Kamsack Times 2022-10-06

‘Wwoofer’ and Keeseekoose students involved in equine-assisted learning

The final session of a six-week program regarding Keeseekoose equineassisted learning and horsepowered reading was held Sept. 26 at Ravenheart Farms, located about nine miles northeast of Kamsack.

In the program, life skills and literacy were taught to 24 students of the Keeseekoose Chiefs Education Centre in Grades 2 to 12.

The program was paid by the Jordan’s Principal Fund, said Carol Marriott,

owner of Ravenheart Farms Equine-Assisted Learning Centre and Retreat.

Jordan’s Principle makes sure all First Nations children living in Canada can access the products, services and supports they need, when they need them, says its webpage. Funding can help with a wide range of health, social and educational needs, including the unique needs that First Nations Two-Spirit and LGBTQ children and youth, and those with disabilities,

may have.

Jordan’s Principle is named in memory of Jordan River Anderson, it said. He was a young boy from Norway House Cree Nation in Manitoba.

“We are supporting children who need help right away and are making longterm changes for the future, such as through reforming child and family services,” the webpage says. “For the long-term, we are working to build better structures and funding models. These

will make sure First Nations children living in Canada get the products, services and supports they need, when they need them.”

Horse Powered Reading integrates social-emotional learning with academics; thus allowing students to see and experience reading with their entire mind, body and emotions by creating metaphors for the skills involved in reading, Marriott explained. Students interact with horses from the

Continued on Page 10

Alina Wissing of Germany, who as a member of the World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) program, is spending six weeks working at Ravenheart Farms near Kamsack, where she helps Carol Marriott conduct equine-assisted learning programs.

Powwow held at Keeseekoose in recognition of Orange Shirt Day

Lee Kitchemonia

Keeseekoose First Nation

Treaune Severight

Harmony Seniors’ Centre executive proposes membership and fee increases

Membership and fee increases were among items discussed by members of the Kamsack Harmony Seniors’ Centre during a general meeting on Sept. 26.

Denise Podovinnikoff, who had been elected president of the organization in June, chaired the meeting that began with the housekeeping chores of reading and approving of previous minutes and accepting the financial statement.

Thanking Lori Bacheldor for “the excellent work” she has done cleaning the Centre, Podovinnkoff said that rather than paying someone to do the cleaning as has been the case, it would be much more economical if members volunteered to take on the task.

“It’s not hard core, heavy

duty work,” she said, explaining that many groups using the Centre tend to do much of the cleaning themselves anyway.

It was agreed to try using volunteers to see how it works out.

Working with Lise Rochefort, the secretary, Podovinnikoff presented an outline of proposed increases to the membership and rental fees, which are to be included on the agenda of the next annual meeting.

It was proposed that the membership fee be increased from $15 a year to $20 a year.

“When was the last time the membership fee was increased?” it was asked.

“God only knows,” was the reply, as members echoed the need for an increase. “All of about 20

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years or so.”

The last annual meeting decided not to increase the membership fees, Russell Brunt, past president, said.

Discussion included the possibility of changing the Centre’s year from beginning April 1, to Jan. 1, and suggested fees for guests using the pool table.

“Guests should be allowed free access to the pool table, if we want to increase membership,” it was said.

Podovinnikoff and Rochefort said they favoured an increase in rental rates of the facility for members and others using it for such events as birthdays, funerals and meetings, with members’ fees being about half that of non-members.

The proposal for rental rates was also placed on the agenda for the next annual meeting, expected to be held in April.

Members discussed cleaning supplies and the favourability of making bulk purchases for toilet paper, paper towels and garbage bags.

It was agreed that members should be encouraged to volunteer to participate in three new committees:

At the meeting of the Kamsack Harmony Seniors’ Centre on Sept. 26, Denise Podovinnikoff, president, demonstrated the use of a piece of furniture that easily converts from a stepping stool to a chair and it was proposed that the Centre manufacture the piece as distinctive Harmony Centre furniture to raise funds for the organization.

fundraising, where they would generate fundraising ideas, organize those ideas and advertise them; activities, in which they would plan, organize, host or advertise those activities, and safety, maintenance and housekeeping, in which they would deal with cleaning, general repairs, organizing snow removal and grass cutting.

The members were told that last year the sidewalks had been kept clear of snow by a person whose only payment was free cups of coffee.

Sign-up sheets were circulated with members encouraged to include themselves on one or more of the committees.

Podovinnikoff and Rochefort said that they would like to see something truly unique to the Harmony Centre, which would be accomplished as a fundraiser, and as an example, Podovinnikoff demonstrated the use of an ingenious stepladder that is equipped with a piano hinge so that with a simple movement, the stepladder converts into a chair.

