Every week in the past, Priscella Swampy was choosing out materials along with her granddaughter Jerzeigh Swampy to make a jingle gown. Jerzeigh was drawn to scorching pink and rainbow ribbons.
Priscella put the supplies on the desk, with plans to stitch the piece collectively, however that by no means occurred. As an alternative, the kokum used the fabric to make a tea gown for her 14-year-old granddaughter’s wake.
“I felt honoured to do it,” Swampy stated.
On Saturday, Might third at 11 p.m., Jerzeigh was along with her good friend, Cowin Twins. His brother-in-law, 26-year-old Gabe Johnson, was driving them to get slurpees.
The three had been on Freeway 2A simply north of Ponoka close to Township Street 434, when a GMC Acadia was passing different autos and struck an oncoming their Volkswagen Tiguan.
RCMP stated they’re nonetheless investigating if alcohol was an element. They did verify the 41-year-old driver of the GMC was seen driving erratically earlier than the crash.
All 4 died within the crash, and so they had been all from Maskwacis.
“The accident website was like 5 minutes from right here,” Swampy stated.
“We instantly went to the positioning, and so they allowed my daughter to see her. Stars Ambulance was superb along with her.”
The crash website is marked with a memorial of flowers.
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Swampy stated Jerzeigh was shy however confirmed a giant character on the ice when she was taking part in hockey. Jerzeigh was fascinated by studying extra about her Cree tradition.
“She cherished her tradition and being a Cree girl.”
Jerzeigh just lately acquired her learner’s driver’s licence, and was eager about what she needed to do along with her life.
“Final week, I picked her up… and he or she stated, ‘I do know what I wish to be, kokum. I wish to be a hairdresser,’ and he or she had little gold tinsel in her hair,” Swampy stated.
Jerzeigh was laid to relaxation on Thursday.
Gabe and Cowin shall be laid to relaxation this weekend. Cowin’s sister Cherrita Saddleback was taking good care of the 14-year-old, and Gabe was her partner. She was with them the evening of the crash.
Saddleback stated they had been having a hearth.
“It was an attractive second that I’ll all the time bear in mind, contemplating the way it wasn’t even an hour after that…”
Cowin is remembered as hilarious and that he appreciated to prank name his sisters. He additionally loved making pastries and would even attempt to promote them to make some money.
“There’s not sufficient phrases to elucidate how particular and delightful and real and caring and loving Cowin was to everybody,” his sister Cherrisa Twins stated.
“He had lots of targets and ambitions, whilst a 14-year-old little boy.”
Cowin had goals of changing into a dermatologist and bugged his sisters about their skincare routine.
“It’s humorous, as a result of once I turned 25, he was like, ‘Oh, you’re 25, you’re pushing 30 now, you’re going to have to make use of retinol,’” Twins stated.
Saddleback stated Gabe was a superb companion and a superb father to his eight-year-old daughter.
“He all the time had a smile on his face, he was all the time smiling — it didn’t matter the circumstances — and he had a smile you would see throughout the room,” she stated.
Saddleback stated Gabe was additionally a tough employee, and selfless.
“Anytime he acquired the chance… he would give (somebody) no matter article of clothes, if he was consuming one thing and so they appeared like they wanted it extra, he’d give it to them.”
Saddleback is grateful that Cowin and Gabe weren’t alone once they handed away.
“I really feel actually lucky that Gabe was capable of be there with our little brother as a result of we all know he would have been scared and he all the time wanted someone to really feel that consolation,” she stated.
“It brings me absolute peace understanding that my two favourite folks had been capable of and are capable of stroll that journey collectively, as arduous as it’s for me… I’ll be capable of honour them how I can and ensure that no one ever forgets how superb all of them had been.”
Each households stated the one mild in all of this grief is the assist they’re getting from the group and likewise one another.
“I’ve to concentrate on these positives, though I’m numb and I don’t understand how we’re going to get by way of this, however we’ve to honour her spirit,” Swampy stated.
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