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.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e having a feast to acknowledge them. Families also don害羞草研究所檛 want to keep bringing up the fact that Sept. 4 happened, so we害羞草研究所檙e being low-key,害羞草研究所� Constant said.

害羞草研究所淭his topic opens those wounds and, as wounds heal, they scar up. We害羞草研究所檙e at that point where they害羞草研究所檙e starting to scar up, and we don害羞草研究所檛 want to reopen them.害羞草研究所�

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害羞草研究所檚 name is to be emblazoned on a metal sign at the structure. Flower beds have also been placed around the site to remember him.

害羞草研究所淲es really liked flowers,害羞草研究所� she said.

害羞草研究所淗e loved the kids.害羞草研究所�

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

害羞草研究所淗e would go and make coffee every morning. He would drive around in his white car. And every time you害羞草研究所檇 see him, he would wave at you.害羞草研究所�

She said Weldon has been quiet since Petterson害羞草研究所檚 death.

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

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

害羞草研究所淪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害羞草研究所檙e thankful and we害羞草研究所檙e grateful,害羞草研究所� Constant said.

He said drugs remain a problem on the First Nation, but it害羞草研究所檚 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害羞草研究所檚 also to include a multi-purpose room for community gatherings, events and other activities.

In addition, it害羞草研究所檚 renovating a lodge to provide detox for those before and after treatment.

害羞草研究所淚 wish we could have it right now, because I know people would use it. But these things don害羞草研究所檛 move quickly,害羞草研究所� 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.

害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 a big step in what we害羞草研究所檙e doing to keep our community safe going forward,害羞草研究所� he said.

It害羞草研究所檚 time to let the victims rest, he added.

害羞草研究所淭hey can go to the next step and be in the spirit world peacefully,害羞草研究所� he said.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檒l honour them in our own ways and by our own selves, but we害羞草研究所檒l never forget them.害羞草研究所