The joy of sharing is the real prize for Elliott Prettyshield, who won $1 million on WESTERN 649.
"And isn't that what it's all about - helping your family and the people you care about?" said the happy winner. The resident of Montmartre plans to share his win with several family members, and wants to make sure respected elders in the native community are "taken care of."
Prettyshield bought several WESTERN 649 tickets in Indian Head at the Shell Station. The tickets were for 10-draws and he picked his own numbers.
"I see what numbers look good, and then just keep playing the same sets," said Prettyshield.
He discovered his win the night of the November 20 draw. "I'd gotten off work and realized it was Saturday - lottery night - and that I better check my tickets."
He called the Winning Numbers Line. "I recognized the numbers right away, so I got quite excited." When he started to check his tickets, all the numbers matched. "When I saw the six numbers, I went in shock. I thought, 'Am I dreaming? Am I awake? Is this for real?'" He phoned the numbers line again to check one more time.
For two days, Prettyshield didn't tell anyone at the camp where he was working about the win. "I didn't know how to feel or what to think."
When he couldn't wait any longer, he decided to tell his brother, whom he works with.
"I asked him how much he had in bills, and then what would he do if they could all get paid off?" When Prettyshield offered to pay them, his brother asked where he would get the money from."I think I won the lottery!" Prettyshield replied.
Not believing it, Prettyshield handed his brother the WESTERN 649 ticket and the phone for him to call himself. "I saw the color of his face change to white. He finally said, 'You won the lottery. This is $1 million!'"
In addition to sharing, the millionaire wants to build a new home with a greenhouse.
Prettyshield plans to continue working - although fewer hours."Being working class, it's always a struggle. It's a dream to pay my bills and not have any more worries and stress."
"One million is enough," said Prettyshield. "I always said if I won I'd be happyand I am."
