Obituary of Rose Sylvia Apsassin

Obituary Rose Sylvia Elise Apsassin 1942-2010 Eulogized by Wanda McDonald Rose Sylvia Elise Apsassin was born on January 30, 1942 at Nig Creek, the Apsassin Family Trapline. Rose was born and raised at Nig Creek and later lived at Sikanni. Rose attended Peterson Crossing School a Christen school for approximately two (2) years. Rose was raised in the bush by her father Daniel Apsassin and mother Julienne Oldman along with several siblings. Rose was an experienced horse rider as her family used horses to move from camp to camp throughout the seasons and dog teams were used during the winter. Rose and her parents were experienced hunters and trappers. Rose lived off the Blueberry Reserve for the majority of her life. Rose married Bunny Morrow (Chipesia) and had seven beautiful children: Robert Thompson, Judy Anne, Linda, Nancy, Barbara, Arthur and Valerie Rose. They lived on a small acreage near the reserve. After Bunny passed away, Rose was a single parent and raised her children with values based on family, hard work and independence. She wanted the best for her children and made many sacrifices in a time when there was discrimination especially as an Aboriginal woman. Today, we know the results of her parenting by the success of her children. Rose purchased her first home in Dawson Creek in 1973. Since that time, has also lived in Taylor, Chetwynd and Fort St. John. She was blessed with many grandchildren, including great-grandchildren and played an important role to raise them. Rose taught her grandchildren to hunt, snare rabbits, setup hunting camps with relatives from Halfway River and Prophet River. Rose believed that it was important that everyone knew her children. She introduced her children to everyone from the different reserves and took them for many visits. She raised her children to know the Cree and Beaver ways and to know the extended family from the different reserves. Rose also taught children from other families, the values she lived. Rose was a strong advocate for education and supported having native language in the schools she demonstrated this personally by completing Adult Upgrading at the Northern Lights College. Here is a quote which summarizes Rose's advocacy "The ultimate aim of education is to develop children's abilities so that they may fulfill their own aspirations and thereby make a positive contribution to society Native people have been seeking an education program which will support their children's identity and culture." Rose played a key role by providing translation and interpreter services for families that needed this type of assistance while going through the judicial system. Rose also worked hard to achieve certification in Professional Cook Training, Camp and Institutional Cooking, food handling and preparation, safety training such as WHIMIS and other oilfield tickets. Rose obtained her driver's licence in her 40's and owned her own vehicle. This allowed Rose to be independent and the ability to travel wherever she wanted. Rose spoke 3 languages: Cree, Beaver and English. She was a certified Cree Teacher who studied at the Muskwachees College in Hobbema, Alberta. Before, she became a professional cook, Rose worked as a trail cook for guide outfitters like Ross Peck and Gary and Sandra Vince cooking for up to 15 to 20 men in fly-in camps where the camps are moved by horseback. She also cooked for Don Lowen in a road construction camp and Short Horn Catering. Rose also worked as a traditional monitor and is very familiar with NE BC especially the Nig Creek Area and the traditional lands in Treaty 8. Some of the important values that Rose demonstrated as an independent Aboriginal woman was a hard worker, always there for elders and people who needed help or a ride, attending community events, providing a place to stay and helping out at funerals. Another important value that Rose lived by example, was her desire for a simple life which was reflected through her upbringing of only use what you can take, respect the land, culture and traditional way of life. Other important characteristics included: hope for a better future, love for one another, and acceptance of others as they are, forgiveness and kindness. In her spare time, Rose loved to play BINGO, travel to the annual Lac St. Anne Pilgrimage, being an advocate for protecting and preserving Aboriginal and Treaty rights by participating at the Site C Dam Camp at Bear Flats and to raise support at the Halfway River First Nations blockade. Rose attended the Catholic Church regularly. She always took her grandchildren berry picking. She was also supported women's rights. Rose also had time to do a lot of sewing, beading, baking, tanning hides, making dry meat, traditional dancing and enjoyed watching rodeo's. On behalf of our family, we would like to thank our mother, grandmother and friend for her great love of us and her culture; she will be greatly missed but fondly remembered by many. We will take Rose's goodness and learn from what she gave us and pass this knowledge to future generations. Finally, "We, as the future Elders, should honour our Elders of today and yesterday because if it wasn't for them, life wouldn't be possible. Showing respect would be the greatest honour for them as they are the grass root people on our reserves. From them, we learn our culture, language and spiritual beliefs. We should ask them for advice because they have the wisdom and experience that guides us to do things the right way." Cemetery Details Blueberry Cemetery Blueberry, BC, V0C2R0 Funeral Service DEC 24. 10:00 AM Blueberry Cemetery Blueberry, BC, CA, V0C2R0 Services