If the members agree, it would not be too difficult to cut out all the pieces needed, and then have members assemble the pieces into the chair/stepladder, it was said. The finished piece would be stamped as being unique to the Harmony Centre and sold to raise money for the Centre.

Members tended to favour the suggestion.

Applause greeted the news that including the coffee and craft groups, the Centre’s membership stood at 51 persons, which is 14 more than last year.

Kamsack residents thanked by Ukrainian Canadian Congress

Kamsack district residents, particularly those who donated money for Ukrainian refugee relief and received a plastic wrist band in return, are being thanked by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress.

In May, Sherry Guenther of Kamsack, whose heritage is Ukrainian, decided to create a custom-designed yellow silicone bracelet with the words “Slava Ukraine” meaning “Glory to Ukraine” printed in blue. Yellow and blue are the colours of the Ukrainian flag.

“As far as I knew, there were no Ukraine fundraising initiatives going on in Kamsack at the time,” Guenther said, explaining that she had ordered 500 of the bracelets, which were available to donors, with a minimum donation of $10 each, at several outlets in Kamsack and Madge Lake.

Last week, after having sent the money raised with the “sale” of the bracelets, Guenther received a letter from Taras (Terry) Kuzyk, president of the Regina branch of the Ukrainian

Canadian Congress.

“I thank you for your donation of $4,416.90,” Kuzyk said, speaking on behalf of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress Regina branch.

“Your support goes a long way in providing assistance for displaced Ukrainians coming to Regina,” Kuzyk said.

“We have faced a number of challenges,” he said.

“With the help of our provincial government, we have been finding places for people to live. Through our donation centre, which is

stocked by generous people like you, we have provided a place where displaced Ukrainian can come and help themselves to furniture, toiletries and household items. They are overwhelmed by the support they are receiving.

“The major item needed

is mattresses,” he said. “It’s far too expensive for an organization to purchase new mattresses and box springs.

We have found an affordable solution. With your donated dollars, we have purchased foam mattresses known as a bed in a box. These mattresses are clean and easy to

store and transport.

“These are the types of solutions we are finding with your financial support,” Kuzyk said. “Once again, I can’t thank you enough. You’ve truly made a difference.

“Glory to Ukraine. Glory to the heroes.”

Parkland College brings new, high demand Medical Laboratory Assistant program to Yorkton

Starting October 2023, Parkland College will deliver the Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA) Applied Certificate program at their Yorkton main campus. Students will be trained in a laboratory setting and will master skills such as collecting and processing medical specimens. “Medical Laboratory Assistants have been identified as a high-demand occupation with critical levels of job vacancies and the strain of staff shortages is even stronger in rural centres,” explained Kami DePape, Vice President of External Relations, in a release.

“By training students

locally, our hope is that they find employment in our surrounding communities, alleviating some of the vacancies. As a Regional College, we are committed to providing training that will help strengthen our local economy and enhance community services.”

This program was made possible because of a unique partnership between the Health Foundation of East Central Saskatchewan and Parkland College. The Health Foundation has donated $200,000 to cover the medical equipment needed for a new training lab at Parkland College. Strong support from Saskatchewan

KCI students participate in district golf competition

Among the students of the Kamsack Comprehensive Institute to participate in the district golf competition held at the Madge Lake Golf Course on Sept. 16, from left, were: (top row) Ella Ruf, Taylin Ruf and Finley Hudye, and (bottom) Hunter Chernoff, Ty Thomas and Tyrone Keshane.

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC

Pursuant to The Municipalities Act, public notice is hereby given that the Village of Arran intends to restructure to become included within (or merge with) the Rural Municipality of Livingston No. 331.

The Village of Arran is located within the SE 1 Twp 34 Rge 31 w1 and SW 6 Twp 34 Rge 30 w1, in the Province of Saskatchewan, as shown in the map below:

Important Dates

Green Zone Waste & Recycling

Yellow Zone Waste & Recycling

Green Zone Waste & Recycling

Yellow Zone Waste & Recycling

Green Zone Waste & Recycling

Kamsack Fall Clean Up runs until October 23

waste throughout town; including

leaves, branches and garden

be cut to a reasonable

to

The reasons for the proposal are: Declining population,

A public meeting will be held on Wednesday October 26, 2022 at 1:00 pm to the Village of Arran council chambers located at 10 Main Street, Arran SK to discuss the proposal.

written objection, clearly stating their reason for their opposition, with the administrator of the Village of Arran at the address below: Box 40, Arran, SK S0A 0B0 or 10 Main Street, Arran SK.

A written notice of objection must be received by the administrator by November 1, 2022.

the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday to Friday.

Dated at the Village of Arran, Saskatchewan, This 20th day of September, 2022.

Kelly Kim Rea Administrator, Village of Arran

To

feet, and should

waste by

back

property borders a

Staff will NOT pick up household

metal, furniture, appliances or construction debris.

