GWEN COOK

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GWEN COOK (BIMOSEKWE) November 29, 1950 - December 23, 2016 After battling with cancer, heart disease, kidney failure, diabetes and associated complications, Bimosequay passed peacefully and began her journey home to the spirit world. Bimosekwe grew up in Flin Flon, the Pas and Cranberry Portage, spending numerous summers on her grandfather's trapline in Pine Root. She lived and worked in Winnipeg for the past 40 years. Bimosekwe was the daughter of the late Alfred "Curly" and Margaret Head. She was preceded in her journey by her son Alan Bruce Cook; her granddaughter Giizhigobimose/Acasia Gwen Cook; her sisters, Irma Head and Rose Wright; and her brother Philip Gagne. Left to mourn and remember her are her daughter Bineshiins/Denise Cook (Mashkodebizhikii/Denis Patrick); her sons, Miigizi Aanaqwat/Jason Cook (Washkozis Giizis Kinew Ekwe/Deanna Kimball-Cook) and Mashkodebizhikii Asin/Rudi Myron Pawlychyn (Mazinaabikising ikwe/Shauna Neault Pawlychyn); her grandchildren, Ishpaming Gabow/Luka Pawlychyn and Memegwans/Tasha Patrick; great-grandson Jichaakoons/Matthew Jr. "M.J." Patrick-Prieston; and her siblings, Pat Strong, Alfred "Alf" Head (Maxine Head), Lilian "Lily" Benoit, Leona Head (Dennis Mleinek) and Maggie Marin and many, many cousins, nieces, nephews, great-grandnieces and great- great-grandnephews, relatives and friends. Bimosekwe really loved learning during the whole of her life. She attained a Master of Social Work from the University of Manitoba and was pursuing a doctoral degree. She loved her work with people, facilitating, counselling and training. In particular, she loved all her students in the Inner City Social Work Program. Bimosekwe is remembered by her family as a loving and determined mother, auntie, sister and relative who brought them to ceremonies, helped them to find their name and showed them a good life. Many remember that she was always there to listen to, encourage and put her loved ones to work. Bimosekwe is lovingly remembered by her many Midewiwin relatives across Turtle Island. She was a Fourth Degree Midewiwin woman of the Western Doorway of the Three Fires Midewiwin Lodge. She is remembered as someone who made her way to every ceremony she could, determinedly overcoming any challenge she encountered along the way. In the way that Bimosekwe lived her life and stood up for who she was as Mashkego Anishinabe ikwe, she left good clear tracks for us all to follow. Charlie Nelson conducted a full Midewiwin wake and funeral for Bimosekwe December 24 to 26 at the Eternal Grace Funeral Home in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Her burial is to follow Tuesday, December 27 at 1:00 p.m. in the Kildonan Presbyterian Cemetery, weather depending. Bimosekwe's family would like to sincerely thank all of the staff at St. Boniface Hospital who cared so well for Gwen during her time there.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 28, 2016