James Smith Cree Nation warns of fradualent fundraisers as GoFundMe reaches $100K goal

An online fundraising campaign for the victims of the Saskatchewan stabbings is set to close after reaching its goal.

Meanwhile, community leaders are urging the public not to donate money to any new GoFundMe pages claiming to be on behalf of James Smith Cree Nation.

The plan is for a new trust fund to be set up by the James Smith Cree Nation – Emergency Operations Centre (JSCN-EOC).

The leadership of James Smith Cree Nation will provide details once the new fund is established.

They warn other potential fundraising campaigns were not endorsed by the Cree Nation.

James Smith Cree Nation Urges the Public not to Contribute to Any New GoFundMe Page. pic.twitter.com/VjKIquTo7h

— FSIN (@fsinations) September 7, 2022

The current online fundraising effort for victims and their families in James Smith Cree Nation raised more than $119,000 as of Wednesday afternoon.

It quickly reached the $100,000 goal set by Rob Clarke, who created the page.

With its closing, the JSCN-EOC says that concludes Clarke’s involvement with James Smith Cree Nation.

“I would like to sincerely like to thank everyone that sent there condolences and kind donations,” Clarke wrote Wednesday on the GoFundMe page. “The funding objective was met very quickly. I ask that no more funds be directed to this account as it will be closed very soon.”

MORE ON SASKATCHEWAN STABBINGS:

• Victim of Saskatchewan stabbings described as ‘hero and true matriarch’
• Manhunt for suspect in Saskatchewan stabbings continues after search tip comes up empty
• ‘Too scared to go to sleep’: Weldon residents shocked, afraid as they mourn stabbing victim
• What role did intergenerational trauma play in the Saskatchewan killings?

Clarke, a former RCMP member and former MP for Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River (2008-2015), says he set up the fundraiser after noticing there wasn’t one.

“This incident, it’s a human crisis,” Clarke told CityNews in an interview. “Just watching it unfold and seeing it take place across Canada repeatedly, these tragic events, something’s got to change. There has to be open dialogue to this.”

He says he did it, in part, knowing the long-term costs for proper mental health supports in the community.

“You can’t rely on government to do the right thing,” he added. “They say they’re going to do funding announcements, then it’s months or years later when the funds come forward – if they come forward at all.”

Nine members of the James Smith Cree Nation and one resident of a nearby village of Weldon were victims of a mass killing spree in Saskatchewan on Sunday.

Clarke says he knew Lana Head, one of the victims killed in JSCN.

—With files from Carly Robinson