Please

to Slow Down and

for children on

a very exciting time for our young

and we want to

that everyone has a fun, and safe, time!

Polytechnic was also required to deliver this new health program. Ross Fisher, Health Foundation Executive Director, stated, “the Health Foundation strives to expand the quality of health care and medical services in east central Saskatchewan. Through this training partnership with Parkland, we hope to address MLA and other hard to recruit positions in health care and revitalize our local services.”

Applications for the Medical Laboratory Assistant program opened Oct. 1 of this year and the program is expected to fill up quickly.

Summer Hours Tuesdays and Fridays from 9am –8am – 1 pm & 1pm – 5pm

Fire Prevention Week

October 9 – 15

Kamsack Fire Department is hosting a free community appreciation pancake breakfast.

Saturday October 15 8:30am – 12;30pm at the Kamsack Firehall. Everyone welcome Paws & Claws will be in attendance.

Optional donations: Cat/dog food.

Paws & Claws is also desperately in need of towels and blankets.. If you have any to spare and can pre wash to bring and donate would be greatly appreciated!

Local sponsors for this year to the KFD are: Madge Lake Golf Resort, Kandy’s Dari Korner & Steve Dutcheshen Photography Inc.

Decade Ago

Harold Fenske of Regina, a retired schoolteacher and director of education from the Rockford area north of Preeceville, who in June 2013 published a revised edition of his 2005 book Riverlore: The Headwaters of the Assiniboine will Always be Home, said that nowhere can make a better claim for the birthplace of Saskatchewan than does Kamsack.

The 15th annual indoor rodeo was held at the Broda Sportsplex.

Because October was EB Awareness Month, Dezerae Cote of Cote First Nation discussed the health of her one-yearold daughter Kasia who suffered with EB (Epidermolysis Bullosa), a rare skin disorder that causes blistering and shearing of the skin from even the gentlest friction and sometimes spontaneously.

Norman McIntyre of Scotland, was a volunteer with the World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) program at Ravenheart Farms near Kamsack.

Among the guests at the Kamsack Culture Days celebration at the OCC Hall were: former Kamsack resident Effie Sasyniuk (nee Achtymichuk) of Calgary who was celebrating her 102nd birthday; Ev Sasyniuk of Okotoks, Alta., her daughter-in-law, and Tracy Sasyniuk of Calgary, her granddaughter.

Forty-three three-person teams participated in the annual Kamsack Team Penning competition at the Broda Sportsplex where placing first in the A event with a time of 51.12 seconds was the team of Sharon Foster of Benito, Erin Foster of Fort McMurray and Carmi Hrabarchuk of Fort McMurray.

Niche crops and livestock worth consideration (again)

It is interesting how certain random occurrences create thoughts of a much larger scale.

For example, I was recently reading Gardener’s Notebook by Debbie Hayward, and she made reference to borage.

While Hayward was referring to borage in terms of a garden, my mind jumped back several years to when there was talk in the farm sector in Saskatchewan that it could become an important niche crop since the plant is also commercially cultivated for borage seed oil extracted from its seeds.

Borage seed oil has one of the highest amounts of γ -linolenic acid (GLA) of seed oil, and in herbal medicine has a long list of applications.

The crop never quite achieved the level of production one might have expected from the ‘hype’ at the time, although to be fair there was a long list of crops that were thought

to become important crops as the sector looked to diversify.

Of course, the general concept of crop diversification faded as prices for familiar cereal and oilseed crops jumped. Why take risks with a new crop if the value of wheat and canola penciled out as profitable more years than not?

And, in the case of canola, there was a level of diversification within the crop with identity preserved varieties offering farmers some added premiums for production.

In the process, interest in crops such as borage, lupins, caraway, coriander, fenugreek, hemp, seabuckthorn and many others

simply disappeared for most.

Niche crops, of course, are also a greater risk with limited markets, and almost none locally.

And, because the markets are limited it takes only moderate swings upwards in production to see prices decline.

That does not mean the crops are no longer grown, but broad interest has certainly quieted.

It’s not a crop-only phenomenon either.

With the Grain Millers Harvest Showdown on the not-so-distant horizon in Yorkton, it is easy to recall llamas were once a highlight of the event with large shows taking centre stage.

The llama was going to be an important farm animal. It was a short-lived story though, as was the case with red wattle hogs, ostrich, Vietnamese potbellied pigs, emus, meat rabbits, fallow deer and again the list goes on.

Of course, on the livestock side even normal hogs were supposed to explode with access to cheap feed, a waiting workforce, and land that would benefit from the manure as a fertilizer. It happened for a time, but as job numbers climbed, creating staffing issues and cereal prices jumped, tightening potential margins, even the prospects for the pig sector dimmed.

