Family, friends mourn champion grass dancer Angose Standingwater after homicide

When the tears stopped and the shock began to subside, Evander Thunderchild knew what he had to do for his fallen friend.

Dance him home.

Angose Standingwater was fatally stabbed Saturday in Saskatoon. The 30-year-old is the city's third homicide victim of the year.

"He was a one of a kind grass dancer, he had his own style," said Evander Thunderchild.

"He danced hard for his family, for his kids. That's another one that's a real heartbreak for me, all my nieces and nephews, they lost their dad."

Thunderchild and Standingwater grew up together on the Thunderchild First Nation northwest of Saskatoon. They travelled to powwows, worked together and took care of their extended families.

"We did everything together," he said. "I loved how he took care of his grandparents, and how he loved his kids dearly."

Thunderchild said he cried for about three hours Sunday morning and then pulled himself together. He knew there was a powwow at Loon Lake. In a flash he knew what he had to do.

"I had to go dance for my brother so he can make his way to the other side," he said.

"On the second song, fourth start, I moved to the side and I let him dance. I felt him dancing with me. I felt I could feel his presence within my heart and the way I moved, the way dance expressed. It was very hard to hold back the tears."

In a letter to CBC, Lorinda Antoine described her son as a man "who genuinely cared for everyone who knew him and cherished his people and the relationship he had them."

"He would often check in or engage in meaningful talks with each person, that was who he was. His personality, demeanour, presence, and humour was so strong, welcoming and loving; it was easy to get along and build a special bond with him."

Derrick Meetoos met Standingwater in 2019 when he came to work at Thunder Farms, located on Thunderchild First Nation.

Standingwater worked as a truck driver on the farm.

"He was always laughing, always in good spirits," he said.

"He'd go above and beyond what he was asked to do. He'd load up late at night so he could be gone first thing in the morning. That's a hard worker."

Police are releasing few details about what happened, beyond that a seriously injured man made his way into a business in Saskatoon's Stonebridge neighbourhood around 11 p.m. CST on May 20.

On Wednesday, they said that they're looking for a 2017 white Dodge Caravan SE with Sask. license plate 838 MXZ. The van is described as being in good condition and has a beaded lanyard hanging from the rear view mirror.

Boston Pizza confirmed it happened at the company's Stonebridge location.

"We are saddened by the tragedy that occurred in and around our restaurant over the weekend," Marian Raty with Boston Pizza said in an email. 

"Staff and guests assisted the individual until emergency personnel arrived; no staff or guests were injured.  A counsellor has been brought in to talk to the staff at the restaurant."