Elders who worked with Sanderson in prison testify at James Smith Cree Nation stabbing inquest

WARNING: This story contains distressing details.

The final two witnesses at thecoroner's inquest into the stabbing massacre at James Smith Cree Nation on Sept. 4, 2022, gave testimony about the programming that killer Myles Sandersonreceived while in prison.

Elder Geraldine Arcand, who has workedwith Correctional Services Canada for the past decade, wasinvolved with Sanderson in the initial intake process when he began serving a federal prison sentence in2019.

"The first day I met him, he was quiet, but he spoke. He was respectful and talked about his childhood and all that has transpired from there till his children," she said.

In less than two weeks, she developed a healing plan, based on a format ofthe medicine wheel, for him.

Arcand said if Sanderson would have taken the opportunity tocomplete his Grade 12 and gotten some institutional employment, it would have "given him some purpose" and skills.

"To start addressing the issues he had it was his upbringing. It was the anger that he feels and encouraging him to address it in a healthy way," she said.

"He needed supports because he was really, to me anyway at that time, remorseful with what he did. He talked about his children and how he wanted to be there for them."

Sanderson receptive to teachings: elder

The final witness of the inquest, Elder Harvey Knight, worked with Sanderson in prison. He said he saw Sanderson once or twice a week and got to know him in his healing journey.

The high-intensity, multi-targeted program focusedon imparting Indigenous teachings and providing guidance and assistance on offenders' roads to healing, Knight said.

He said Sanderson was receptive to those teachings.

"He attended all the groups. To me, he was in a normal, sober state of mind. His behaviour was very good, like everyone else in the group. He didn't stand out as someone different," Knight said.

Knight said he had "no indication" of what Sanderson was capable of and "just couldn't comprehend" what happened on Sept. 4, 2022.

When asked ifsomething could be done to prevent a similar tragedy, Knight said there needs to be more support for people to lead a life of sobriety when they return to their communities.

"You've got to stop the addictions. It's the substance abuse that is the main factor that frees people's inhibitions to commit crime," he said.

Parole board decisions shared

Earlier Monday, Monica Irfan, deputy director of policy at the Parole Board of Canada, testified she was not directly involvedwith Sanderson's parole decision.

Sanderson was serving his first federal prison sentence ofmore than four years. Hisparole documents, previously disclosed,show he had a lengthy criminal history, including 59 convictions as an adult.

On Feb. 15, 2021, the parole board denied Sanderson both day parole and full parole, and imposed a list of conditions that would apply at the time of his statutory release in August 2021. Federal prisoners are entitled by law to statutory release, where they are supervised in the community,when they have served two-thirds of their sentence.

Sanderson's release conditions included that he abstain from alcohol and drugs and not have any intimate relationships without prior permission from his supervisor, Irfan said.

"Substance abuse has been a contributing factor in your offending and violence, and therefore staying substance free will manage your risk," Irfan readfrom the parole board's decision.

In November2021, Sanderson's ex-partner, Vanessa Burns, informed the parole officer that Sanderson had been living with her since Oct.1. Sanderson turned himself in within a couple of hours and his statutory release was suspended.

At a post-suspension review hearing in February 2022, Irfan said the parole board cancelled the suspension, issued a reprimand andimposedanother condition on Sanderson to have no contact with his children or with Burns, except for what is necessary for parental responsibilities or for programming with prior permission from the parole officer.

At the time of the stabbings, Sanderson was wanted on a Canada-wide warrant for breaching conditions of his release. He was declared to be unlawfully at large in May 2022.

Irfan didn't have any suggestions for recommendations for the jury.

When the suspension of Sanderson's statutory release was cancelled, Irfan said the parole board was not required to inform the leadership of the community. Irfan was questioned by Keith Brown, a lawyer for the James Smith Cree Nation, whether notifying the community could help in preventing similar mass casualties.

Irfan said she is not sure.

ChelseyStonestand, a representative of Burns' family, questioned Irfan on the diversity of parole board members.

Nine of 72 parole board members are Indigenous, Irfan replied.

"There are always efforts being made to increase the diversity among board members," she said.

Jury to begin deliberating

The purpose of the inquest, whichbegan Jan. 15 in Melfort a small city about 30 kilometres southeast of James Smith Cree Nation is to set the public record straight about what happened during the stabbings and toprevent similar tragedies in the future.

The jury is expected to begin deliberating Tuesday on what recommendations it will make.

KimBeaudin, national vice-chief of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples, said the jury'srecommendations will be a key part of the process.

"The jury has a very large task in front of them," he told reporters Monday.

Beaudin said he hopesthe recommendations will lead to changes in legislation, to spark change.

"To create accountability and also to have some teethI've been involved in inquiries before and we can recommend till the buffalos come home. But if there's no changes, it's just not going to happen."

WATCH| Beaudin wants to see inquest recommendations make a difference:

National vice-chief of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples wants to see inquest recommendations lead to change

9 months ago

Duration 1:38

The coroner's inquest into the mass stabbings at James Smith Cree Nation is wrapping in Melfort, Sask. There was a warrant out for Myles Sanderson's arrest before the massacre. Kim Beaudin, national vice-chief of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples, says the inquest recommendations need to have teeth to spark change.

Sandersonmade camp in bush

A second public inquest is scheduled to begin Feb. 26 in Saskatoon,focused on the death of Myles Sandersonin custody on Sept. 7, 2022.

Sgt. Evan Anderson, a supervisor with RCMP major crimes unit, spoke Monday after the final witness at the inquest in Melfort. He laidout the pursuit of Sanderson and his arrest, tying it into the next inquest.

Anderson said police determined that between Sept. 4 and 7, Sanderson never left the Wakaw area.He made a camp in the bush and stole food from a nearby residence.The owner of the home called police on Sept. 7, 2022, to report
that Sanderson had broken into her home and fled in her vehicle.

Investigators believe Sanderson only had the clothes on his back and no resources available, such as a phone or vehicle, until he made a decision to steal a truck, Anderson said.

He was in that truck, which had been reported as stolen, when police spotted him on Highway 11 north of Saskatoon. He died shortly after police stopped the truck and arrested him.

WATCH | Man who lost wife, son in mass stabbing says inquest details are path to healing:

'My mind is at ease': Man who lost wife, son in mass stabbing says inquest details are path to healing

9 months ago

Duration 1:07

Brian (Buggy) Burns says now that he has the exact details of how his wife and son died in the James Smith Cree Nation deadly stabbing rampage, he can go on and heal.

Support is available for people affected by this tragedy.The Hope for Wellness hotline offers immediate help toIndigenouspeople across Canada. Mental health counselling and crisis support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-855-242-3310 or by online chat atwww.hopeforwellness.ca.

You can talk to a mental health professional viaWellness Together Canadaby calling 1-866-585-0445 or text WELLNESS to686868 for youth or741741 for adults. It is free and confidential.

Talking Stickis a Saskatchewan-based freeanonymous chat platform that connects people seeking emotional support to a trained Indigenous peer advocate 24/7.