He fought off attackers saving his family: Earl Burns, victim of Saskatchewan stabbings remembered

He was described as a loving father and grandfather, who loved to make people laugh.

Earl Burns, one of the ten victims killed in mass stabbings on the James Smith Cree Nation and in the nearby community of Weldon, northeast of Saskatoon Sunday, will be remembered by loved ones.

Burns, a residential school survivor, was 66-years-old when he died protecting his family. His brother-in-law, Garnet Eyahpaise, also a residential school survivor, says Burns was a respectful person with many friends.

The two first met at St. Michael’s Residential School in the mid-70s. Eyahpaise says he became family when he married Burns’ sister, whom he’s been together with for 40 years.

This is Earl Burns.

He's one of the victims in the James Smith Cree Nation stabbing attack.

His brother-in-law says he died after chasing away the attacker(s) from his home.

His wife was stabbed but expected to survive, and his grandchild who was staying with him was unhurt pic.twitter.com/kBoOWjv4Io

— Courtney Theriault (@cspotweet) September 7, 2022

As a bus driver for 30 years, Burns must have drove “a couple generations of children” according to Eyahpaise.

Burns was also a veteran with the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry.

“Earl served his country. He was loyal and he was proud. He was really proud of that,” Eyahpaise said.

On Sunday, during the harrowing stabbings, Burns stood up to fight off the attackers and protect his grandchildren.

“We still don’t know the full line of events, of how it took place and how it came about,” Eyahpaise said. “But, we do know that they were raided and bombarded. I’m not sure if they kicked his door in when they were asleep.

“He did what he had to do. Him and his wife fought them off, and both of them were stabbed. Earl kind of gave chase after as well, but he succumbed to his injuries. His wife is still in the hospital as we speak, recovering from knife wounds. And yes, they did what they had to do to protect the grandkids that were there.”

Eyahpaise says Burns’ wife is going to make it.

“It’s shocking and overwhelming,” Eyahpaise said.

“How do you even try to comprehend what happened. The shock and the hurt — a lot of hurt and anger… My father-in-law is taking it rough, he’s 92. Earl was the oldest of his sons.

“We don’t like burying our own children, they are supposed to bury us, the elders.”

Eyahpaise says to heal, the community will need to come together.

He’s upset that the accused killers were allowed to be near the First Nation at all.

“There are so many unanswered questions,” he said.

–With files from Courtney Theriault and The Canadian Press