Rebecca Anne Ross

On April 24, 2024, our beloved mother, Kokom, sister, special auntie, friend and colleague, Rebecca Anne Ross, peacefully left us at the age of 71 years old. Rebecca is from Pimicikamak Cree Nation (Cross Lake) and was born June 23, 1952, in Kinosao Sipi Cree Nation (Norway House).Rebecca is survived by her daughter, Seekwun (Spring Spirit) Ross; special friend Alderick Leask; three beautiful grandchildren, Katherine, Keystin and Angel; sisters, Victoria McLeod (The Late Gordon), Shirley MacInnis (Clem) and Brenda Garrioch (The Late Richard); brothers, George Ross (Flora) and Ronald Ross (Kay). Rebecca was predeceased by her parents, Robert Magnus and Catherine Frances Ross; brothers Norman
Ross (Janet) and Carl Ross (Rosalie); sister Florence Thompson (The Late Johnny); nephews Keith McLeod, Teddy Ross, and Kristoffer Ross; nieces Bonnie McLeod, Kathy Ross and Sherry Miller; and her grandnephew Cassius Stevenson. Rebecca was a loving, kind-hearted, generous, beautiful woman who walked life's path with humble footsteps. She became the matriarch of the Ross Family, keeping family and friends connected through feast gatherings at her home by the Red River in Winnipeg. It was important for her to live by the water
and feel connected to the land and her home community of Cross Lake. She touched so many lives through her simple acts of kindness. Many called her mom, and she will be greatly missed by those who considered her a second mother, Kokom or auntie. Rebecca was always willing to help in any way that she could and to share what she had. She showed extra love for special children, the fatherless and motherless, Elders, the sick, the lonely and the homeless. She loved people by cooking and delivering meals to patients, especially those displaced from the North, living in hotels to receive medical care. She was famous for cooking traditional foods such as niska (goose) soup, stuffed white fish, moose meat, sīsīp (duck), fry bread and always had raspberries for the children and the Elders.
Rebecca gifted many children, adults and Elders with colourful, traditional-style blankets and baby star blankets. She made sure patients had a blanket for warm comfort while in the hospital or hotel. Rebecca sent dozens and dozens of roses home on the plane to grieving families and friends who had lost loved ones throughout the years. Rebecca looked after people who needed more care and attention because she said that her mother and father taught her and her siblings to do so. Rebecca's life of generosity, love and sacrifice will live on through her loving daughter Seekwun and grandchildren. In her retirement, Rebecca was proud to say that her title was simply Kokom. She loved her grandchildren and showed how much she loved each one in her special way. Her first-born granddaughter Katherine went on many travelling adventures with Kokom to Minnesota to swim at the waterpark and shop in Grand Forks. She taught Katherine how to bake, cook, and eat healthy, and Katherine taught her Kokom how to use technology and apps on her phone or laptop. Keystin was her one and only grandson, and he promised his Kokom that he would drive her around when he got his license in a few years. She was excited about that! She would tell her friends at work, "I'm going shopping in the States for my Chapew!" Angel made Kokom laugh and smile and often shared funny stories about things Angel did or said in Cree. She loved teaching her Cree and recently took Angel to her favourite "e;Dolphin Hotel" at Brokenhead Ojibway Nation for swim time. Kokom taught all her grandchildren to be content, humble, and kind as her parents taught her. Seekwun, Katherine, Keystin,
and Angel knew Kokom was a rare gem they gladly shared with many people. Rebecca was a respected educator, Knowledge Keeper, Elder and Language Keeper in the First Nations
education community. She was a great advocate of languages and land-based education. She dedicated over 40 years of her life fighting for a better education for First Nations children and youth. She championed inclusive education programs, teaching the language and equitable education funding for First Nations schools. She always began her prayers in her Ininīmowin language in meetings and education gatherings by saying "kayamiyananow" (let's pray together) and reminded us that we must work for the awasisak (children) in everything we do in our daily work.
Rebecca began her career as a teacher and later became the Director of Education for the Cross Lake Education Authority for over 19 years. She also served as a Band Councillor for Pimicikamak Cree Nation with the responsibility of the Education Portfolio. During this time, the Health and Women's Issues Portfolios were established. Rebecca was instrumental in the development of Cross Lake's Day Care and Early Childhood Centre, Mikisew School, Adult Centre, Native Language Centre and the Kisipanakak Wilderness Camp.
Rebecca was a devoted lifelong learner who continued to pursue her professional development throughout her education career. In 1997, she received her Post Baccalaureate Certificate in Educational Leadership from the University of Manitoba (U of M). She left her Master's Degree program in Educational Administration to pursue her new interests in First Nations education reform initiatives.
Rebecca advocated for First Nations to work together to establish the Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre (MFNERC) to benefit all First Nations, especially the smaller schools. Rebecca was also one of the original members of the MFNERC Board, first known as the Interim Working Group and the longest-serving board member from 1999 to 2010. In January 2021, Rebecca retired from MFNERC after nine years. While at MFNERC, she worked as an Education Systems Structural Readiness Manager, Research Facilitator, and Instructional Resource
Developer. She was one of the many strong voices for First Nations education. After retirement, Rebecca continued to provide guidance as an Elder and chairwoman, sharing her stories and teachings about growing up on the land. Someone joked that she was our Indigenous Oprah, which she thought was so funny that she introduced herself as this at a language conference to make people laugh. We will miss her humour. She left her footprints of wisdom in education documents she helped develop, such as the Land-Based Education Handbook, First Nations Curriculum Framework and N-12 Manitoba Residential School Teacher Guide Bundles. She respected all the people who worked tirelessly in First Nations education. Rebecca taught us how we should love children and Elders and treat all people with kindness; that is the gift and legacy she leaves with us.

We honour you. We love you. We miss you.
Nimama, Kimamanow….she was everyone's mother.

WAKE & FUNERAL SERVICES FOR REBECCA ANNE ROSS
Otter Nelson River School, Pimicikimak Cree Nation
Wakes: Wednesday, May 1 and Thursday, May 2, 2024
Funeral Service: Friday, May 3, 2024: 2:00 pm
 Public Viewing & Visitation: 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
 Family Viewing: 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Procession to Airport: 4:30 pm
Eternal Grace Funerals, 1111 Logan Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Wake: Saturday, May 4, 2024:  6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Funeral Service: Sunday, May 5, 2024: 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm
 Public Viewing & Visitation:  10:00 am - 11:30 am
 Family Viewing:  11:30 am - 12:30 pm
 Feast: 2:30 pm - 4:00 pm
Cremation to Follow

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