Northern Manitoba First Nation in crisis situation after 2 recent homicides: chief

The chief of a northern Manitoba First Nation says his community is in crisis, after a 19-year-old was charged with murder in the death of a 14-year-old girl — the second killing in the community in the past month.

"We have a crisis unit here dealing with the families and … supporting the families right now as they go through this difficult time," Chemawawin Chief Clarence Easter told CBC. 

"We want to be able to help people because it is a community in crisis, and it's our crisis and not anybody else's.… It is up to us to take steps to correct this."

RCMP say the 14-year-old girl died early Monday after she was taken to the Chemawawin nursing station with severe injuries. 

Kingsley Lachose, 19, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder.

Lachose, a Chemawawin band member, was previously charged with sexual interference in July 2023, court records show. He has a prior conviction dating back to December 2022 for assault. 

The death of the 14-year-old comes after a 32-year-old woman was killed in the adjacent community of Easterville on May 4. A 35-year-old woman was also found nearby with life-threatening injuries.

Two girls, age 13 and 14, have been charged with second-degree murder and attempted murder.

The RCMP said they're still investigating both homicides.

"The RCMP recognizes the tragic loss the community is facing right now with the recent homicides," said Supt. Rob Lasson, the officer in charge of major crime services for the Manitoba RCMP.

"We were able to make quick arrests, and we sincerely hope that helps in some way to ease the suffering of the families and the community."

Chief and council will enforce removal orders

Easter said Chemawawin's chief and council have had numerous meetings to address an increase in violence and illegal activity in the community.

"The first thing we have to do is deal with the crisis.… We have and deal with the people that are tragically affected," he said.

A community notice dated May 7 and posted online states that in response to violence in the community, chief and council will issue removal orders to "persons of interest" under Chemawawin Cree Nation's community laws and bylaws.

The notice says the bylaws also include a curfew for anyone under the age of 17 between 10:30 p.m. and 7 a.m. and anyone over the age of 18 between midnight and 6 a.m.

They also include prohibitions on bringing machetes, knives and guns into the community. The notice says anyone who causes harm with those weapons will be subject to banishment.

Easter said some of the rules included in the notice have been in place for the last decade.

"It's just a matter of enforcing some of those laws that we have in place already," Easter said. "The removal order is sort of like a last resort. We want to work with people so they have a chance to heal."

Chemawawin Cree Nation chief and council also want to help people heal from the tragedies and prevent future crises, said Easter.

He wants to establish an intervention program in schools to prevent problems from escalating, along with providing supports that focus on healing, he said.

He also said there are plans to bring in clinicians on a more permanent basis to work with people who are affected by the deaths in the community.

"We need to be able to put in place programs of support and … accommodate people's needs as they're healing," he said. "It is a time to focus on health, well-being and healing together."