Following a stabbing attack in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan on Sunday that left 10 dead and 15 injured, the suspects, Damien Sanderson, 31, and Myles Sanderson, 30, remained at large hours after authorities started receiving reports from about 5h40 am local time of people being stabbed at the James Smith Cree Nation and in the village of Weldon.
 
Rhonda Blackmore, the assistant commissioner of the Saskatchewan Royal Canadian Mounted Police, said at a news conference Sunday: "It appears that some of the victims may have been targeted and some may be random, so to speak to a motive would be extremely difficult at this time."

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau described the attacks in Saskatchewan as "horrific and heartbreaking," writing on Twitter “I’m thinking of those who have lost a loved one and of those who were injured,” and adding that Ottawa officials are “closely monitoring” the situation. 

Indigenous homicides are underrepresented

Mass killings in Canada are relatively rare compared with the US, as this was one of the deadliest since a mass shooting in Nova Scotia in 2020, which left 22 dead and sparked national outrage into how the gunman escaped the police for more than 12 hours while he went on his rampage across the province.

Although authorities have not yet named any of the victims, the leaders of James Smith Cree Nation declared a state of emergency in response to “the numerous murders and assaults on members of James Smith Cree Nation.” The leaders represent three Indigenous communities in Canada: the James Smith Cree Nation, Chakastaypasin Band, and Peter Chapman Band.
 
While Indigenous people make up roughly 5% of Canada’s total population, they happen to be among the majority of victims of violence in the country, according to official data. The rate of homicides involving an Indigenous victim from 2015 to 2020 was six times higher than the rate of homicides involving non-Indigenous victims.

The attack in Saskatchewan has police investigating 13 crime scenes. At least 15 people were admitted to the hospital, according to Blackmore, and “there may be additional injured victims who transported themselves to hospital.”

Police disclosed that an investigation into whether the Sandersons are related and whether they were known to police is still ongoing. In May, Myles Sanderson was listed as “unlawfully at large” by Saskatchewan CrimeStoppers — a community initiative designed to enlist public help to solve crimes and missing person cases.