Today, the idea of diversifying too far from the well known and understood is far less considered, but one suggests that one day oilseed and cereal prices may well slump, and suddenly borage or coriander or even emus might look good again.

Orchids can add that extra something special to a garden

What would you say is the most exotic flower? For me, it has always been the orchid. I can still remember on a family trip to Hawaii many years ago, I was astounded how orchids were used in such abundance: for flower arrangements in restaurant lobbies, huge hanging arrangements of lush cattleya orchids in the Royal Hawaiian, and even to garnish our luncheon plates on the plane. Could anything be more amazing? And before we were married, when Keith brought Mom and me orchid corsages to wear to a cousin’s wedding that seemed like the ultimate luxury!

My fascination with orchids continues. We have one orchid plant, given to us last year by some dear friends. I always assumed that orchids were very delicate, very difficult to grow, and had very specific light and water requirements. But after hearing from gardeners in the know how easy they are to grow, we decided to be optimistic and hopeful. And guess what? Success. After the blooms that were on the plant when we received it faded, a new stem appeared giving us five beautiful lime-green orchids. They lasted a long time, and have since faded, and now another new stem is appearing. So exciting!

There are thousands of varieties of orchids, but my favourite has always been the moth orchid, the phalaenopsis. To me, that one branch of blossoms that swoops so delicately above the dark green leaves is so serenely

The Garden Grapevine

beautiful, like Canada geese about to take flight.

Orchids include more than 25,000 species, and did you know that there are orchids on every continent except Antarctica? Orchids in the home like to live under the same conditions that they would in nature, so these are the things to watch for: water, air movement, temperature, and sunlight.

Most of the orchids we have in our homes are epiphytic, that is, they are used to living on trees or other vegetation, surrounded by moss and bark, not anchored in soil. Their roots that stick out of the pot gather moisture from the air. So it is important to provide a loose potting medium of bark or moss, moderate humidity, indirect light, and air movement. And in our northern climes, orchids shouldn’t be too close to a chilly window in the winter.

Some orchids also grow in soil: these are called terrestrial, and a good example is the lady slipper. The beautiful cymbidium, which comes in a dazzling array of colours, is also a terrestrial. On one of our gardening programs on TV, they showed how cymbidiums grew— to the locals, they were almost like weeds. And what a treasure they are to us here!

Plus there are oncidiums, dendrobiums, botanicals… the list goes on and on! We’ve heard that once you get the orchid bug, you continue to want to try new varieties, each more exotic than the last. So far, I am still too much in awe of them to have reached this stage, so for now we are just hoping that the orchid we have survives.

The orchid plant is definitely one that gives us stately beauty for a long time, so if you see one that you like in a store sometime, treat yourself and add it to your plant collection. You won’t be disappointed!

In gardening, things are the same until they aren’t. Usually by this time, we should be cleaning our gardens, pulling out our annuals; but as I write this to you, we still haven’t had a really hard frost, and most of the blooming annuals are still bravely blooming, and still attracting bees and other pollinators. So we leave them where they are, even if it means a later clean-up time for us. Gives us more time to enjoy the garden!

Enjoy your garden today and have a lovely week.

New to Cote staff are teachers from Cote, Canoe Lake and Pakistan

New to the staff of the Chief Gabriel Cote Education Complex for the 2022-23 year are teachers from Cote, Canoe Lake and Pakistan.

“Our enrolment is 181 students from Kindergarten to Grade 12,” Jonas Cote, principal, said last week. “That’s up from about 165 last year.”

Hired to teach Grade 5 is Crystal Keshane, a member of Cote First Nation, who had graduated from Kamsack Comprehensive Institute in 2011 and then attended the First Nation University of Canada courses taken at Parkland College in Yorkton. She graduated with a bachelor if Indigenous education degree in 2019 and then taught at Keeseekoose Chiefs Education Centre for three years.

The daughter of Thelma and James Severight of Cote First Nation, is married to Justice Keshane of

A member of Canoe Lake First Nation, Amanda Bell teaches Grade 6 at CGCEC.

Keeseekoose.

She said she enjoys golfing and travelling with her husband who plays ball with the Keeseekoose Chiefs team.

Awais Chatha, who was hired as the Grade 12 homeroom teacher, also teaches high school math and science.

A native of Lahore, Pakistan, he immigrated to Canada with his parents, a

After teaching at Keeseekoose Chiefs Education Centre for three years, Crystal Keshane began teaching at Chief Gabriel Cote Education Complex for the 202223 term.

sister and two brothers in 2009. He graduated from Mount Royal Collegiate in Saskatoon in 2013 and obtained a bachelor of education degree, majoring in math, from the University of Saskatchewan in 2020.

During the past two

A cricket player, Awais Chatha, who hails from Pakistan, has been hired to teach high school math and science at Chief Gabriel Cote Education Complex.

years, Chatha worked as a substitute teacher in the Saskatoon Public School Division and the Prairie Spirit Division which surrounds Saskatoon.

