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.

sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檙e having a feast to acknowledge them. Families also donsa国际传媒檛 want to keep bringing up the fact that Sept. 4 happened, so wesa国际传媒檙e being low-key,sa国际传媒� Constant said.

sa国际传媒淭his topic opens those wounds and, as wounds heal, they scar up. Wesa国际传媒檙e at that point where theysa国际传媒檙e starting to scar up, and we donsa国际传媒檛 want to reopen them.sa国际传媒�

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 Pettersonsa国际传媒檚 name is to be emblazoned on a metal sign at the structure. Flower beds have also been placed around the site to remember him.

sa国际传媒淲es really liked flowers,sa国际传媒� she said.

sa国际传媒淗e loved the kids.sa国际传媒�

Erickson said Petterson also mowed the townsa国际传媒檚 grass and organized whatsa国际传媒檚 known as coffee row, a type of Prairie gathering to discuss the daysa国际传媒檚 events.

sa国际传媒淗e would go and make coffee every morning. He would drive around in his white car. And every time yousa国际传媒檇 see him, he would wave at you.sa国际传媒�

She said Weldon has been quiet since Pettersonsa国际传媒檚 death.

sa国际传媒淥ur goal was to bring the community together again and, honestly, I think the playground is doing just that,sa国际传媒� she said.

At James Smith Cree Nation, a powwow is planned for the weekend to honour RCMP officer Heidi Marshall, who took down Sandersonsa国际传媒檚 stolen truck during a high-speed chase before the killer died in police custody from a cocaine overdose.

sa国际传媒淪he put her life on the line to bring this individual into custody, and we want to acknowledge her and let her know that wesa国际传媒檙e thankful and wesa国际传媒檙e grateful,sa国际传媒� Constant said.

He said drugs remain a problem on the First Nation, but itsa国际传媒檚 doing everything it can to help those affected.

The community plans to build a wellness facility that would offer counselling and addictions support services. Itsa国际传媒檚 also to include a multi-purpose room for community gatherings, events and other activities.

In addition, itsa国际传媒檚 renovating a lodge to provide detox for those before and after treatment.

sa国际传媒淚 wish we could have it right now, because I know people would use it. But these things donsa国际传媒檛 move quickly,sa国际传媒� 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.

sa国际传媒淭hatsa国际传媒檚 a big step in what wesa国际传媒檙e doing to keep our community safe going forward,sa国际传媒� he said.

Itsa国际传媒檚 time to let the victims rest, he added.

sa国际传媒淭hey can go to the next step and be in the spirit world peacefully,sa国际传媒� he said.

sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檒l honour them in our own ways and by our own selves, but wesa国际传媒檒l never forget them.sa国际传媒