Latest news with #KeeseekooseFirstNation
CTV News
13-07-2025
- CTV News
FSIN calls for transparency after Indigenous man dies in Sask. RCMP custody
WATCH: First Nations leaders are gathering in Kamsack calling for answers after an in-custody death of an Indigenous man. Sierra D'Souza Butts reports. WATCH: First Nations leaders are gathering in Kamsack calling for answers after an in-custody death of an Indigenous man. Sierra D'Souza Butts reports. Less than 48 hours after being taken into RCMP custody in Kamsack, Sask. Gerald Straightnose was pronounced dead. Now, the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) is highlighting the case - hoping to prevent similar incidents in the future. Serving his community for six years, Gerald Straightnose left a mark on people of Keeseekoose First Nation. 'He was a band councillor. He was a hunter. He always hunted and gave food to the community members, his family members,' Straightnose's aunt, Thelma Severight, explained. In an effort to continue serving the people in his neighborhood, Gerald decided to deal with matters from the past. 'He had charges that led back from years ago. He wanted to deal with them in order for him to get his license back,' Severight said. 'He gave himself up willingly to the police and and unfortunately, it led to his death.' Less than 48 hours after being taken into custody at the Kamsack RCMP detachment, Straightnose was unresponsive in his cell, where he was pronounced dead on June 5, 2025. 'Nobody deserves to die that way,' said Gerald's sister, Janice Straightnose. Now, his family and neighbouring First Nations are calling for answers. On Thursday morning, the FSIN hosted a press conference near the Kamsack RCMP's building to make public statements supporting Straightnose's family and to express concern over the circumstances surrounding his death. 'We're hoping to start a movement here today to ensure that something like this ... does not happen, not only in Kamsack, but across Canada to our First Nations people,' Keeseekoose First Nation Chief Alvin Musqua told the crowd. The FSIN said it plans to support Straightnose's family in any way possible. 'Any family, no matter who you are, when something like this happens you expect answers. We expect closure,' FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron said. 'There's a lot of anger, there's a lot of hurt, and rightfully so. Families are hurt and families are sad. This is what we deal with every day.' In a statement to CTV News, the Saskatchewan RCMP expressed its 'sincere condolences' to Straightnose's family and loved ones. 'We understand there are questions, however to be mindful of the integrity of the ongoing independent Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team investigation, we are unable to provide comment at this time,' the statement read. Saskatchewan's Ministry of Justice similarly noted that it can not provide additional information - given the ongoing SIRT investigation. However, the ministry did confirm that SIRT has been in contact with Straightnose's family and that a community liaison will be appointed to assist in the investigation. Lastly, the province added that Straightnose's cause of death remains under investigation by the Saskatchewan Coroners Service. Straightnose's say they will not stop speaking out until they receive answers and justice.
CTV News
11-07-2025
- CTV News
‘Nobody deserves to die that way': FSIN calls for transparency and answers after in-custody death of Gerald Straightnose
WATCH: First Nations leaders are gathering in Kamsack calling for answers after an in-custody death of an Indigenous man. Sierra D'Souza Butts reports. WATCH: First Nations leaders are gathering in Kamsack calling for answers after an in-custody death of an Indigenous man. Sierra D'Souza Butts reports. Less than 48 hours after being taken into RCMP custody in Kamsack, Sask. Gerald Straightnose was pronounced dead. Now, the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) is highlighting the case - hoping to prevent similar incidents in the future. Serving his community for six years, Gerald Straightnose left a mark on people of Keeseekoose First Nation. 'He was a band councillor. He was a hunter. He always hunted and gave food to the community members, his family members,' Straightnose's aunt, Thelma Severight, explained. In an effort to continue serving the people in his neighborhood, Gerald decided to deal with matters from the past. 'He had charges that led back from years ago. He wanted to deal with them in order for him to get his license back,' Severight said. 'He gave himself up willingly to the police and and unfortunately, it led to his death.' Less than 48 hours after being taken into custody at the Kamsack RCMP detachment, Straightnose was unresponsive in his cell, where he was pronounced dead on June 5, 2025. 'Nobody deserves to die that way,' said Gerald's sister, Janice Straightnose. Now, his family and neighbouring First Nations are calling for answers. On Thursday morning, the FSIN hosted a press conference near the Kamsack RCMP's building to make public statements supporting Straightnose's family and to express concern over the circumstances surrounding his death. 'We're hoping to start a movement here today to ensure that something like this ... does not happen, not only in Kamsack, but across Canada to our First Nations people,' Keeseekoose First Nation Chief Alvin Musqua told the crowd. The FSIN said it plans to support Straightnose's family in any way possible. 'Any family, no matter who you are, when something like this happens you expect answers. We expect closure,' FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron said. 'There's a lot of anger, there's a lot of hurt, and rightfully so. Families are hurt and families are sad. This is what we deal with every day.' In a statement to CTV News, the Saskatchewan RCMP expressed its 'sincere condolences' to Straightnose's family and loved ones. 'We understand there are questions, however to be mindful of the integrity of the ongoing independent Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team investigation, we are unable to provide comment at this time,' the statement read. Saskatchewan's Ministry of Justice similarly noted that it can not provide additional information - given the ongoing SIRT investigation. However, the ministry did confirm that SIRT has been in contact with Straightnose's family and that a community liaison will be appointed to assist in the investigation. Lastly, the province added that Straightnose's cause of death remains under investigation by the Saskatchewan Coroners Service. Straightnose's say they will not stop speaking out until they receive answers and justice.
