Two Hills Regional Chronicle January, 2023
P.O. Box 156, Two Hills, AB T0B 4K0 w w w. t w o h i l l s c h r o n i c l e . c o m This issue available online
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within the County of Two Hills
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Meet our Two Hills Minor Hockey U-11 Eagles by Melanie Bachelet
O
Top Row: Kale Tatarin, Rhett Wasylciw, Spencer Lang, Austin Lutzak, Paisley Peters, Ayden Homeniuk, Colby Lutzak Bottom Row : Pierce Thompson, Cooper Lang, Brayden Lutzak, Kash Eliuk, Benjamin Zayak Goalie: Cole Homeniuk Missing: Abe Groening
ur team is unique in that even though it is a Under 11 age group, the majority of the team are Under 9 but continue to compete against other U11 teams. Most of the children on this team have been playing together for several years and have created a special bond and unity amongst themselves, as well as the parents alike. We are very excited to be playing at a competitive level this year and will continue to pursue that for the years ahead. The kids have shown a tremendous amount of growth thus far in the season and we all are excited to watch them develop further. Our parents are beyond kind and generous. Not only do they bring positivity and support with every encounter, they also show the upmost
respect and have been extremely patience and flexible with all that we've encountered this season. And we cannot forget about our coaches. Brad Zayak, Chuck Lang and Shaun Peters have dedicated their time, effort, and yes, patience to this team. The three of them work in harmony to provide the kids with a positive and fun environment in which the children can improve their skills and grow together. We are so grateful for everything they do. Two Hills Minor Hockey Association has been around for a long time now and we will continue to try to grow and better the club for every player, parent and family that take part in it.
Saddle Lake Cree Nation Grieves
by Sonny Rajoo
M
uch has been written and documented about unmarked graves around Residential Schools and the topic drew closer to home with the recent discovery of unmarked graves in Saddle Lake. The discovery gained the attention of the national and international
media and brought back memories of a dark chapter in the history of the First Nations. Leah Redcrow, executive director of the Acimowin Opaspiw Society, says they estimate up to 400 children died while attending the school between 1898 and when it closed in 1990. "The mass grave was filled with
children-sized skeletons wrapped in white cloth. And we now know that the white cloth they were wrapped in were bed sheets from the residential school," Leah Redcrow told reporters. "One of my closest friends was the late Elder Alex Whiskeyjack, who taught me all about the experiences he had. I spent many hours with Alex in the office of the Chronicle and he knew all too well what the children had to endure.." Nothing can be done to change the past but we can all do something to forge closer relationships between our various religious, cultural, and ethnic groups. "It shouldn't hurt to be a child and therefore we subscribe to the old African proverb, 'It takes a village to raise a child.' To our brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, we hope that this sad part of our history will never be repeated."
KUZYK LAW OFFICE A PARTNERSHIP FOR THE GENERAL PRACTICE OF LAW
"A lot of what this is, is getting spiritual justice for our family members who are missing. I myself didn't know that my grandfather had 10 siblings die in this school." said Redcrow. Redcrow said AOS is now looking for a coroner to sign off on excavating at the site. The report states the society plans to repatriate the remains after DNA matches them to surviving relatives.
If you are a former residential school student in distress, or have been affected by the residential school system and need help, you can contact the 24hour Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line at 1-866-925-4419, or the Indian Residential School Survivors Society toll-free line at 1-800-721-0066.
5038 - 50 Avenue, Postal Drawer 929 Vegreville, Alberta, T9C 1S1
Phone: (780) 632-4552 Fax: (780) 632-4553 Toll Free: 1-877-220-4437