He obtained his Canadian citizenship in 2012 and in December he returned to Pakistan

where he married his wife Hamna, who remains in Pakistan, but expects to be in Canada by spring. She has a bachelor’s degree in English literature.

Chatha and his two brothers created the Saskatoon Bulls, a cricket team that plays in the Cricket Saskatoon League for which he serves as treasurer. He plays bowler and batsman positions with the team, and is pleased to say his team went all the way to the 1l-team league’s semifinals in August.

The cricket season is from May to August, so it’s not too hard to drive to Saskatoon on weekends to play, he said.

He enjoys playing tennis and badminton and said that in the Kamsack house he is renting there is a piano and because he has always wanted to play the piano, he said he is tempted to learn.

Amanda Bell, who

More than $3,000 raised for Kamsack man at Norquay Co-op Fuel Good Day

More than $3,000 was raised at the Norquay Co-op Fuel Good Day on Sept. 20 for a Kamsack man suffering a spinal injury.

Because a family member works at the Norquay Co-op, it was agreed that funds raised that day would

go to Nathen Krawetz, who had suffered a catastrophic spinal cord injury on June 4, leaving all four limbs paralyzed and with no ability to move from the shoulders down.

“Although the weather was not on our side, the

community pulled through,” said Kayla Hrycenko, an employee of the Norquay Co-op and organizer of the event. “We were kept pretty busy all day and many people brought all their vehicles for a fill up.”

The Fuel Good Day

featured a donation where 10 cents a litre of pumped fuel would go to the selected charity.

The barbecue lunch raised $1,680, and the one-dollar coffee and slushie kiosk raised $85, Hrycenko said. A total of

12,772.22 litres of gasoline was pumped, resulting in a total of $1,277.22 raised for Krawetz.

In total $3,042.22 was raised, she said, adding that in addition, some of Krawetz’s friends sold window decals and a silent

has been hired to teach Grade 6, is a member of the Canoe Lake First Nation, located north of Meadow Lake. She graduated from the Canoe Lake Miksiw School in 2006 and then attended a community-based program offered by the University of Saskatchewan to obtain a bachelor of education degree in 2015.

After working as a substitute teacher in the Canoe Lake area for a year, she moved to Cote in 2016 where she taught for the next three years. She moved back to Canoe Lake for three years and now has moved into Kamsack with her husband Gordon Opikokew, who is a wildlife fire suppression worker, and five of their six children who range in age from six months to 18 years.

She said that among her non-work interests is playing golf.

auction was held..

The son of Dawn and the late Cory Krawetz, Ethen, 19, graduated from Kamsack Comprehensive Institute in 2021 and in May he had graduated from Parkland College with a welding certificate.

East Central Saskatchewan Crop Report

It was a slow week for many producers due to spotty showers and heavy dew in the mornings. Sixty-five per cent of the crop is now in the bin, up from 52 per cent the previous week and close to the five-year average of 69 per cent, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s Crop Report for Sept. 20 to 26. Many producers in western areas have wrapped up or are

close to wrapping up harvest and are now hoping for a good rain.

There were scattered showers in the region, but no significant amounts of rainfall. The Calder area received 14 mm; Earl Grey and Rama, 10 mm, and the Bethune and Langenburg areas accumulated two mm. Once harvest has concluded, rain would be appreciated especially in the western portion of the

region.

Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as three per cent surplus, 49 per cent adequate, 37 per cent short and 12 per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as three per cent surplus, 43

per cent adequate, 37 per cent short and 17 per cent very short.

There are minor onfarm water shortages in the region, mainly in western areas. Producers are worried about the quality and quantity of water their

livestock have access to, with many sources dwindling into nothing or becoming too toxic for consumption. Rain is desperately needed to replenish water sources in the region and reduce the pressure on producers to

haul water.

The majority of crop damage this week was due to wind, waterfowl and rain. Some of the crop is coming off tough and being placed into aeration bins or grain dryers, concluded the report.

National Day of Truth and Reconciliation observed at Keeseekoose school

Orange Shirt Day, and its slogan “Every child matters,” were highlighted on Sept. 29 during a traditional mini powwow held at Keeseekoose Chiefs Education Centre.

Held the day prior to Sept. 30, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, colloquially known as Orange Shirt Day, it is a Canadian statutory holiday to recognize the legacy of the Canadian Indian residential school system.

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was first established as an observance in 2013, as part of an effort to promote awareness and education of the residential school system and the impact it has had on Indigenous communities for over a century, says information regarding Orange Shirt Day. The impact of the residential school system has been recognized as a cultural genocide.

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Dancers dressed in traditional powwow regalia and orange T-shirts participated in the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation powwow held at Keeseekoose last week.

