Elder Ellie Jacob, Webequie First Nation
I was saddened this week (week of November 14, 2022) to learn that elder Ellie Jacob (Photo 1) passed on to the spirit world. Ellie was a member of Webequie First Nation, whose homeland is located about 520 km (325 mi) north of Thunder Bay, Ontario.
Photo 1: Elder Ellie Jacob (Webequie First Nation), wife of elder Josie Jacob, in their home in Webequie, Ontario. Elder Ellie passed away during the week of November 14, 2022. Photo by Andy Fyon, Dec. 10, 2015.
Ellie was born on the land, where she lived the first half of her life before accommodating and adjusting to life in the far north First Nation community of Webequie.
Ellie was the wife of elder Josie for 70+ years. Elder Ellie and elder Josie shared their small, three room home with Ellie’s sister, Tenona (Photo 2). Elder Ellie was also a mother, a grandmother, and a great grandmother (Photo 3).
Photo 2: Standing: elders Ellie and Josie Jacob. Ellie's sister, Tenona, sits on the left. Elder Ellie passed away during the week of November 14, 2022. Photo composed by Andy Fyon, in their home, Webequie, Aug 25, 2012.
Photo 3: Elder Ellie Jacob, with Kelly, in Ellie's home, Webequie, Ontario. Elder Ellie passed away during the week of November 14, 2022. Photo composed by Andy Fyon, July 15, 2009.
Elder Ellie was a choir member all her life at the community-based Anglican church. She was a skilled artist and crafts person known for her fine hand-made handicrafts (Photo 4). She made her own moose hide to use for her mitts and moccasins. In my view, her leather bead work was among the finest I have come across in the far north. Her skills extended beyond fur, leather and beads, as she helped her husband, elder Josie, make tikinagans, a traditional wooden back pack used to to carry babies and young children, and specialized snowshoes (Photo 5).
Photo 4: Elder Ellie Jacob proudly displays some of her artistic fur, leather and bead work in her home, in Webequie, Ontario. Elder Ellie passed away during the week of November 14, 2022. Photo composed by Andy Fyon, Oct. 31, 2008.
Photo 5: Elder Ellie and Elder Josie standing outside their home in Webequie, Ontario, with specialized handcrafted snowshoes. Elder Ellie passed away during the week of November 14, 2022. Photo composed by Andy Fyon, July 2, 2006.
I first met Ellie in her home in 2006, although I had known her husband, elder Josie Jacob since 2004-05. In her home, I found Ellie to be welcoming, quiet, and ever watchful and attentive to our conversations.
With the passing of an elder, a family and community mourn much more than a person. Part of the old language passes on. Part of the intimate knowledge of the land passes on. Part of the historical knowledge of the clans and community pass on. An important part of the culture passes on. But, the special memories and lessons live on for ever.
I share my deepest condolences with the family, extended family, community and friends. We mourn the passing of a cherished great grandmother, a wife of 70+ years, a grandmother, a mother, a friend and much much more.
Go-wah-bah-min mee-nah-wah gichii-aya-aa kwe Ellie Jacob - Nov 13, 2022
(Note published with the blessing of elder Ellie’s daughters Cecilia Brenton and Elsie Macdonald.)
Nov 23/22. Facebook post: Nov. 17/22.