Good afternoon, colleagues: Today, I would like to celebrate the life of Harold George Cook. He was born on September 9th, 1949, in Fort Smith to Eddy Sr. and Mary Cook. He was one of ten children in their family. He was also known as Cookie.
He was a student at Grollier Hall for many years. He played a lot of sports - hockey, cross-country skiing, softball, to name a few. He skied against some of the best in Canada, the United States, and in Europe. He was a world-class athlete. Sports and workshops are how I got to meet Harold and enjoy his friendship throughout the years. Once you became his friend, you were friends for life. He would remember the smallest things you spoke about, your family, and what was important in your life even if it was months since the last time you spoke. He was truly about your friendship.
His family spoke about how Harold loved his sobriety, his adopted family, traditional values, and healing drum songs. He had a quiet demeanor but at times showed his humour. If you had the opportunity to have him tell you a story, he always had a serious look but there was always a glint of mischief in eyes.
And let's not forget his love for two-step dancing, jigging, drum dancing, and even like Zorba the Greek.
During his celebration of life, a number of people spoke about him and the impacts he had on their lives. I have included stories from Mr. Paul Andrews, Mr. Raymond Yakeleya, and Ms. Natasha Delany at the end of my speech. I would like them deemed as read and printed in Hansard.
On June 25th, 2024, he passed away. His family and friends are going to miss him. It is very hard to say goodbye to an amazing person. We were lucky to have him in our lives. The family would like to thank everyone for their condolences and for coming out to say their goodbyes. He is now in the land of his ancestors, elders, and friends. He will be sadly missed.
From Paul Andrew:
Comedian, trickster, athlete XC skier, hockey player, politician, multi-language Speaker...
My favorite story about Cookie... he said he was in Tijuana, Mexico. He noticed a Mexican selling blankets. Harold decided to buy one and began to negotiate. The Mexican was not lowering his price... so he said to the seller, "Senor, do know where I am from?" The Mexican said, "No, senor". Harold said, "I am from far away in northern Canada. It's cold, my people are oppressed, poor and starving." At the time Harold was pretty big... easily over two hundred pounds. He said the Mexican looked at me and said, "Senor?" He said, I said "Yes". "For a poor starving Indian, you're awfully fat."
He loved to tell stories... and he had a few. He played hockey for the Lethbridge Sugar Kings, the University of Alaska and in Sweden. He skied against some of the best in Canada, United States and in Europe. In other words, he was a world class athlete.
He has a family in Sweden. Although he says he lost touch with them... he was pretty sad when he spoke about his time in Scandinavia. He spoke Swedish pretty well... well enough to translate to talk to some Edmonton Oilers when they were in Yellowknife.
He also served as Vice-President of the NWT Metis Association in the early 70s.
Cookie was a man of many talents but the one word that captures Cook the best is survivor! I met him almost 60 years ago when were both at the notorious Grollier Hall in Inuvik.
He, like many of us was abused physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually... abuse that left him an angry, bitter, young man. Like many, he tried to find solutions in the bottle... abuse severs relationship with oneself, others and the Creator... it puts you in a very lonely, isolated and ostracized place... Harold often spoke of the lonely places alcohol took him.
Then one day he quit and the real Cookie was back again... in August, Cookie would have been sober 47 years. He laced his skates and started playing the love of his life again, hockey. He waxed his skis and glided smoothly over the trails again. He started to jig and drum dance again but mostly he became an advocate for Former Students, especially those who attended Grollier Hall... he tried his best to help victims of crime, especially sexual abuse because he had been there... like many of us he struggled with relationships but giving up was never an option. He was my inspiration for putting the plug in the jug. He enjoyed a good story and even a bigger laugh... Harold Cook was my friend!
From Raymond Yakeleya:
Harold was a short man, but a giant amongst us as he accomplished things we could not imagine in his lifetime. He was a Groller Hall sexual abuse survivor and spoke loud and clear on the tragic conditions which many family and friends found themselves after this was disclosed with the Roman Catholic Church who offered no help for survivors and families caught in this situation of suicide and death... a very hard time for us all. Harold commented on this to me as we know now the RC Church was always interested in our money...
That is the hard truth to deal with but we will get through it as we have always done so. Harold was a great athlete, a hockey player and cross-country skier... he played hockey at Grollier Hall, went on to University of Alaska and then Division II in Sweden where he learned to speak Swedish, married and had two daughters. He was also a Member of the TEST team and an Olympian who competed for Canada at 1972 Olympics in Sapporo, Japan in 1972. Quite an accomplishment!!!
He told me funny and humorous stories of his journey, always with humour! His greatest accomplishment was sobriety after struggling with alcoholism and showed that it can be beaten... if you put your mind to it.
He taught me that everything is possible and never gave up advocating for Grollier Hall sex abuse survivors and their families, and spoke often about support for them in their healing journey.
We are together to wish Harold a Time of Peace and Joy, as he enters the land of the ancestors, elders and friends knowing we will see each other again in the afterlife... I am thankful that he can have peace and offer prayers for this. Mahsi.
From Natasha Delany:
Harold Cook was someone that many of us in the sobriety world look up to. Especially us that are Indigenous. I remember him telling me one time that I had the gift of beauty, and to not waste it. That I could use this gift to help the younger generations and to keep being a role model.
I also remember him going out of his way to support other Indigenous men in sobriety when they were going to court, no matter what he was doing he would drop everything and be there for them.
He never missed an opportunity to go to his 84 St. Meetings and spread his words and encouragement of hope. Many may not have understood him, but Corey and I had deep respect for him, as I know so many respected him as well. I'll never forget his smile, the best smile I've ever known. Please keep Harold in your prayers as he journeys home.
Members' statements. Returns to oral questions. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member from Range Lake.
