REGINA — Four deaths on Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation in southern Saskatchewan are being treated as homicides, RCMP said Wednesday.
RCMP Inspector Ashley St. Germaine told a Regina news conference the initial investigation suggests the home east of Regina where the people were found Tuesday was targeted.
The dead are two men and two women, but they haven't been formally identified, she said.
Police are providing updates to the families of the victims and connecting them with support, she said.
"We know that when these unimaginable tragedies happen, it can be easy to speculate and spread rumors, particularly in this age of social media," St. Germaine told reporters.
"I'd like to remind the public that the families of the victims have suffered an incredible loss, and I ask you to be mindful of the grief that they're experiencing."
After the bodies were found, Mounties had said they received reports of a man pointing a gun at people at Zagime Anishinabek, about 95 kilometres from Carry the Kettle.
The 29-year-old suspect in the gun-pointing was arrested at a Regina home earlier Wednesday.
Keagan Panipekeesick has been charged with firearms charges, but police have not confirmed a connection to the Carry the Kettle slayings. Two other people were also arrested at that residence.
"We know when tragedies such as these homicides occur, there is a lot of fear and alarm felt in the communities," St. Germaine said.
"We want to assure residents that, at this time, we do not believe there's an elevated risk to public safety in relation to these incidents."
Meanwhile, the chief of Carry the Kettle said security is in full force and its community hall is open for people to visit, pray and smudge.
Chief Scott Eashappie could not be reached Wednesday but said on social media there will be a four-day healing fire on the reserve to honour the dead.
"I want to send a special thanks to all those that have come to sit with us last night, prayed for us, the calls (and) messages," Eashappie wrote.
"To my other family nations, we appreciate all the reach-outs, support and most importantly, the love we have felt in the last 24 hours."
In another social media post, Chief Lynn Acoose of Zagime said members of her First Nation were sending condolences to those at Carry the Kettle.
"We hope that justice prevails for the people who lost their lives to this senseless violence," she said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on Feb. 5, 2025.
Jeremy Simes, The Canadian Press
