Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. [Statement delivered in an Aboriginal language and then in English.]
Today I would like to pay tribute to the late Beatrice Dawson, originally from Rocher River. Beatrice and her late husband, Fred, moved to Fort Resolution, like many other families, in the late ‘50s when the school in Rocher River burned down.
Beatrice and Fred had no children of their own but helped raise six kids. Two of the six passed away years ago. They were Shirley Overvold-King and the late Phillip “Wagee” King. Beatrice helped raise her step-daughter Jackie Pascal from Fort McPherson, adopted Delores from birth, and adopted Tendah and Bradley while they were very young when their mother, Shirley, had passed away. Beatrice’s compassion and love for family and children showed through her willingness to raise and adopt children.
Beatrice was born September 14, 1931, and passed away October 26, 2012, at the age of 81. Beatrice was detected with cancer in November 2011. She was hospitalized in Edmonton for one month before returning home. At the time the doctor told Beatrice that she would not live beyond March. The doctor could not believe it when he examined her in March to find out she was still alive and well. The doctor said Beatrice was a very strong woman.
Beatrice almost left us in March, as the doctor predicted, but she heard her family gathering around, crying out for her, and she came back. She later told her family that the next time she is ready to go, just to let her go. The love of Beatrice’s family kept her alive for an additional seven months. Beatrice passed away peacefully in the Hay River hospital after a gradual decline in her health.
Beatrice is survived by four of those children that she raised: Dolores, Tendah, Bradley and Jackie; 15 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Beatrice is also survived by her brother Henri King and Vitaline Lafferty here from Yellowknife, and numerous nieces and nephews. My condolences go out to Beatrice’s children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, brother, sister, numerous nieces and nephews and many friends. Beatrice meant the world to them and to all I’m sure she will remain in their hearts.
