Family members honour 2 men killed in Siksika Nation hit and run at candlelight vigil

Family members of the two men killed in what police allege was a hit-and-run murder on Siksika Nation gathered for a vigil Wednesday night. 

Last Saturday, five family members were walking at 54 Map 3 Subdivision on Siksika Nation around 9 p.m. when they were struck by a truck, which then fled the scene. 

Trayton Runningbird, 27, and Clifton Saddleback, 45, were killed. Emiline Turning Robe, 45, was also struck by the truck and remains in hospital. RCMP say she's now in serious but stable condition.

Adolphus Weaselchild, 27, was charged Monday with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder. He remains in custody and is due in court in Drumheller on Aug. 8.

The victims' family and those in the truck were involved in an altercation earlier in the night, according to RCMP. 

'We're gonna see each other again'

In a large field off the side of the road where the incident happened, dozens of people came together to light candles, tell stories and pray for the victims.

Denise Waterchief, Runningbird's aunt, lives directly across the street. She said her husband woke her up on Saturday night after seeing emergency vehicles outside. 

"It was raining and I'm standing on the back deck watching and praying, like, I hope it's not bad. I pray for the families [affected by] what's going on. And it was our family," said Waterchief.

She pointed to the clear blue skies after days of rainfall.

"This is his favourite colour, you know. This is him. He brought all of this because he needed everybody to see peace."

Waterchief said her nephew loved giving big hugs and helping anyone he could.

"He was always saying I love you. He never said goodbye. He always said I'll see you again 'cause that's what you do. We're gonna see each other again."

'It's kind of hard to believe'

Clifton's cousin, Rolland Saddleback, said he feels lost without him.

"It's kind of hard to believe. But you know, just pray for them, I guess. That's all I can do right now," said Saddleback, who grew up with both men.

He described his cousin as a young-spirited man who was always friendly.

Some of his favourite memories of Clifton include them horseback riding as kids.

"We caught this horse — it was a wild horse. We were all hanging onto the end of the rope there and getting scared and everything…. The horse turned around, he took off. When he took off, he yanked us, and we go flying through the mud," he recalled with a smile.

Jessica Paul, Runningbird's first cousin, said some of the victims' family members were at Tsuut'ina's annual powwow when they learned of the homicide. 

Since then, there have been daily gatherings at Runningbird's mother's house. 

"The only time it feels good is when we're all together, when you're in a room with all these people that have loved you since the day you were born and then we all just lean on each other," Paul told CBC News the day before the vigil.

"Everyone in my family is grieving a little differently right now … I'm so heartbroken and I'm so mad and I'm sad and then I'm mad again and then I'm laughing because I think of something silly that he used to do."

RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Troy Savinkoff says the police quickly transitioned from investigating a hit and run to a homicide investigation involving the major crimes unit. 

Savinkoff credited and thanked the community for the quick arrest. 

"It was due to community involvement and support that we were able to lay these charges so quickly," said Savinkoff.