From left, Caleb Strongquill, Talon Severight and Treaune Severight performed as the Crazy Bear drum group at the mini powwow at Keeseekoose last week.

The Crow Singers was one of three drum groups to perform at the Orange Shirt Day powwow at Keeseekoose First Nation on Sept. 29.

National Day of Truth and Reconciliation observed at Keeseekoose school

Continued from Page 6

The use of an orange shirt as a symbol was inspired by the accounts of Phyllis Jack Webstad, whose personal clothing, including a new orange shirt, was taken from her during her first day of residential schooling, and never returned, the information said. The orange shirt is thus used as a symbol of the forced assimilation of Indigenous children that the residential school system enforced.

The day was elevated to a statutory holiday by the Parliament of Canada in

2021, in light of the revelations of over 1,000 unmarked graves near former residential school sites, it said.

Robert Severight of Cote First Nation was the emcee for the powwow, which after an opening prayer, began with the grand entry led by Keeseekoose Chief Lee Kitchemonia.

At least two drum groups, the Crazy Bear group and Crow Singers, performed for the powwow after a tribute to First Nation veterans.

Powwow dancers and

students and teachers from Kamsack Comprehensive Institute and Victoria School were welcomed by Crystal Whitehawk, the principal, who remarked that many of those attending were wearing orange T-shirts in recognition of Orange Shirt Day.

“Truth and reconciliation acknowledges what we went through, and the treatment we experienced,” Whitehawk said. “Today, we’re glad that Canada has started to acknowledge what our people went through.

Attending the mini powwow at Keeseekoose Chiefs Education Centre on Sept. 29 were: Chris Stevens, right, of Kamsack with her granddaughter Ariyah Cree of Canora, left, and Valentina Cook, her greatgranddaughter of Kamsack.

Among the youths attending the mini powwow at Keeseekoose on Sept. 29 in recognition of the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30, and dressed in either jingle dresses or ribbon skirts, from left, were: Christina Kulak, Lorraine Musqua, Malena Kullak, and Creedance Cadotte.

Chief Lee Kitchemonia welcomed guests to the mini powwow held at Keeseekoose Chiefs Education Centre on Sept. 29. At back was Robert Severight, the emcee for the event.

A cure worth fighting for October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Potential warning signs for breast cancer

Breast cancer is the most commonly occurring cancer in women across the globe. According to the World Cancer Research Fund International, there more than 2.26 million new cases of breast cancer in women in 2020. Such figures are sobering, but it's important to recognize that breast cancer survival rates have improved dramatically in recent decades, providing hope to the millions of women who may be diagnosed with the disease in the years to come.

Various factors have helped to improve breast cancer survival rates, and education about the disease is certainly among them. Women are their own greatest allies against breast cancer, and learning to spot its signs and symptoms is a great first step in the fight against this potentially deadly, yet treatable disease.

Five Breast Cancer Myths

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month in Canada. Although more people are surviving a breast cancer diagnosis than ever before, it’s still the most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death among Canadian women. Therefore, it’s important to know the facts. Here are five breast cancer myths.

Myth: Only people with a family history of breast cancer are at risk.

Fact: Only about five to 10 per cent of breast cancers are considered hereditary.

Myth: Breast cancer only affects women.

Fact: Although rare, men can get breast cancer too. In 2022, researchers estimate that 270 Canadian men will be diagnosed with breast cancer and that 55 will die from the disease.

Myth: Antiperspirants and deodorants cause breast cancer.

Fact: There’s no conclusive evidence linking the use of antiperspirants or deodorants and the development of breast cancer.

Myth: Breast cancer always causes a lump you can feel.

Fact: Although regular breast self-exams can help detect lumps, breast cancer doesn’t always manifest itself this way. Other symptoms include pain, swelling, redness and thickening of the skin.

Myth: All breast cancers are treated the same way. Breast cancer treatment plans vary widely depending on the characteristics of the tumour, the stage of cancer and the patient’s preferences.

This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, donate to help create a world where no Canadian fears breast cancer

Knowing your body

The American Cancer Society urges women to take note of how their breasts normally look and feel. That knowledge is vital because it helps women recognize when something does not look or feel good to the touch with their breasts. Screening alone may not be sufficient, as the ACS notes that mammograms do not find every breast cancer.

Signs and symptoms

When women are well acquainted with how their breasts look and feel, they're in better position to recognize any abnormalities, which may or may not be indicative of breast cancer. The ACS reports that the following are some potential warning signs of breast cancer.

• A new lump or mass: The ACS indicates that this is the most common symptom of breast cancer. A lump or mass that is cancerous is often painless, but hard and has irregular edges. However, lumps caused by breast cancer also can be soft, round and tender. Some even cause pain.

