Far North Friday #94: RIP Elder Jeremiah Troutlake

I was saddened to learn that elder Jeremiah Troutlake, member of Webequie First Nation, passed on to the spirit world this week, December 2022.

I knew elder Jeremiah as a quiet individual. We saw him almost every time we visited with Webequie First Nation (Photo 1). When we visited the local school, Simon Jacob Memorial Education Centre, we would see elder Jeremiah in the classrooms and along the halls, where he greeted and encouraged the students and educators. He took that important role seriously.

Elder Jeremiah often ate dinner with us at Elijah Jacob’s coffee shop in Webequie (Photo 2), when we were visiting. He was a little shy. Once, I recall seeing him, from the corner of my eye, standing by the door, while we sat at the dinner table. It was body language familiar to me. The body language reminded me of my behaviour as an introverted child. I would stand shyly at the door in a stranger’s house, just like elder Jeremiah, although he was not a stranger in Elijah’s coffee shop. We quickly invited elder to join us for dinner that evening!

The last time I saw elder Jeremiah was at the Matawa First Nations Christmas dinner in Thunder Bay (Photo 3). That was on December 17, 2015, fourteen days before I retired. It was a busy evening and we chatted only briefly. From my perspective, I saw elder Jeremiah as a community figure who cared about the children and their future. I saw him as a figure who believed that traditional and school-based learning was part of the youth’s future - not the only part - but part of a package that could help the youth through the challenging and changing times. I respected him. And now, he is on another journey to meet the others who passed before him.

Andy Fyon: Dec. 23/22; Facebook Dec. 22/22