One person dead, 3 injured in connection to shooting on Big Island Lake Cree Nation

The area included under the RCMP's 'dangerous persons' alert on Dec. 30, 2025. (Source: SaskAlert)

The Saskatchewan RCMP issued an emergency alert to residents of northwestern Saskatchewan Tuesday morning, warning them of two dangerous persons with a gun in the area.

The alert, issued just before 8:30 a.m., urged residents of Big Island Lake Cree Nation and all surrounding areas to find a safe location immediately, to lock their doors, and to refrain from approaching the suspects.

The RCMP said the two dangerous persons were last seen on an ATV in Big Island Lake, but could be anywhere in the surrounding area.

In an update after 11 a.m., the RCMP revealed the alerts stemmed from a shooting investigation that left one person dead and three others injured.

Police say investigators are working to determine if the shooting was random or planned.

Through a spokesperson, the province said it was aware of the ongoing incident and that seven health care facilities nearby were put on lockdown under the guidance of the RCMP.

“Our thoughts are with the community and all those affected. We thank the first responders for their efforts under difficult and evolving circumstances.”

In a statement emailed to CTV News, the SHA said all seven of those facilities were still functioning normally.

“Facilities continue to function as normal; however, all entry and exit doors are secured and monitored with Protective Services staff and/or designated staff to control traffic flow in and out of the facility.”

During a virtual press conference on Tuesday afternoon, Ashley St. Germaine, a senior investigative officer with the Saskatchewan RCMP’s major crimes division, said formal identification of the deceased is ongoing.

She also said that details about the suspects are scarce and they could have changed their mode of transportation at any time.

“We don’t have an indication of how they were dressed. This did happen at nighttime. We do have to be cognizant of not rushing the investigation,” she said.

St. Germaine told reporters the shooting happened outside, but RCMP couldn’t say which direction the suspects went.

“We don’t want to have tunnel vision as we’re going into these investigations, and we need to be open minded about what may or may not have happened.”

Major crimes investigators from Saskatoon arrived at Big Island Lake at 2 p.m., and officers from more than five areas of the province were there working to find the suspects.

The dangerous person alert was cancelled just before 5 p.m., although no arrests have yet been made.

According to the update, RCMP believe there is no longer an imminent risk to public safety and said that residents can return to normal activity.

“The suspects remain outstanding. Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crimes are actively working to identify and locate them. If a renewed risk to public safety is identified, we will notify the public,” the update from RCMP read, noting that police remain on scene to investigate.

Police are encouraging people to call 911 to share any tips, and have asked the public to refrain from sharing police locations.

RCMP said updates will be provided when available.

-With files from Keenan Sorokan and Allison Bamford