Editor:
On Aug. 14, an important member of the Bighorn First Nation Reserve passed away. Helen Wesley was 68 years of age, and will be remembered as the Mother of Bighorn. Her family will miss her, and from the turnout at the funeral of approximately 300 people, it would appear that she will be missed by her community.
Unfortunately, of the three hundred that came to pay their respects, only one politician attended. Lionel Wildman, a Chiniki councillor, made the long journey from Morley to Bighorn. Helen’s family was very grateful for his showing of support and respect for Helen. Members of the local council, including the chiefs were not in attendance, despite their being listed on the funeral program.
Family members and members of the community are troubled by these 11 prominent citizens of the community not showing their support for Helen, and also not supporting Helen’s husband, John, who was a politician for over 18 years. John’s mandate as a politician was to create unity. Helen’s brother, Roland was particularly disturbed by what appeared to him to be a lack of respect for an elder who was carrying on and sharing traditional cultural aspects and practices of the Stoney people.
“There was a rodeo and a powwow on the day of the funeral, and those must be more important. Community members drove great distances from Morley, at great personal expense to share in the remembering of my sister,” he shared in a conversation recently.
He is concerned about the message that this passes on to the youth – that there are events and photo opportunities that are more important than the support of a grieving family of a respected and wise elder, and the only female pipe holder. Roland is a prominent elder in the Morley community, wishing only to create and nurture a strong and vibrant First Nations legacy of heritage. He invites council to respond with their intention to choose to attend other events rather than be strong role models to the youth of the community, indicating their respect of the band’s members in their time of need.
Jan Gale, Cochrane, written on behalf of Stoney Nakoda elder Roland Rollinmud
