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Lockdown in Mistissini After Deadly Shooting

Published 29 January 2026

MISTISSINI, Quebec - A remote Cree community in northern Quebec remained under lockdown Friday after a shooting that left multiple people dead, with police searching for an active shooter.

The incident prompted Chief Michael Petawabano of the Cree Nation of Mistissini to issue a statement urging residents to remain indoors and secure their doors. Travel into and out of the community has been restricted, and all public buildings and facilities are closed. The lockdown, announced late Thursday night, will continue until authorities determine it is safe to lift, Petawabano said.

Officials initially alerted the community to the presence of an active shooter, sparking the immediate security measures. The shooting occurred in Mistissini, a First Nation located along the shores of Lake Mistassini, approximately 600 kilometres northwest of Quebec City. The area's isolation, accessible primarily by air or winter road, has complicated the police response, though details on the exact circumstances of the violence remain limited as the investigation unfolds.

Petawabano expressed the community's deep sorrow in his statement, noting that residents are grieving the lives lost and supporting the...

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