Church fire on Sipekne'katik First Nation deemed suspicious, say RCMP

WARNING: This story contains distressing details.

RCMP saya fire at St. Kateri TekakwithaChurch onSipekne'katik First Nation is suspicious.

Police spokesperson Cpl. Chris Marshall said Indian Brook RCMP as well as the local fire department were dispatched to the church on Church Street on the reserve, about 65 kilometres northeastof Halifax, at 4:20 a.m. local time.

A spokesperson for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouthsaid the Katilin Healing and Cultural Centre, whichis attached to the church, was damaged, but no one was injured.

"Archbishop Dunn visited the site this morning and asks we keep everyone involved in our prayers," John Stevens said in a statement.

Photos of the scene show damaged cladding, studs and insulation on the building. The damaged area is very close to oil tanks on the exterior.

The fire marshal is now on scene to begin investigating the cause of the blaze.

Marshall said he doesn't know why the fire was deemed suspicious, but that the determination is often made if accelerants are located at the scene, or if witness statements or surveillance video indicate suspicious circumstances.

Investigators will be speaking with community members andcanvassing for surveillance video from people who live in nearby homes or work at nearby businesses as part of their investigation.

Other recent church fires in Canada

Fires have broken out at several churches mostly Roman Catholic churchesinFirst Nations communities in recent weeks, including two in Okanagan, B.C., two others in the B.C. Interior, one in northwestern B.C., and two in Alberta, including onenorth of Edmonton and one on Siksika First Nation.

In all those cases, police are treating the fires as suspicious.

Marshall said the fires at churches in Western Canada are"something that our investigatorswill certainly be aware of when they're conducting this investigation."

The fires come in the wake of an announcement by the Cowessess First Nation in Saskatchewan of the preliminary discovery of 751 unmarked graves at the former Marieval Indian Residential School.

An announcement by the Tk'emlps te Secwpemc First Nation in British Columbia last month revealed that a preliminary scan near the former residential school in Kamloops indicated the remains of more than 200 children could be buried at the site.

Supportis available for anyone affected by their experience at residential schools, and those who are triggered by these reports.

A national Indian Residential School Crisis Line has been set up to providesupportfor residential school survivorsand others affected. People can access emotional and crisis referral services by calling the 24-hour national crisis line: 1-866-925-4419.