MARIE PAULINE WOOD STEIMAN

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MARIE PAULINE WOOD STEIMAN BORN JULY 31, 1941 AT ST. THERESA POINT, MB PASSED AWAY APRIL 28, 2015 IN WINNIPEG, MB Pauline is survived by her loving husband of forty-two years, Rodney Steiman; brothers Roy (Jan) Mason and Darrel Mason; sisters Sally Mason, Lucy Wood, Rita (Ricky) Walker, Annette Harper and Rubina Little; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins on both sides, as well Rodney's brothers Gary (Gwen), Curtis (Lorane) and Lionel (Bonnie) Steiman. Pauline grew up in St. Theresa Point and managed to elude the "Indian Agent" and RCMP until age thirteen when she was shipped off to residential school. There she first learned English. After completing Grade 12 she became a nurse's aid at the King George Hospital and subsequently graduated from St. Boniface Hospital as an LPN. Pauline then worked for the Family Medical Centre for eight years then went on to provide health care advisory services to the Island Lake Tribal Council for the next fourteen years. During that time she continually improved her education. In 1994 she completed a four year program in health care administration at the University of Saskatchewan. In 1997 Pauline graduated with distinction from the University of Manitoba with her Bachelor of Arts degree. In 2000 at age fifty-nine Pauline got her driver's licence. Always committed to improving the health of Aboriginal People in Manitoba, which she did in various ways, Pauline participated in HIV/AIDS education and Diabetes studies. Ever willing to help where needed, Pauline completed a course in Crisis Intervention at Klinic Community Health Centre, and then served a year on the 24 hour crisis line. Pauline was active in many organizations and served on many boards including: MARN, Child and Family Services, Variety The Children's Charity and Manitoba Indian Nurses Association. She was a member of Indian and Inuit Nurses of Canada and served as the Elder Adviser to St. Theresa Point Student Services. Pauline was Miss Indian Princess Manitoba 1970. Pauline was proud of her Aboriginal heritage and took every opportunity to promote her culture, language and spirituality. She received her Aboriginal name "Ka-Kizi-Wetch Wab Mahigun Ekwe" (Speak Strong Grey Wolf Woman) with a special ceremony in our back yard. The morning after her passing Pauline received the Sacred Fire for her journey to the Spirit World. During this ceremony Pauline's brother Roy looked at our two extended families gathered in the back yard and commented "Pauline did a great job in bringing two cultures together." Special thanks to the wonderful nurses of the Palliative Care Program of the WRHA; to Marites (Tess) Salvador for her gentle and loving care throughout Pauline's illness and to Pam and Ross De Visser, Tannis and Mike Scott, Mark and Tannis Steiman, Rebecca Ehnes, Nancy Steiman and our good friend Norma Alberg for their generous support which allowed Pauline to remain at home to the end; and to my good friend Wayne Rogers for always being there. Funeral service will be held at St. Mary's Cathedral, 353 St. Mary Ave. on Wednesday, May 13 at 1:30 p.m. Reception to follow at the Winnipeg Convention Centre, Room 5, main floor.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 09, 2015