ONION LAKE - A body wrapped in plastic has been found on Onion Lake Cree Nation (OLCN) today.
Regina RCMP Media relations confirmed Friday afternoon with SASKTODAY.ca that Onion Lake RCMP are in the initial stages of its investigation.
“It’s obviously the very beginning stages of an investigation,” said a spokesperson from Regina RCMP media relations. “We don’t have any more information to provide right now.”
RCMP wouldn’t confirm whether the person was still alive or deceased but the individual who found the body said through social media that the person wrapped in plastic was still breathing.
“The investigators are busy," said the RCMP spokesperson, adding that she spoke with Onion Lake RCMP. "I didn’t have a chance to chat with them. They are busy doing their job so I just very briefly chatted with them.”
The RCMP say, however, that there is no risk to the public.
“If there was a risk to public safety we would notify the public immediately. There is no public safety risk right now.”
Onion Lake Cree Nation declared a state of emergency in January 2020 after a string of gang-related violence hit the nation. There were three murders on OLCN in as many months.
In September 2020, OLCN band council “banished” 32 individuals from the community as they continued to fight illegal drug and gang activity. The banished individuals have “contravened and violated peace and good order in the territory of the Onion Lake Cree Nation, and thereby are banished,” Okimaw (Chief) Henry Lewis posted on OLCN’s website Sept. 3, 2020. The banishment means those individuals are cut off all programs and services including income assistance and utility connections.
OLCN installed wireless video surveillance cameras at key locations throughout the community and put up roadblocks and check points.
OLCN has three townships spanning 188,000 acres and is on the Saskatchewan-Alberta border about 50 kilometres north of Lloydminster, Sask.
ljoy@glaciermedia.ca
More to come
