMP are paving the way for a relationship based on respect, cultural appreciation, and shared goals. "We need to keep these open lines of communication," say Sergeant Cliff Joanis, who is the Indigenous Policing liaison. "You can't build a foundation when the house is already on fire. We've got to build those strong relationships prior.
