- Brandon Sun Passages
- All Titles
Search:
Notices are posted by 10 am Monday through Saturday
VALERIE LORRAINE NANOWIN (KEEWATINOMI BENASI IKWE / NORTH THUNDERBIRD WOMAN)
Date of Passing: Oct 21, 2005
Send Flowers to the Family Offer Condolences or MemoryVALERIE LORRAINE NANOWIN (KEEWATINOMI BENASI IKWE / NORTH THUNDERBIRD WOMAN) With great sadness, we announce the passing of Valerie Lorraine Nanowin, North Thunderbird Woman, on Friday, October 21, 2005. Valerie is now re-united with grandparents, David and Lillian Nanowin, her birth mother Joyce Barbour and uncle Bill Nanowin. Valerie will be greatly missed by her sisters and brothers, Edna, Ann (Dennis), Dennis (Doris), Ron, Corinne, Ray and Mike and by her sister-in-law Gert. Valerie is also especially missed by her beloved nephew Dennis (Hip) and niece Denise (Deane) and grandniece Nissa Nia, as well as her special partner Alex and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Valerie was a very special person. Her credo was always, I can do better than I am doing now . Best known in our community as Big Val , Valerie began her longstanding career of community service by serving as Head Cook for Camp Anishnabi Neebin. After cooking and serving meals for over a hundred people, three times a day, for seven years, Mr. Gary Filmon offered Valerie an opportunity to train as a secretary at Success Business College and Valerie went on to become the best Executive Assistant that community activist Don Marks ever had or will have. Val moved on to better things by obtaining her Bachelor of Education Degree and spent the rest of her life teaching elementary schoolchildren in First Nation communities throughout Manitoba, spreading her love, experience and knowledge as widely as possible to her babies . Valerie had to overcome many obstacles in her life as one of Winnipeg's pioneering Aboriginal citizens. Keewatinomi Binesi Ikwe overcame those obstacles because she was truly an Okichida Kanata (warrior of the village). A peacekeeper, a provider and a protector, Valerie never judged her greatness by the goals that she set for herself but by the obstacles that she overcame. As a true Okichida, Big Val welcomed those obstacles because they offered her a challenge which allowed her the opportunity to prove herself worthy of a warrior's challenge. We have not inherited the Earth, we only borrow it from our children. Funeral services will be held at Thomson Funeral Chapel, 669 Broadway at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 26 with reception and interment to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Scouts Aboriginal Sports and Recreation Program in care of Indian and Metis Friendship Centre of Winnipeg Inc. THOMSON FUNERAL HOME 783-7211
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 24, 2005
Condolences & Memories (1 entries)
-
Hello, I am an old student of MIss Nanowin, she was my 5th grade and 7th grade teacher in Poplar River First Nation, I work as an Education assist at Poplar River First Nation, I heard of your passing but didn't want to believe it during that time we had no wifi or wireless or computers for me to search for her , I would like to send my sincere condolences to her family and husband, I really miss you , miss Nanowin I was hoping one day we will meet again and I tell you all the obstacles I had overcome, thanks to you I had no problem in highschool, honestly after grade 7 . it was too easy I caught up with my brother in grade 9, I still remember the seed you planted inside me , when you would talk about residential schools and our people and how important education was . too overcome this society and system was through education to beat them at there own game . if only you can see how far our people resurfacing and making names for themselves . The Truth is being brought into the light it seems, but anyways I work in grade 8, our curriculum is way different from before most of the time I sit in daze and think of you , and how you managed the way you did things . you reached out to this you connected to us , you cared for us, even thought we were the brightest group or yeah . my class was ....yeah ...but you didn't give up on us , even on holidays or events you always dressed up and made things fun, I don't know how but you made bad situations turn quick and made the best of it . made it okay in a way or yeah you were a great woman and a great teacher, <3 - Posted by: Camillia berens (student) on: Oct 11, 2023