A man has been charged with first-degree murder after Lake Cowichan RCMP responded to a death Saturday in the Ditidaht First Nation.
Police were called just before 7 a.m. to a residence in the community, which is at the north end of Nitinaht Lake, and found the body of a man.
Support units were called, including the Emergency Response Team, and a suspect was taken into custody, police said.
The Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit was called in to investigate the death.
Derian Tate has been charged with first-degree murder and is next set to appear in court Oct. 8.
Ditidaht chief councillor Judi Thomas had issued a statement on Saturday morning asking members of the First Nation to stay indoors and keep their windows closed as RCMP officers made the arrest.
Thomas later said the families involved in the incident were asking for “gentleness and kindness as we seek the the truth, together as one.”
Nation members were invited to gather at their community hall near Nitinaht Lake for an evening meal on Saturday.
Thomas said community health support services will be available from various agencies, including Tsow-tun-le-lum, First Nations Health Authority and the Nuu-Chah-Nulth tribal council in the coming days.
Ditidhat Community School, which serves about 50 students from kindergarten to Grade 12, was open on Tuesday.
The school said in a social-media post that it is “committed to providing a comforting and supportive space for everyone impacted by the recent events in our community.”
It said “spiritual and emotional support” will be available at the school all week.
