Debates of May 23, 2024 (day 14)
Member’s Statement 166-20(1): Eulogy for Roy Joseph Mouse
Colleagues, on April 1st, 1946, the Creator gifted Alexi and Anna Mouse with a son Roy Joseph Mouse, whose Dene name was Eh'tsoa.
Roy was born on the land and from that moment onwards, this is where you could find him. Roy carried the sacred knowledge passed down from the people of the region. He knew all the traditional traplines, hunting grounds, and gathering spots of various animals and, most importantly, the gift of giving. Roy was the quiet member of his family but when he spoke or had ideas, the family would listen to him.
I can tell you the family and friends would talk about how he supported and provided for his family and those around him by using the amazing gifts given to him by the Creator. People always said that he was very much about nurturing. He did this with his genuine humbleness, kindness, and always had a smile and would always offer his hand to shake when you met him.
Roy would always provide a safe place for those in need, provide moose meat for elders, make use of providing offerings to the land and, as his sister said, he would give his last piece of bannock to others in need. He was always so trusting of people.
Roy attended the Fort Providence residential school. His friends and family spoke about how his strength and survival skills helped him navigate during this moment in time. Those strengths helped him move forward but also gave him the momentum to pursue sports like hockey and helped him to be able to fight fires to help the region and territories. Everyone that spoke of Roy, said he was a hard worker, and you could see his work along the highways, the survival cabins, and trails that his brother and friends opened.
I can tell you, him and his brother Jonas were always the first people to walk across the Liard and go into town after freeze-up. Once we saw the brothers in town, we knew the ice roads would be completed and operational soon. The same could be said about the ferry. He and his brother would always be the first ones to walk on the ferry and hitch a ride into town. I can say I have had the honour of giving him several rides into town throughout the years and greatly appreciate his humour and wit.
Colleagues, I can tell you Roy will be sadly missed by his friends and family. However, in saying this, they are happy that he will be joining his family, especially his brother Jonas, that have already joined the spirit world. God Bless.