CTV News
23-05-2025
- CTV News
Man killed in single vehicle rollover near Dunleath, Sask.: RCMP
An RCMP cruiser can be seen in this file photo. A 34-year-old man from Keeseekoose First Nation is dead following a single vehicle rollover on Thursday afternoon. The Saskatchewan RCMP says officers from the Yorkton detachment responded to reports of the crash around 5:15 p.m. on Highway 10 near Dunleath. The 34-year-old man, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle, was pronounced dead at the scene by EMS, RCMP said in a news release. Police said the man's family has been notified. Dunleath, Sask. is about 205 kilometres northeast of Regina near Yorkton. The crash is the second fatal rollover Yorkton RCMP responded to this week. On Wednesday, a 38-year-old man from Bredenbury, Sask. died in a single vehicle rollover on Highway 9 south of Yorkton.
CBC
04-04-2025
- CBC
Man accused of assaulting Saskatoon judge was wanted on earlier assault charge at time of attack
Saskatoon police were already on the lookout for 30-year-old Brandon Wyatt Burns when a federal judge was violently assaulted in a downtown carjacking on Tuesday — a crime Burns is now accused of — according to court documents. The Keeseekoose First Nation man had been charged with assault causing bodily harm in Saskatoon on March 5. He was released on an undertaking that stipulated he must not contact the female complainant and was required to appear in domestic violence court. He appeared for his first court date on March 11, but did not show up for a second appearance on March 25. That's when Saskatchewan provincial court Judge Marilyn Penner issued a bench warrant for him, the court documents show. Earlier this week, RCMP issued a news release detailing accusations against Burns involving a gas store robbery and a carjacking in rural Saskatchewan on Tuesday. Saskatoon police are now providing a timeline of what they say happened in the hours leading up to that. Around 10:30 a.m., officers were called about an assault in the 300 block of Third Avenue N., police wrote in an email. They found an injured 71-year-old man being treated by paramedics, who told the officer an unknown man had gotten into his truck while the 71-year-old was trying to park, police said. The man struck the victim several times before the victim got out of his truck, and the attacker then fled in the silver Dodge Ram. An hour later, police allege the same man robbed a gas station on the outskirts of town. Police say their investigation determined he went into the store to make a purchase, but an employee "refused service" due to the man's "lack of funds," according to police. The man then struck the employee and stole the product before fleeing in a silver Dodge Ram, Saskatoon police said. RCMP said earlier this week they got a report of the robbery shortly before noon Tuesday. They later learned a man who was pulled over on the side of Highway 5 in his truck was assaulted and had his vehicle stolen as well. After a high-speed chase, the second stolen vehicle was eventually stopped near Liberty, Sask., about 140 kilometres southeast of Saskatoon, and Burns was arrested, RCMP said.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Yahoo
Man accused of assaulting Saskatoon judge was wanted on earlier assault charge at time of attack
Saskatoon police were already on the lookout for 30-year-old Brandon Wyatt Burns when a federal judge was violently assaulted in a downtown carjacking on Tuesday — a crime Burns is now accused of — according to court documents. The Keeseekoose First Nation man had been charged with assault causing bodily harm in Saskatoon on March 5. He was released on an undertaking that stipulated he must not contact the female complainant and was required to appear in domestic violence court. He appeared for his first court date on March 11, but did not show up for a second appearance on March 25. That's when Saskatchewan provincial court Judge Marilyn Penner issued a bench warrant for him, the court documents show. Earlier this week, RCMP issued a news release detailing accusations against Burns involving a gas store robbery and a carjacking in rural Saskatchewan on Tuesday. Saskatoon police are now providing a timeline of what they say happened in the hours leading up to that. Around 10:30 a.m., officers were called about an assault in the 300 block of Third Avenue N., police wrote in an email. They found an injured 71-year-old man being treated by paramedics, who told the officer an unknown man had gotten into his truck while the 71-year-old was trying to park, police said. The man struck the victim several times before the victim got out of his truck, and the attacker then fled in the silver Dodge Ram. An hour later, police allege the same man robbed a gas station on the outskirts of town. Police say their investigation determined he went into the store to make a purchase, but an employee "refused service" due to the man's "lack of funds," according to police. The man then struck the employee and stole the product before fleeing in a silver Dodge Ram, Saskatoon police said. RCMP said earlier this week they got a report of the robbery shortly before noon Tuesday. They later learned a man who was pulled over on the side of Highway 5 in his truck was assaulted and had his vehicle stolen as well. After a high-speed chase, the second stolen vehicle was eventually stopped near Liberty, Sask., about 140 kilometres southeast of Saskatoon, and Burns was arrested, RCMP said. He faces charges that include robbery and assault causing bodily harm.
