by Michael Erskine
WIIKWEMKOONG—When the phone rings, Marlene Shawana can be pretty certain that someone in her community needs help. Volunteering is a generations-long tradition in the Shawana family and she regularly enlists her siblings, children and grandchildren to assist.
Ms. Shawana has been volunteering for well over three decades, having grown up in Rabbit Island in a family of eight siblings—three brothers and four sisters. “We were taught to help each other,” she said, “and to lend a helping hand to cook for wakes, funerals and powwows.”
Although her name is Marlene, most folks know her as “Big Sister” she confides. Victor Ashawasagai so often does duty as Ms. Shawana’s dishwasher that he has earned the nickname “Dishwasher.” Her sister Velma Shawana/Mishinijimbima (most know her as Unma, aka German) is often front and centre in the operation as well. Brother Simon plays an important role as a regular volunteer, as is Connie Neodagijig. Extra hands are supplied by Eva Jackson and Ms. Shawana’s granddaughter seven-year-old Bentley is following close in the family tradition.
Cooking for funerals is no small feat, given that it is usually a three-day affair. “The second night is usually the busiest because you are preparing the feast food,” said Ms. Shawana, “making sure everything is ready. Sometimes you just use what they have or get extra to have a nice dinner for them.”
Top favourites are fried scone, chili, corn soup and stuffing. “When the families give me some of the leftover stuff, I usually use it at the next wake,” she said. “There are times when they have really come in handy. Especially cups, plates, saucers, utensils, napkins and bread for stuffing.”
“We usually do some of the cooking at home,” she said, and she brings her own pots and pans, slow cookers and roasters.
“We usually go to different communities, like Rabbit Island, Kaboni and South Bay, but normally the wakes are at the Buzwah church. I go gathering my helpers since they don’t have the wheels to travel.”
The phone calls come fast and furious, with over 12 in the past month alone. “Sometimes there is no break before you have to go to the next one,” admitted Ms. Shawana. “Our feet get sore and our backs too,” she chuckles, “so we like to have a one-night break before going to the next one.”
Ms. Shawana and her dedicated team do their best to meet the call. Asked why she and her band of plucky volunteers offer their assistance to folks during some of their darkest moments, Ms. Shawana pauses, seeming puzzled for a moment. “Because people ask,” she said. “They need my help.”
Interview done, Ms. Shawana and her sister start rolling up their sleeves. Seems there is a fish fry to prepare for next Friday.
photo by Michael Erskine
