A Conversation with Maryrose Campbell - Part 2

Air Date: June 10, 2022

Summary

Elizabeth and Maryrose continue their conversation on the old ways and communities. They discuss the way people moved about through the seasons, the people who lived there and how the communities changed and moved.

SERIES

o-kun-uh-wih-tsi-gee-wak

HOST & PRODUCER
Elizabeth Gardiner
Peter Skinner

Episode Guest

Maryrose Campbell was born and raised in 1934 in Dipper Lake, Saskatchewan which is close to the hamlet of Patuanak and the English River First Nation. Her father, Archie Lariviere was from Ile-a-la-Crosse, SK.

She married at age 21 and has been married for 66 years. She raised six children and two grandchildren. She did not receive any formal education but has a wealth of knowledge about bush life. She speaks Mechif and Dene fluently and is pretty good at English too. She was heavily influenced by certain catholic priests but did not abandon her use of traditional medicine. Maryrose spent her life being a caregiver. She took care of her father at Dipper Lake until she got married and at age 88, she still cares for her husband as often as she can.

She herself is experiencing a variety of health issues today including cancer. She still lives in her own home and has been told by the doctor she really must stop doing heavy work, especially outside chores. She still plans on modifying her home to accommodate wheelchairs so it will be easier for her to keep her husband. She has many grandchildren and family gatherings in her home are common. Like so many elders, she is grateful for her life and says she did her best to be a good mother and wife and community member.

More Episodes

View Series