Mahsi Cho, Mr. Speaker… [English translation not provided.]
Today I would like to pay tribute to the late Georgina Biscaye of Fort Resolution. A funeral service was held in her memory yesterday.
Georgina was born June 13, 1961, in Rocher River. Her family moved and settled in Fort Resolution when she was seven years old. Georgina always had fond memories of Rocher River and never forgot where she was born and was proud to remind others.
Georgina passed away surrounded by her family on Thursday, November 1, 2012, at Stanton Territorial Hospital. Georgina was 51 years old.
Georgina discovered she had cancer on April 12th, shortly after her partner and husband, the late Alphonse King, was detected with cancer. They both had lung cancer. Although, finding out they both had cancer, they decided not to let their illness get them down, and instead both chose to embrace and make the best of their medical conditions. Georgina and Alphonse were both hospitalized – she in Edmonton, he in Yellowknife – when he passed away on June 8th.
Georgina was a strong-willed Dene woman who always spoke her mind and got her point across. She got along well with others and had a great sense of humour. She had no problem accepting constructive criticism and was always willing to lend a helping hand to those in need. Georgina was definitely a family caregiver. She always took care of her parents until her father died, and right up until she got sick she took care of her mother. Georgina’s nieces and nephews called her Auntie Mom.
Georgina preferred to speak Chipewyan and only spoke English when she had to. She was committed to her language and culture, and it was a big part of who she was. She worked really hard to maintain this area of her life. Georgina was passionate about being involved in the preservation and revitalization of the Chipewyan language. She was confirmed to the Aboriginal Languages Revitalization Board and the Official Languages Board as a Chipewyan representative on June 20, 2011. She was nominated as the chair of the Aboriginal Languages Revitalization Board on February 17, 2011.
I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
Georgina was very active in the promotion of her language through her work. Until recently, Georgina worked as the Akaitcho Chipewyan regional language coordinator with the Akaitcho Territorial Government and prior to that she worked as a Chipewyan language coordinator for the Deninu Ku’e First Nation. Minister Jackson Lafferty acknowledges her work in the languages area.
Georgina is survived by her mother, Therese; her sisters, Anne, Sabet, Julie, Violet and Gloria; her daughter, Lacey; granddaughter, Chase; and numerous nieces and nephews, cousins, and many, many friends. My sincerest condolences go out to Georgina’s mother, five sisters, daughter, grandson, nieces, nephews and many friends.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. Robert McLeod.
