Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I want to pay tribute to an important member of our community who reached her 101 years of experience and accomplishments, Ms. Persis Gruben, on her passing.
Persis was born somewhere along the Peel River on October 20, 1918, to Sarah and Liman Koe. Her father Liman passed away when she was three years old, so Reverend Whitaker chose Lenny Iglangasak to be Sarah's husband, even though she was Gwich'in and he was Inuvialuit. He would be a good provider, loving husband, and father. Together they had nine children: five daughters and four boys.
Her father's half-brother, John Keevik, gave Persis her Inuvialuktun name, Ayounnik. As a young girl, Persis learned Inuvialuktun from her dad because she had to translate conversations with her Inuvialuktun dad and her Gwich'in mother. She taught her mother how to speak Inuvialuktun.
Between 1925 and 1930, Persis and her family lived at Pierce Point, Tom Cod Bay, and at Sachs Harbour. In 1930, Persis went to Anglican residential school at Shingle Point for three years. Later she was tested for her academic level, and she was evaluated to be at grade five.
Her school had no running water, no electricity, no phones, no radios. They did have an outhouse. The older students had to gather and cut driftwood from the beach. Ice and snow were melted for drinking water, cooking, and cleaning. The only music they heard was played on an organ at the church.
Persis' family travelled in the spring, hunting caribou and seal along the coast. At Pierce Point, her dad set nets for char and hunted seal for the dogs. White fox and polar bears were in abundance at Banks Island when they first arrived there. Children were not permitted to play outside because so many polar bears were nearby. There weren't any caribou, only rabbits, seals, and snowy owls. Persis said the snowy owls were fat and tasted like chicken.
Persis married Charlie Gruben in March 1937, in Aklavik's All Saints Anglican Church. Together they had 11 children, six boys and five girls; so many grandchildren and many great-grandchildren, and she loved each and every one of her babies, grandbabies, and great-grandbabies.
Persis has shared so much with her family and friends: stories, laughter, artistic ability. I seriously think she had a gravitational force within, because her presence keeps her whole family together. The family loved her so much, and, as a community, we loved her so much, and she showed us her love in return.
We are fortunate and blessed to have shared all of those special moments with Persis, our Nan, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, aunt, friend, cousin, and sister. She taught her children how to love without judgement and look past a person's outward appearance. She was full of courage, inspiration, wisdom, and gratitude. I wish that we could all live a life like she has, with pride and fortitude.
Persis has given us precious childhood memories that we will cherish for a lifetime. Mr. Speaker, a celebration of life will be held tomorrow at City Hall at 2:00 p.m., and I will be in attendance. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.