A documentary featuring a true story about a woman’s journey through being adopted and reconnecting to her biological family has brought her to Opaskwayak Cree Nation (OCN). Kristal Parke has put together the documentary Because She’s Adopted, and shared her journey through adoption and reconnecting with her biological family.
“I’ve always known I was adopted,” said Parke. “It was important that my parents be open with me from the very beginning and something I was proud of.
“The narrative that my parents, particularly my adoptive mother imparted to me, was being adopted is a positive thing, that I was chosen, and that my biological mother loved me so much that she gave me a life that she wasn’t able to. It wasn’t until I was an adult and had my children, that I began to explore the challenging aspects of what it meant to not grow up with genetic mirroring, or connection to my biological family and culture.
“It wasn’t until I was in my thirties that I began to allow myself to see the ripple effects of relinquishment,” said Parke. “As a mother, it was difficult to reconcile someone being able to relinquish their child. I harbour no judgement, as I know there are many circumstances in which natural mothers feel they have no choice.

The Remembering Kendara Memorial Walk was held again this year on August 6, at 5 p.m., behind UCN. For this year’s memorial walk, the biggest change was the weather, as it rained towards the end of the event. Each year the Remembering Kendara Memorial Walk is held, it grows not only in capacity but in terms of the outreach it has.
“It was the fifth annual KB Memorial Walk this year and it was different than previous years,” said Gloria Ballantyne-Packo. “The biggest difference was that it rained. In the past, it was usually it is scorching hot out. The rain held off until the participants got to the park for the barbeque.

A valley youth has aspirations of being one of the best Ukrainian dancers in Canada and has been striving to achieve that goal.  Kemi Bulycz is only 16 years old and has been active in the world of Ukrainian dancing at a very early age.
“I started Ukrainian Dancing when I was three years old and joined not only because my mom is the instructor, but because I loved dancing and performing around the house,” said Kemi Bulycz.
“My family has always had a member a part of the Benito Vesselli Dance Club since its first year as a club, which has been over 40 years. My Great Grandmother, Lillian Klemetski, helped organize, fundraise, sew costumes, and was a part of the Vesselli Dance Club from the beginning. She spent many hours pinching perogies and helping with its early success.
“Her daughter, my grandmother danced with Vesselli from the beginning of the club forming and later became the instructor for many years, my mom, danced with Vesselli from three years old growing into Vesselli’s head instructor and choreographer,” said Bulycz. “I have many aunts, uncles and cousins who Ukrainian dance, so I guess you can say it’s tradition and one way our family shares our love for Ukrainian culture. My two younger siblings are also a part of Vesselli and one of our favourite dances to perform is our sibling family dance.
“I love everything about Ukrainian dance but if I had to name what I love and enjoy the most it would be sharing my Ukrainian culture with the community.  I also enjoy learning more about the regions of Ukraine and how unique they each are; learning new dances; watching myself and my group and improve every dance season; and my absolute favourite part is performing on stage whether that be at competitions or Malanka, which is our year-end concert or guest performing within the community. I always feel excited and proud when I’m asked to guest perform at events like folk fest, weddings, family gatherings, etc., because I get to share my culture and what I love to do with everyone. 
“My current Ukrainian dance groups are Benito Vesselli Dance Club and Liliya Ukrainian Dance Ensemble,” said Bulycz.  “I also danced with Hudson Bay Cheremka Ukrainian Dance Club for 13 years but performed my last concert with them this spring.” 
Bulycz had the opportunity to attend the Spirit of Virsky this year in Alberta.  The Spirit of Virsky is an annual summer training program designed for all abilities of Ukrainian dancers around the world. Its goal is to push dancers to the highest levels and prepare them to be the best they can be.
“At a competition I attended this spring, one of the organizers from Ukrainian Dance World, who was helping bring the Spirit of Virsky Seminar to Canada, approached me,” said Bulycz.  “He is known in the Ukrainian dance community as an adjudicator, choreographer, advocate for Ukraine, and more. He was the instructor at the Rusulka Dance Camp I attended last summer and has watched me perform on stage at competitions.
“He brought up the seminar and told me that it would be a great opportunity for me to attend and help me grow in Ukrainian dance.
“The Spirit of Virsky Seminar was in Edmonton, AB, from July 15 to 20 and averaged six to seven hours of dance per day,” said Bulycz.  “We were taught by the best of the best in Ukrainian dance with the instructors being Viktoriya Karpenko, Maks Karpenko, and Tania Okseniuk from Virsky in Ukraine.
“We learned classical ballet, barre, jumps, spins, tricks, dance technique, Virsky Choreography and much more.  The experience was amazing and it felt great to walk into the Shumka Studio.”
Being at the Spirt of Virsky for the first time was an eye-opening experience for Bulycz.  She met and danced with Ukrainian dancers from all over the world.
“Being from a small town we typically practice in a school gym or a community hall,” said Bulycz. It was exciting to be in the Shumka Studio which had multiple practice rooms with mirrors and bars. 
“On my first day, I felt a little nervous being taught by the best Ukrainian dancers in the world and learning alongside some of the best dancers in Canada from Shumka, Cheremosh, and Volya, but I quickly got over my nerves and truly enjoyed the experience. Dancers from all over Canada, New York and Australia were there and it was fun to make new friendships and hear about their dance schools.
“In the evenings we enjoyed watching Virsky performances, had pizza parties and bonded over our love for Ukrainian dance and culture,” said Bulycz.  “I honestly enjoyed the whole seminar and every day I was excited to go back, even with tired legs and sore feet.”
There were components to the Spirit of Virsky seminar that Bulycz really enjoyed.  Despite the long hours of dancing, she enjoyed all aspects of it and knows that she will take home this experience and apply it to her future Ukrainian dancing techniques and performances.
“My absolute favourite part about the seminar was learning Virsky Choreography from famous dances like Pleskach and Hopak,” said Bulycz.  “We were taught a total of five Virsky dances over the week along with two warm-up dances. It was intense but a lot of fun and I learnt a lot. 
“On the last day of the seminar, we performed the seven dances we were taught for friends and family. Performing a 30-minute mini concert without any breaks we received a standing ovation and it felt amazing.
“The seminar helped me tremendously with Ukrainian dance,” said Bulycz.  “With the help of the three instructors, I was able to focus on arm, leg and foot positions, strengthen my ballet technique, and dance at a higher skill level than I am used to.
“This will all benefit and help me, and my future in Ukrainian dance. I will be able to practice what I learned at home and in dance practice, and also help my dance group by sharing everything I was taught.”
Bulycz has more plans for the summer with her Ukrainian dancing and will be performing and attending another Ukrainian dance camp this year.  All of this will be more experience she can use to apply to her Ukrainian dancing and achieve her goals of travelling as a professional Ukrainian dancer all over the world.
“I performed my Poltava Solo as well as a Volyn Trio with Vesselli Dancers Ava and Grace Keller at Canada’s National Ukrainian Festival in Dauphin over the weekend of August 3 to 5,” said Bulycz.  “I will be attending for my second year, the Rusulka Ukrainian Dance Camp in Gimli, MB. 
“I’m excited to start a new dance season in September with Benito Vesselli Dance Club and Liliya Ukrainian Dance Ensemble.   I hope to one day, join a professional Ukrainian Dance Group and travel the world performing.” 

The Swan River Dairy Queen held their annual Miracle Treat Day, where if a person buys a blizzard, they bring health and hope to local children.

The Opasquia Trails Board hosted a very important guest to check out their recent developments on the Grace Lake Boardwalk and Boreal Trail. The executive director for Trails Manitoba was given a tour on July 17, and talked about the trail system in the area and what the organization can do to help promote it.
“Trails Manitoba is a provincial nonprofit charitable organization that serves as an umbrella group for recreational trail groups, with a focus on non-motorized trail activities,” said Trails Manitoba Executive Director Tim Coffin. “Our mission is to support and promote the development and use of recreational trails throughout Manitoba to enhance the overall well-being of our communities.

The Pas RCMP search for missing 78-year-old female
On August 3, 2024, at approximately 2:30 pm, The Pas RCMP received a report of a missing 78-year-old female.
Laura Skelly was last seen on July 31, 2024 at approximately 9:20 am, leaving a residence on Campbell Street in The Pas.
The RCMP are concerned for her safety.
Laura was last seen leaving the residence in a 2019, black Jeep Compass, Manitoba license plate EXM 911. It is unknown where she may be headed.
The RCMP are asking anyone with information to call The Pas detachment at 204-627-6204, call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, or secure tip online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com.

The Province of Manitoba has committed $2.11 million to repair damage done to the Gilbert Plains Country Club (GPCC) as a result of flooding this past spring.

Dauphin MLA and Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn said it was an unfortunate circumstance that resulted in the flooding after a nearby dam was clogged creating ice jams, which lead to flooding in the area.

It was consultations with Premier Wab Kinew and different governmental departments that led to the provincial government to provide funding for repairs.

“With the importance of the Manitoba Summer Games happening in this geographic area and the golf course being considered as the golf course to be chosen, the government stepped up,” Kostyshyn said.

“This is a contribution that we feel will help move this forward and take the financial pressure off the golf course committee.”

Kostyshyn noted the ice jam is something that happens on an annual basis.

“I think it’s just a matter of communicating and paying attention to the importance of the immediate removal of the ice jams that tend to build up in that area. Definitely that will be an ongoing communication with the municipality and the golf course,” he said.

The dam, Kostyshyn said, was built a number of years ago.

“It’s a weir dam that really holds water back so they can use the river water as a means of irrigation on the golf course. So it’s a man-made dam, but usually what happens is the icebergs would flow over the dam. But this year, unfortunately, the icebergs started to accumulate and it accumulated to the point where it built a fairly high dam and then it create a back flood that created the problems that happened,” he said.

Kostyshyn said the government will continue to help out in any way it can given the importance of the golf course to the local tourism industry.

Read the full story in this weeks Dauphin Herald.

Recently part of the Swan River Personal Care Home (SRPCH) walls got a whole new facelift that reveals a breathtaking view for the residents who live there. Valley artist Melanie Bird has painted a mural for the residents at SRPCH and their visitors to enjoy.
“A family of one of the residents reached out to me to see if I would be interested in doing a mural at the SRPCH,” said Bird. “This family knew me well and knew that I was an artist. They had also seen some of the mural work that my sister had been doing in care homes in Winnipeg and wondered if that was something that I could do as well.
“Once they knew I was interested they got the approval from the SRPCH to proceed.”
The scene painted on the mural had to be something that resonated with the Valley and the residents. It was decided that painting a farm scene would be best suited and draw out the best engagement amongst the residents.
“It was collectively agreed between the family that approached me, the residents, board and staff, that the painting should reflect the scenes of the Valley, as well as be something that the residents would connect to,” said Bird. “Something that would conjure up fond memories for them.
“From there we determined that a farm scene, which included several farm animals, that was set in a valley would be perfect. I did a couple of small mock-ups for them to choose from and with a couple of tweaks and additions, I was ready to get started.”
It didn’t take too long for Bird to finish the mural once she started. She even took extra measures to make sure the mural was well protected and could be enjoyed well into the future.
“It took me about seven days to paint,” said Bird. “Once the paint cured for a few days I did a few layers of a protective coating just to make sure the painting would be something the residents, staff and visitors could enjoy for many years to come.”
The feedback Bird has received about the mural at the SRPCH has been good. The residents enjoyed the process of watching her create it and have been engaged with it ever since.
“So far all the responses have been very positive,” said Bird. “The residents seemed to really enjoy seeing the animals begin to emerge as I was painting, I think that was what they connected with the most. People also commented on how much they liked the vibrant colours of the painting as well.
“It was such a joy to see the residents light up when they would see the painting as it progressed. It was also fun to hear their comments and suggestions along the way. I couldn’t possibly paint all of the things they suggested but it was neat to know that they were connecting with what I was doing and it seemed to be something that they truly enjoyed.
“A few of the residents would sit on their walkers or wheelchairs and watch what I was doing for hours, sometimes even fall asleep as they watched,” said Bird. “One of the favourite things that residents liked to comment on was what colour I was going to paint that tractor. Some thought it should be green and others thought red, in the end, I chose red simply because it stood out better against the green background, but it gave me a good chuckle listening to their opinions on the matter.
“It was also a pleasure to see some familiar faces from the community and connect with people who were once actively involved here in the valley and were now residents at the PCH.”

The annual Garden Walk took place on Monday (July 22), raising money for the Swan River Ladies Golf Club. This year’s walk showcased seven local yards divided between Swan River and the Benito area, featuring man-made lakes, hillside flower beds, lush mixed floral/vegetable garden boxes and beds, and more.

For 59 years Canada’s National Ukrainian Festival has been a beacon of culture, celebrated among those of Ukrainian descent and shared with anyone wanting to experience the colourful, rich traditions of music, dance and food.

And everything is in place to continue the celebration this August long weekend at the Selo Ukraina site at the foot of Riding Mountain National Park, south of Dauphin, said CNUF president Kayla Gillis.

“We’re really looking forward to festival weekend. The ticket sales have been amazing and we are so grateful that patrons keep coming back year after year and they always bring somebody new with them,” Gillis said, adding she is eagerly anticipating a new twist this year that she is sure will delight the crowd.

“Our Saturday night grandstand, we’re doing something we’ve never done before. We’re bringing in a projection screen for a backdrop and Rusulka is coming to perform their show Voda. They are going to be using backdrop projection to be able to help tell the story line of the dance. So we will be utilizing a later grandstand on Saturday evening just so with the darkness, the projector will work better.”

Gillis is pleased that CNUF remains such a strong attraction at a time when other festivals are struggling to attract crowds. In fact, she said advance ticket sales are up about 15 per cent over the last two years.

“I do think it has a lot to do with the community and the surrounding communities that still want to support this cultural festival. I think a lot of it is just that connection that we have to Ukraine,” she said.

“And having a lot of the newcomers (Ukrainian immigrants fleeing the war in their homeland), as well. I do believe that is a factor.”

But even with a 59-year history there are many people who have never attended CNUF.

Come once and you will be hooked, Gillis said.

Read the full story in this weeks Dauphin Herald.