• Swelling: Some women experience swelling of all or part of a breast even if they don't detect a lump.

• Dimpling: The skin on the breast may dimple. When this occurs, the skin on the breast sometimes mimics the look of an orange peel.

• Pain: Pain on the breast or nipple could indicate breast cancer.

• Retraction: Some women with breast cancer experience retraction, which occurs when the nipple turns inward.

• Skin abnormalities: Breast cancer may cause the skin on the breast to redden, dry out, flake, or thicken.

• Swollen lymph nodes: Some women with breast cancer experience swelling of the lymph nodes under the arm or near the collarbone.

The presence of any of these symptoms merits a trip to the doctor. Women with these symptoms should not immediately assume they have breast cancer, as the ACS notes that various symptoms of breast cancer also are indicative of non-cancerous conditions that affect the breasts. Only a physician can diagnose breast cancer, which underscores the importance of reporting symptoms to a doctor immediately. TF22A360

the Fight Against

HLADUN, Alice July 19, 1935- Sept.22, 2022. 87 years of age. Alice was born the third of four children. Alice went to the Aisne School south of the present farm. Alice met Walter at a wedding of Walter’s brother Ernest. They were married on Aug 20, 1954 and then moved to the present farm in 1955. Alice was proud of the farm that grandfather and grandmother started and wanted to keep it going in the family. On one quarter Alice helped break the land and got a winter coat. Alice and Walter milked cows (a dairy business) for a long time from 1955 to 1976. After selling the dairy cattle, Alice and Walter took the family on a vacation to see Walter’s brother in Toronto, Ont. Alice and Walter’s best vacation was a bus tour to B.C. Alice volunteered on the Nursing Home Auxiliary from 1994-2018. Alice not only baked and served at their teas, but she also was on the phoning committee and spent hours on the phone contacting members about meetings, teas or cancellations. Alice wanted to have a girl’s get away and at least once a year would take a trip to Saskatoon for shopping and most importantly to visit her brother Mike and his wife Alice. They would have a nice meal and visit. Until Alice’s passing, she missed her parents, brother and sister who passed away. Alice enjoyments was walking the dogs Pax and Venus, on the farm. Alice loved to cut grass, garden and house clean and make meals. Alice liked watching curling, game shows and Ukrainian and older country music channels, puzzles and word search puzzles. Alice loved talking to her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She loved her grandchildren dearly and whenever you needed a helping hand babysitting or baking or household chores she was there to help. Alice was always there! Alice had health issues for many years but would not give up. Alice lived on the farm her entire life. She leaves to cherish her memory; daughters Arlene (Delbert) Kindiak, Linda (Warren) Weber, Brenda and her son Kelly. Also left cherishing the memory of Baba, Grandma, Great Baba and Great Grandma are Peter (Rebecca), their children Theo, Leila and Ferguson Kindiak; Jill, (Will) their child Sullivan Wellman; Chelsey Weber; Chris and Karmen, Alice and Elizabeth Lutz; Megan and Kent, Julia,Harrison and Blake Shindle; and Greg Lutz; one brother Walter and wife Jean-Anne Nicholaichuk and sister-in-law Alice Nicholaichuk as well as several nieces, nephews and friends. Alice is predeceased by her husband Walter, parents Peter and Mary Nicholaichuk, stepsister Doris Wosminity, and brother Mike Nicholaichuk.

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PRAYER CORNER

Orthodox Church of Canada Thurs. Oct. 6 Norquqy PCH (M) at 2 p.m. Sun. Oct 9 Canora, St. Theologian (L) at 10 a.m. Mon. Oct. 10 Canora, Thanksgiving Day, Thanks giving Moleben (M) + Bless Fruits at 10 a.m.

FOR SALE - MISC

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HEALTH SERVICES

HOUSES FOR RENT

2 and 3-bedroom houses for rent. Phone 542-3501, (306)331-7012.

FEED & SEED

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AGPRO SEEDS: BUYING HEATED, DAMAGED CANOLA. On farm pickup, prompt payment! TOP PRICES PAID IN SASK. Phone: 306-873-3006 or Visit AGPRO website for bids: agproseeds.com

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATORS REQUIRED: motor scrapers, dozers, excavators, graders, rock trucks. Lots of work all season.

Camp job; R & B provided. Competitive wages. Valid drivers license req’d.

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Private mortgage lender. All real estate types considered. No credit checks done. Deal direct with lender and get quick approval. Toll free 1-866-405-1228 www.firstandsecondmortgages.ca

NOTICES / NOMINATIONS

Canora Courier

‘Wwoofer’ and Keeseekoose students involved in equine-assisted learning

Continued from Front Page ground, while using toys and literacy/reading props to identify obstacles and learn five critical reading skills: phonemic awareness, decoding, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension.

