Remembering Roxanne Tootoosis Wâpiskaw wâpikwanî

Tansi (Niwahkomakinwak),

  My name is Quanah Style. I’m a 2spirit trans advocate, artist and the daughter of Roxanne Tootoosis (Wâpiskaw wâpikwanî) from Poundmaker Cree Nation. My mom has recently passed onto the spirit world, leaving behind myself and my sister Niska. We are naturally devastated. My mom was a respected elder who grew up with her language, and carried through her life with immense pride in traditional values and cultural ways of life. She was a day school survivor. She was a mom, a sister, a cousin, an aunty, a kokum, and a friend to many. It is with immense sadness that I have to write this, however my sister and I know how valued she was in the community and throughout the nations, so we wanted to find a way to honour her legacy. In our culture we have a certain amount of days to follow cultural protocols so things are moving very quickly.

From students at Grant MacEwan University, her co-workers, those who attended her ribbon skirt workshops, and all she shared her life with, this is a huge loss for the Nihiyaw community as her vast knowledge of language and culture went with her. 

My sister and I would like to honour her by creating ribbon skirt making kits and holding a round dance memorial for her when it is safe to do so. Sewing was her therapy, she loved making and teaching the values of the ribbon skirt as a strong Nihiyaw woman. When we can gather safely, we would like to join from near and far to celebrate her life with the beat of the drums as she loved to "dance for the people". 

Please share with us the ways she impacted your life at https://www.facebook.com/groups/rememberingroxannetootoosis

We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the outpouring of love at support at this very difficult time!

 Hiy-hiy, All My Relations

Quanah & Niska Napoleon