A woman who fatally stabbed her uncle in a fight on the Muscowpetung First Nation has been sentenced to six years in jail.

Seanna Rae Nahnepowisk, 25, had earlier pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the death of 40-year-old Wendell Toto.

The court heard a drunken fight broke out between the two relatives at Toto's home on the reserve in January. At one point, Nahnepowisk grabbed a butcher's knife from the kitchen and stabbed her uncle in his left bicep, severing a major artery.

RCMP later found Toto dead on his couch with a blood-soaked towel wrapped around the wound on his arm. Officers also found a large amount of blood in the kitchen and living room.

In Regina Provincial Court on Monday, Nahnepowisk broke into tears as she offered an apology to her family from the prisoner's box.

"I'm sorry for what I've done," she said. "I'm suffering inside."

According to a joint submission of facts, Nahnepowisk didn't call for help after stabbing her uncle. Instead, she left the home and hid the knife and her blood-stained clothes.

Initially, Nahnepowisk told police Toto had taken his own life. However, while she was in custody, she revealed to an undercover officer that she had killed her uncle, but that his death was unintentional.

Nahnepowisk's mother, Raelene, says the family plans to appeal the sentence.

"I don't think she should have got six years because it was self-defence," Raelene told reporters.

"She should have got less for defending her life."

However, Crown prosecutor Mitchell Miller rejected the argument that the killing of Toto was an act of self-defence.

"There was other avenues open to her instead of pulling the knife," Miller said outside the courthouse.

"She simply could have left the residence and, in the Crown's view, that's why it wasn't a self-defence case."

Nahnepowisk's defence lawyer, Carson Demmans, declined comment.

The court heard Nahnepowisk has one young child and is pregnant with a second. She has been a member of the Native Syndicate gang since age 17 and has been trying to kick a decade-long morphine addiction. Her father committed suicide when she was a child.

"I recognize you've had a difficult life and I don't think you've handled it well," Judge Barbara Tomkins said after handing down the sentence.

"What you need to do, Ms. Nahnepowisk, is deal with your problems."

Nahnepowisk will be prohibited from owning firearms for 10 years and has been ordered to provide a DNA sample to the national databank.