Children have been swinging, sliding and climbing on a playground built to honour one of the victims of a mass stabbing two years ago in Saskatchewan, while a quiet feast has been prepared to remember the others.

On Sept. 4, 2022, Myles Sanderson killed 10 people and injured 17 others on James Smith Cree Nation before fatally stabbing another nearby in Weldon, northeast of Saskatoon.

Chief Kirby Constant of the First Nation said in an interview Wednesday his community has been slowly moving forward while trying not to dwell on the tragedy.

含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檙e having a feast to acknowledge them. Families also don含羞草研究社檛 want to keep bringing up the fact that Sept. 4 happened, so we含羞草研究社檙e being low-key,含羞草研究社� Constant said.

含羞草研究社淭his topic opens those wounds and, as wounds heal, they scar up. We含羞草研究社檙e at that point where they含羞草研究社檙e starting to scar up, and we don含羞草研究社檛 want to reopen them.含羞草研究社�

In Weldon, a playground has been built to remember community member Wesley Petterson, who was 78 when he was killed by Sanderson.

Chelsey Erickson, who organized the playground project, said Petterson含羞草研究社檚 name is to be emblazoned on a metal sign at the structure. Flower beds have also been placed around the site to remember him.

含羞草研究社淲es really liked flowers,含羞草研究社� she said.

含羞草研究社淗e loved the kids.含羞草研究社�

Erickson said Petterson also mowed the town含羞草研究社檚 grass and organized what含羞草研究社檚 known as coffee row, a type of Prairie gathering to discuss the day含羞草研究社檚 events.

含羞草研究社淗e would go and make coffee every morning. He would drive around in his white car. And every time you含羞草研究社檇 see him, he would wave at you.含羞草研究社�

She said Weldon has been quiet since Petterson含羞草研究社檚 death.

含羞草研究社淥ur goal was to bring the community together again and, honestly, I think the playground is doing just that,含羞草研究社� she said.

At James Smith Cree Nation, a powwow is planned for the weekend to honour RCMP officer Heidi Marshall, who took down Sanderson含羞草研究社檚 stolen truck during a high-speed chase before the killer died in police custody from a cocaine overdose.

含羞草研究社淪he put her life on the line to bring this individual into custody, and we want to acknowledge her and let her know that we含羞草研究社檙e thankful and we含羞草研究社檙e grateful,含羞草研究社� Constant said.

He said drugs remain a problem on the First Nation, but it含羞草研究社檚 doing everything it can to help those affected.

The community plans to build a wellness facility that would offer counselling and addictions support services. It含羞草研究社檚 also to include a multi-purpose room for community gatherings, events and other activities.

In addition, it含羞草研究社檚 renovating a lodge to provide detox for those before and after treatment.

含羞草研究社淚 wish we could have it right now, because I know people would use it. But these things don含羞草研究社檛 move quickly,含羞草研究社� Constant said.

He said a security team on the First Nation has helped people feel safe.

All homes also now have numbers and there is signage for every street, a measure to ensure emergency crews and visitors know where to go.

Constant said the First Nation is continuing to pursue self-administered policing.

含羞草研究社淭hat含羞草研究社檚 a big step in what we含羞草研究社檙e doing to keep our community safe going forward,含羞草研究社� he said.

It含羞草研究社檚 time to let the victims rest, he added.

含羞草研究社淭hey can go to the next step and be in the spirit world peacefully,含羞草研究社� he said.

含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檒l honour them in our own ways and by our own selves, but we含羞草研究社檒l never forget them.含羞草研究社