Jason Shivers was honoured to speak with anyone who approached him at James Smith Cree Nation on Monday.
But, principally, the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ Defensive Co-ordinator paid a visit in order to demonstrate his support — and to listen.
“There’s so much we can learn from the Indigenous people and their culture,” Shivers said. “I’m a lifelong learner and they have so many stories.
“I heard the Chiefs talking about how you should ask elders for stories and learn wisdom.
“That just reminds me so much about my grandmother and about my dad. My grandmother has passed away, but I would ask her all the time about different stories or about what it was like growing up during the Great Depression.
“She was an avid writer and she would document history, so I feel like coming here really has tapped into something that’s close to my heart.”
Close to a year has elapsed since Sept. 4, when 11 people died and 17 were injured in mass stabbings that occurred on the First Nation and in the nearby community of Weldon.
The healing process includes a four-day Traditional Health Gathering, which began on Monday.
More than 3,000 people are expected to visit the First Nation’s Cultural Grounds this week to take part in events that are based on the theme of Staying Strong Together.
“This day is meaningful because it opens up another chapter in our life, meaning hope, and giving us comfort after what happened on Sept. 4,” James Smith Cree Nation Chief Wally Burns said after Monday’s opening ceremonies.
“We’re dealing with the whole families in our Nation, our elders, and our youth, and moving the whole thing forward. I think this whole thing is going to come to a good start where we start believing in ourselves and moving the whole thing forward.”
As part of that process, the First Nation welcomed people and organizations that donated money or resources to help residents of the community cope with the tragedy.
Present on Monday were representatives of various levels of government, a contingent of RCMP officers, STARS helicopter personnel, first responders, members of the Melfort Fire Department, various businesspeople, and a number of volunteers.
The Roughriders were invited to participate in recognition of the team’s contributions and support in the days and weeks following the stabbings.
On Monday, the CFL team’s travelling party included Shivers, offensive linemen Logan Ferland and Philip Blake, and business-office employees Jacqueline Hurlbert (Director of Marketing), Jenn Senger (Director, Ticket Operations and Sales) and Karina Peterson (Community Program Co-ordinator).
“It was my first time on a First Nation, so seeing how people rally around each other and supported each other — and how people from the surrounding communities offered support — was really good to see,” Blake said.
Ferland is from Melfort, which is 50 kilometres northwest of James Smith Cree Nation.
“It’s a pretty special moment to come back here,” he said. “When the tragedy happened, it hit close to home, because I grew up around here and with my brother also being of Cree descent,” the Roughriders’ starting right guard said.
“My heart really goes out to the people here and, as soon as I had the opportunity to come out here, I jumped on it right away.”
Ferland embarked on the trip when he was not even 12 hours removed from Sunday’s CFL home game against the B.C. Lions.
A gruelling game was followed in short order by an early-morning departure.
“It’s all worth it,” Ferland said. “This community is the reason why I do what I do.
“The least I can do is to give back and to be close to this community and to able to be an emotional support for this community.”
In that spirit, Shivers and the Roughriders’ players cheerfully accommodated everyone who requested an autograph, a picture or a friendly conversation.
Robert Head, Chief of the Peter Chapman Band, made a point of personally inviting Shivers to a fish-fry lunch that followed Monday’s formal program.
“It feels good to, first of all, come here and light people’s day up and make them happy, representing the Saskatchewan Roughrider brand,” Shivers said.
“To bring joy to them after such a tragedy fills my heart and makes me happy because I’m doing something good for somebody else.
“To see them healing, and going through the healing process, is also a learning experience — to see how people grieve and how they overcome adversity in life.”
With that in mind, Shivers absorbed a heartfelt message that was conveyed by Brian Hardlotte.
During Monday’s opening ceremonies, the Prince Albert Grand Council’s Grand Chief encouraged young people to approach elders, to ask for their stories, and to document what they had to say.
So it came to be that, after lunch, Shivers was presented with an opportunity to approach an elder, walk alongside him, and initiate a conversation with a polite request: “Tell me a story …”
