Cindy Ghostkeeper-Whitehead, a family wellness worker on the James Smith Cree Nation, says workers like her have been helping to support the community during the multi-week coroner's inquest. (Lisa Schick/980 CJME)

By CKOM News

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People wearing white vests with ‘Wellness’ on the backs could be seen all around the Kerry Vickar Centre in Melfort over the past few weeks.

They’re wellness workers from the James Smith Cree Nation who’ve made it their mission to help their community members through the inquest into the 11 stabbing deaths that deeply affected the nation and province on Sept. 4, 2022.

Cindy Ghostkeeper-Whitehead, a family wellness worker from the wellness team at the Cree Nation, is among them.

“We worked at the clinic before Sept. 4, and we were there on Sept. 4, and we’ve been there since Sept. 4,” explained Ghostkeeper-Whitehead.

“We’ve just come to provide the families and community members with any support that they might need.”

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She said the team members had a meeting ahead of the inquest and decided they were going to help out. They’ve been inside the hearing room, in some cases sitting with people during difficult testimony, holding hands and bringing them tissues.

They’ve also been outside the hearing room in the hallways, offering comfort or a shoulder to cry on. And Ghostkeeper-Whitehead said they’re offering cultural support as well.

“That’s really important,” she said. “A lot of people have been taking advantage of that, you know, going to get their smudge or their fan down or anything that they need in that aspect.”

There have been some difficult days at the inquest – including a recounting of the killings and reports on exactly what happened to the victims.

“We’ve certainly had some very high emotions over the last couple of days, but just through family members supporting each other and us providing support, we get through it,” explained Ghostkeeper-Whitehead.

The team has asked for outside help from some mental health therapists who already had connections with some of the families, but for the most part it’s just people from the community helping each other through a hard time.

Ghostkeeper-Whitehead and other wellness workers were on the First Nation when the attacks happened and helped in the immediate response. As a result, she said, the inquest has been difficult for them, too.

“We just get support from each other when we need to,” she said.

On Monday, the inquest heads into its final days.

Two Elders who worked with or near Myles Sanderson, the perpetrator of the attacks, during his time in prison are expected to give evidence, along with a representative from the parole board.