Marlene Peters

Marlene Grace Peters ~ White Buffalo Woman

September 9, 1948 ~ February 1, 2011

Wake ~ Long Plain Spirit Lodge ~ Friday, February 4th ~ 4:00pm

Traditional Ceremony & Christian Services ~ Saturday, February 5th 12:00 noon. Interment: Long Plain First Nation Main Cemetery.

Traditional wake, no children, however they are welcomed to attend services on next day. Thank you for your respect.

On the evening of February 1, 2011 with her family at her side our daughter, mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother, niece and auntie, went on to the Spirit World. She was met there by her beloved husband Noel Joseph Peters, baby son Joseph, granddaugher Mylee Day Peters-Whitehawk, father George Daniels, sister Wanda Daniels, in-laws Herbie & Violet Peters, grandparents John & Elizabeth Daniels and Jean, Angus & Floria Merrick and dearly loved sister-in-laws, uncles, aunties, cousins, nephews, nieces, and grandchildren.

She leaves to mourn her passing her children Karl (Heather), Joe (Cheryl), Cory (Myrna), Dennis (Melissa), Noella (Kenny), Vanessa (Robert), Michelle (Joe S), Pamela, Germain (Owen) Anita (Joe L), and Holly (Reynold); cherished 57 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren; along with her mother, Grace Daniels and siblings, Patsy, Ernie, David (Evangeline), Ruth (Ralph), Linda, Irvin, Tony, Lizzie, Jacqueline (Clarence), Lydia, Yvette & Yvonne, and Kirby (Rene) & many aunties, uncles, cousins, nephews, & nieces.

Marlene had served the Long Plain First Nation as a Chief of our nation. The family acknowledges Chief Cornell Pashe of Dakota Tipi First Nation and Chief David Meeches and all former Chiefs of the Long Plain First Nation as honorary pallbearers. She was a friend to all and the family considers all her close friends to be honorary pallbearers. Active Pall Bearers will be her Grandsons: Karson Peters, Geordon Peters, Mitchell Peters, Darian Peters, Kelly Prince, Nathan Peters, Alexander Peters and Timothy Peters. Fire keepers: Kevin Peters, Fredrick Roulette, & Grandsons. Food Preparation: Ladies & Relatives of the Long Plain First Nation. For your kindness & support we would like to thank the Long Plain First Nation, Dakota Tipi First Nation, Portage General Hospital Physicians, Nurses, Health Care Aides, Cousin & Spiritual Guide Keith Pashe of Dakota Tipi, Pastor Charles Marshal and wife Linda, fire keepers, cooks, and all family, friends, and co-workers who helped and offered donations and Owen & Paula, Mckenzies Portage Funeral Chapel

Marlene was born on the Long Plain First Nation and was delivered by her grandmother Liz Daniels in the fall of 1948. She was grandpa Angus Merrick's oldest granddaughter. Her grandfather John Daniels, affectionately nicknamed her "Money." She was fondly remembered as having no fear & for her mischievous nature and led her siblings and cousins on many antics. Among many of her adventures, as a young girl she often hitched up her grandfather's team of horses and took all her young siblings and cousins for a ride with Grandpa Bajosh chasing after her and the team of horses. Mom fondly shared many stories with us, like the time she rowed a washtub across a small pond near her house making everyone laugh and they called it Marlene's Pond.

Friends and family enjoyed her sense of humor and during her final stay in the hospital she was still making us laugh with her quick wit. She was a firm believer in the benefits of education and encouraged her children to finish school and to have a respectful work ethic. She attended school on the Long Plain Day School, the Sandy Bay Residential School, Lord Nelson School in Winnipeg, and Prince Charles Portage School. She received a certificate in Health Studies through the Yellowquill College. At the age of 16 Marlene married Joe Peters and together they raised 11 children. They both worked hard to support their family. Marlene supported and respected her father-in-law and husband both keepers of the Sun Dance Lodge and the teachings associated with this beautiful way of life. In the history of our first nation she was the first woman chief at the age of 24 and then primarily worked in the health area in different roles for most of her career. She enjoyed being a Community Health Representative and NADAP councilor, helping people seek positive change. She loved children and recently worked part-time at the LPFN daycare and was affectionately called Kookoo by all the children that attended there.

Intelligent, Kind, & Vibrant are the best words to describe this lady, as she had many gifts & interests including her love to read, sew, crochet, cook, clean, and shop! Most of all she loved to travel and meeting people along her journeys. She traveled north, south, east and west. She stood on both shores of the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Sea, visiting throughout Canada and the United States but it was the warm winds and desert sights of southwestern United States that she loved to visit. Life was certainly an adventure and embraced it with enthusiasm. As her spirit name evokes, White Buffalo Woman, brings to mind her compassionate spirit, she was a friend, an ally, an advocate, a listener, she did not judge you when you came to her doorstep, home-fire or sat in her office.

Before her journey, she found Peace. She forgave and was forgiven. Humility. Like that strong spirit as a child, she had no fear when she knew she was going to embark on her sacred journey, "I am ready, I am not scared." Faith. Who among us can have that in their hearts? Bravery. She did not worry about the change that was to transpire in her passing. Hope. Her only and main concern was not of herself but for her children. Kindness. She wanted positive change, and for them to have a good clean life without addiction of drugs or alcohol. Honesty. "Make sure they get counseling, make sure they work things out, I just want them to have a good life.' Love. Marlene left an imprint in our hearts, in the history of our first nation, in our family and lovingly left beautiful footprints for her grandchildren to follow. www.mckenziesportagefuneralchapel.com

Oh Great Spirit, whose voice I hear in the winds And whose breath gives life to everyone, Hear me. I come to you as one of your many children; I am weak, I am small I need your wisdom and your strength. Let me walk in beauty, and make my eyes ever behold the red and purple sunsets. Make my hands respect the things you have made, and make my ears sharp so I may hear your voice. Make me wise, so that I may understand what you have taught my people and The lessons you have hidden in each leaf and each rock. I ask for wisdom and strength, Not to be superior to my brothers, but to be able to fight my greatest enemy, myself. Make me ever ready to come before you with clean hands and a straight eye, So as life fades away as a fading sunset, My spirit may come to you without shame.

Prayer for a loved one Though we need to weep your loss, You dwell in that safe place in our hearts, Where no storm or might or pain can reach you. Your love was like the dawn Brightening over our lives Awakening beneath the dark A further adventure of colour. The sound of your voice Found for us A new music That brightened everything. Whatever you enfolded in your gaze Quickened in the joy of its being; You placed smiles like flowers On the altar of the heart. Your mind always sparkled With wonder at things. Though your days here were brief, Your spirit was live, awake, complete. We look towards each other no longer From the old distance of our names; Now you dwell inside the rhythm of breath, As close to us as we are to ourselves. Though we cannot see you with outward eyes, We know our soul's gaze is upon your face, Smiling back at us from within everything To which we bring our best refinement. Let us not look for you only in memory, Where we would grow lonely without you. You would want us to find you in presence, Beside us when beauty brightens, When kindness glows And music echoes eternal tones. When orchids brighten the earth, Darkest winter has turned to spring; May this dark grief flower with hope In every heart that loves you. May you continue to inspire us: To enter each day with a generous heart. To serve the call of courage and love Until we see your beautiful face again In that land where there is no more separation, Where all tears will be wiped from our mind, And where we will never lose you again. By John O'Donohue

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