Northwest Territories RCMP are currently looking into a case of vandalism at the cemetery in Colville Lake, causing distress to residents with family members buried there. Barry Gully, a lifelong resident of Colville Lake, expressed shock as he discovered his grandparents’ gravesite had been desecrated. The community also recently suffered the loss of its historic church to a fire.
Residents reported finding broken fencing and tire tracks on some gravesites at the cemetery. Gully emphasized the significance of the cemetery as a final resting place for loved ones, highlighting the unique hand-built nature of the site with individualized “cribs” adorned with flowers and crosses. The vandalism has left many sites destroyed, making it challenging for families to identify the graves.
Witnesses observed tire tracks over grave sites, indicating that a vehicle had been driven through the cemetery. Airiyanna Kakfwi, another resident, lamented the damage to her late family members’ graves, including her brother’s. She expressed a desire for youth volunteers to assist in restoring the cemetery. Ryan Kochon, a band councillor, also noted tire tracks resembling those of a four-wheeler near his late mother’s gravesite, fortunately without any damage.
RCMP confirmed an ongoing investigation into the vandalism, with no charges filed yet. Officer Seaward mentioned a prior visit to the cemetery on reports of multiple incidents of vandalism, although no visible damage was observed at that time. The exact timeline of the vandalism remains unclear, with the investigation initiated on Monday.