Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Therese Bertrand was born on March 1st, 1934, at Fisherman Lake. Her parents were Marie Angele and Laurent Deneron. She passed away on May 22nd, 2022, at the age of 88. Therese was raised at Fisherman Lake in the springtime, and during the fall, her parents and siblings spent time on the land in Yunaa, also called "across the river".
She met her husband Phillip Bertrand in 1949 when she was 15 years old. They moved to Maxhamish where they raised their nine children.
Therese was brought up in the traditional Dene lifestyle by lakes with lots of fish, birds, animals with her parents and siblings. Phillip and Therese raised their own children the same way, making sure that their children were taught these same skills.
She was known for being ready and willing to help her children with the task of providing and help looking after her children when needed. As it could be seen, she loved each and every one of them.
Therese Dene's name was Amah. Everyone called her that. The family tells a story that one day she heard a knock on her door. When she opened it, there was an RCMP member there, and he asked her, Amah, where is so and so. She replied in Slavey saying he was over there. The RCMP stood and replied, Mashi, Amah. As the member left her house, she turned to the visitor and said, I have a lot of people call me Amah, but I did not know I had a son who was an RCMP member. They both laughed. But that was how people thought of her. She will always be remembered for her bannock, dry fish, dry meat, and tea she would share when people come to visit her. On top of the great food, she would tell stories and share her laughter with them. As well, she had an amazing sense of humour which people still hold on in their hearts.
Therese was predeceased by her parents, husband, five brother, four sisters, one son, and two daughters. She leaves behind one brother, one daughter, six sons, and many grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren, and other nieces and nephews.
Mr. Speaker, she will be forever missed by her surviving family and friends. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Nahendeh. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and community. Members' statements. Member for Range Lake.