“We plan to have an event observi ng the end of the program on Oct. 12,” she said, explaining that Ravenheart Farms, which this year is celebrating its 15th year, currently has eight horses on the farm’s 105 acres.

Working with Marriott is Alina Wissing, who is from a small village near Düsseldorf, Germany. She came to Ravenheart on Sept. 13 as a “Wwoofer,” a member of the World

Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) program.

“In the past 15 years, we’ve had about 25 Wwoofers working with us,” Marriott said.

The WWOOF program allows people of all ages to volunteer on a farm in order to gain experience of organic farming, while offering the opportunity to many people to learn the language, culture and people of the host country in which they are volunteering, said information about the program. The host provides the room and board, and the “Wwoofer,” some labour.

Wissing came to Canada in May and spent four weeks in Toronto and

then two months on a farm near Collingwood, Ont. She travelled along the east coast of Canada with her parents who were visiting, and then came to Ravenheart where she plans to stay for about six weeks.

A physiotherapist for six years, Wissing said she is not sure what she will be doing next, but hopes to spend about another year as a “Wwoofer,” possibly in the United States and New Zealand.

“Many of my friends have travelled, and I wanted to travel as well,” she said. “I wanted to do something with animals, and then I found Wwoofing.”

At Ravenheart, Wissing takes care of the horses,

Help us remember

Have an ancestor that fought in a war?

We’re looking for write-ups and photos of local veterans for our Remembrance Day feature, coming out on Thursday, November 10.

We’d need the submissions by Monday, October 31 Email to: dtasa@canoracourier.com, Subject line: Remembrance Day Drop it off at our office at: 1st Ave. E, Canora, SK Mail to: Box 746, Canora, SK, S0A 0L0

cats and dogs and helps with the programs. She also helps with other farm chores, including piling firewood, weeding, clearing pathways in the woods, in fact, “whatever is needed.”

“I like the prairies,” Wissing said, pooh-poohing the often suggested advice for visitors to skip over Manitoba and Saskatchewan, where the uninformed say that it’s flat and uneventful.

Wwoofing is a great way to learn about other countries and meet new people, she said, pointing to the log cabin where she lives. It is one of three such log cabins that Ravenheart uses with the retreat portion of the enterprise.

Ravenheart Farms Equine Assisted Learning and Retreat Centre is located 15 minutes from Kamsack, and is owned and operated by Marriott, a certified Equine Assisted Learning facilitator.

In addition to EquineAssisted Learning workshops and individual sessions, Ravenheart Farms offers a variety of personal and spiritual growth programs/retreats for individuals and groups, Marriott said.

“We are a naturebased Equine Facilitated Wellness Program,” she said. “We offer EquineAssisted Learning, EquineFacilitated Wellness, and personal life coaching with horses through a variety

of programs, workshops, retreats, and nature-based educational experiences,

“Partnering with horses can be a powerful and effective journey of selfdiscovery, recovery, and personal development, allowing people to gain insights and awareness into unconscious patterns, and to find alternative skills to draw on when faced with difficult life challenges.

“A variety of fun, engaging, and reflective activities with horses are facilitated in a gentle, respectful way, for individuals, families, and groups/teams. Anyone can

participate, and no previous horse experience is necessary and there is no riding involved.

“The focus of EAL is not riding or horsemanship specific. All activities happen on the ground, usually at liberty, which means no tack or equipment.

As a specialist, Marriott helps participants become aware of their energy while engaging with the horses.

“Horses pick up on our subtle body language and feelings such as tension, fear, happiness, sadness, anger, grief and confusion,” she said. “Horses are

Among activiti es that s tud e nt s of K eesee koo se Chiefs Education Centre did at Ravenheart Farms was brushing a horse

Continued from Page 10 always in the moment, and their ‘feedback’ is clear, immediate, non-judging and authentic, based on how

horses naturally behave.

“Equine-Facilitated Wellness can be effective for people of all ages and all walks of life, including

corporate team building, life skills for youth, grief and loss, personal and professional growth and development.

“Along with providing Equine-Assisted Learning and Equine-Facilitated Wellness sessions, Ravenheart Farms offers retreats and workshops for individuals and groups, accommodation in our three rustic, yet cozy furnished heritage cabins, healthy and nutritious, nature trails and wetlands to explore, expressive arts, nature-based learning, meditation, and more.”

Marriott’s background includes a life-long passion for animals, organizational leadership, human resources, volunteer management, literacy, injury prevention, workshop facilitation, and community development.

Ravenheart Farms may be contacted at: www.ravenheartfarms.com

Several students of Keeseekoose Chiefs Education Centre were up close

at Ravenheart Farms where they participated in a six-week

With a white horse in a pasture, from left, were: Kyrin StrongQuill (hidden by the horse), Freedom Bryant, Isaiah Keshane and Ian Quewezance.