A memorial walk for Lionel Whitehead was held Tuesday at Big River First Nation. (submitted photo/Debra Sakebow)

By Nigel Maxwell

Community safety

Grieving mother calls for action to address drugs and gangs on reserves

Oct 13, 2022 | 2:27 PM

A mother whose son died under suspicious circumstances says issues with drugs and gangs on reserves are out of hand and need to be addressed.

Sonia Sakebow-McAdam’s 30-year-old son Lionel Whitehead was found deceased Oct. 5. His body was on a trail at Big River First Nation and nearby was an abandoned truck. Sakebow-McAdam told paNOW she was told her son was picked up earlier that day.

“There’s a lake there and I think that’s where they were trying to go to dispose of his body and they couldn’t so they just left him there because that truck got stuck in the mud,” she said.

RCMP have not released many details about the case, beyond calling the death suspicious. The truck had been reported stolen from Pelican Lake and police had expressed their belief the truck may have been in Pelican Lake, Ahtahkakoop, or Big River. Sakebow-McAdam said police have relayed very little information. She still doesn’t know how her son died.

She recalled speaking to her son the previous weekend, as he had been helping her clean up her house and hang pictures.

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“He didn’t seem like there was anything wrong,” she said.

Whitehead, 30, had four children. (Beau Lac Funeral Home)

On Tuesday, Sakebow-McAdam organized a memorial walk in the community, the purpose being to bring awareness to drugs in the community, and the need to educate the public that all kids matter, and the drugs and gangs have to stop.

“I have grandchildren. I don’t want them relying on drugs. I want them to know there is a better life out there,” she said.

She went on to explain her son was never in a gang but was addicted to drugs to the point of even selling them, so he could get money to get high. Whitehead worked in Edmonton, but on the encouragement of his common law partner, came to live with his mother last fall to get clean.

“As soon as he got to the reserve, he went hard,” Sakebow-McAdam recalled.

Whitehead leaves behind four children, ages 5 to 11, and Sakebow-McAdam explained the oldest daughter is depressed and has withdrawn herself from family. In the coming weeks Sakebow-McAdam plans to do another walk in her community as well as in neighbouring communities.

“I want to let these people know that harmed my son I have nothing against them, I don’t hate them. I’m just sorry that they don’t know God and as much as it hurts that they took my son, I still forgive them,” she said.

Participants in this week’s memorial walk. (submitted/Debra Sakebow)

Anyone who saw this truck around Sept. 30 is asked to call RCMP. (submitted photo/RCMP)

As part of their investigation into the suspicious circumstances of Whitehead’s death, the RCMP’s Major Crimes Unit is hoping to hear from anyone who had contact with Whitehead or saw him this month.

Officers are also looking for any sightings of a white 2017 Chevrolet 1500 pickup with the Saskatchewan licence plate 964 HHA between Sept. 30 and Oct. 3.

paNOW reached out to leadership at Big River First Nation, and Chief Jack Rayne said he had no comment.

Early last month, in response to the fatal stabbings at James Smith Cree Nation and Weldon, the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN), called on the federal and provincial governments to help establish more tribal police services in Saskatchewan.

“We will get there one day; we hope to get there sooner rather than later. To work in conjunction with the RCMP,” FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron said.

He mentioned he has put forward a resolution to that effect and is confident it will happen.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell