By meadowlakeNOW

Canoe Lake sisters heading to national spelling bee

Mar 20, 2018 | 6:00 PM

Two sisters from Canoe Lake Miskiw School have spelled their way to Toronto.

Sierra Crookedneck and her sister Ashlyn Durocher both recently participated in the First Nations spelling bee provincials earlier this month. Both qualified for the nationals, which will take place in Toronto on May 6, 2018. Three seats are reserved exclusively for Indigenous students at the national event, with two of the seats reserved for the sisters. 

Teacher and coach Jessica Iron said the girls prepared for months to get ready, by participating at the classroom and school levels and studying a glossary of over 400 words. She said the girls are not only representing their school and community, but the province as well.

“It’s really amazing,” Iron said. “I’ve seen them progress over the last three years, and both of these girls were actually in the first spelling bee at our school. It’s been fascinating to watch and see them excelling, it’s nice to see their hard work’s paid off.”

Iron said the community is proud of the students for their preparation at school and at home with their families.

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“It’s been so great for the students here to see such success,” she said. “Each year we get people a little bit more devoted to practicing and studying. It’s been an effort in the whole community. If [the girls] place at nationals, that would be tremendous, but ultimately we’re all so excited they’ve gotten this far.”

Durocher said she wanted to take part to learn new words, while her sister Crookedneck said she likes the challenge and likes to read. Both said they were excited and scared to take part in the nationals.

“I’m excited and scared,” Durocher said. “I’m scared because I’m going to nationals and there will be a bunch of people there watching it. I’m excited because I get to go to a big city.”

Durocher, 13, is in the intermediate category, while her younger sister Crookedneck, nine, is in the junior category. Both placed first at provincials in their respective categories.

kathy.gallant@jpbg.ca  

On Twitter @ReporterKath