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District residents invited to major genealogy conference

A unique opportunity for residents of Canora and area to discover exciting stories from their past is being presented in Yorkton in September.

A unique opportunity for residents of Canora and area to discover exciting stories from their past is being presented in Yorkton in September.

The Yorkton Genealogical Society, for which former Kamsack resident Gerald Moriarty of Yorkton serves as chair, and Cindy Koreluik of Kamsack as treasurer, is holding a conference entitled “Finding Your Ancestors.”

It will be held at the Painted Hand Casino in Yorkton on September 28.

“For anyone interested in where they came from, this is the event he or she should attend,” Moriarty said, explaining that through his work with the Society, he has gone seven generations into his family’s past, discovering people who lived in the 1700s.

A rural Saskatchewan resident cannot obtain the high level of information that will be discussed at the Yorkton conference without having to be in Regina or Saskatoon and do research there or become affiliated with similar groups in those cities, he said.

The Yorkton conference will feature three presenters: Laura Hanowski of Regina, John Pihach of Yorkton and Earl Schultz of Calgary.

A writer and genealogy researcher, Hanowski is the editor of Searching for Your Aboriginal Ancestors in the Prairie Provinces: A Guide to the Records and How to Use Them. She has worked with the Metis National Council and Metis groups in Ontario and Saskatchewan.

Identifying as a First Nation person, Hanowski has worked on information regarding the treaties and teaches in Regina, Moriarty explained. The Yorkton Genealogy Society is attempting to reach out to include more First Nation people and Hanowski is definitely the right person to help it do that.

“Because we live in this area, we’re also targeting people of Ukrainian ancestry and John Pihach has done extensive research into the genealogy of Eastern Europe and Ukraine,” he said.

Pihach has researched the archives of Ukraine, Poland and Vienna and has made presentations in Saskatoon, Edmonton and Chicago, Ill. A renowned author, he is a former library chairperson for the East European Genealogical Society.

“Pihach is a real diamond in the rough,” Moriarty said.

Schultz, the third presenter is the project administrator for the Leichnitz, Klempoan and Kleps surname project for Family Tree DNA, he said. He combines records and DNA and has presented at several Canadian and International conferences.

Research and records are one thing, but DNA is the scientific proof, he said.

All three presenters are top notch in their field, Moriarty said, explaining that they will be making their presentations in the morning, and then in the afternoon there will be various workshops, opportunity for questions and answers and one-on-one time with the presenters.

The conference also includes a rainbow auction and a 50/50 raffle.

Persons attending the conference will be charged $45 if registered by August 27, and $55 if registered after August 28, he said. The registration fee includes luncheon, refreshments and door prizes.

Persons registering are asked to do so by contacting Cindy Koreluik at Kamsack. Persons wishing information on the Yorkton Genealogy Society may visit its Internet site at: www.yorktonchaptersgs.wordpress.com or email yorktonchaptersgs@gmail.com.