Metis matriarch passes away

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Family members and the Metis community at large in Alberta are mourning the loss of one of their most esteemed and cherished Elders. On Nov. 12, Mrs. Delia Gray, 82, passed away. She was predeceased by her husband Robert in 1975 and her best friend, Teri House, who passed away earlier this year.

Mrs. Gray was a tiny lady who had a huge impact on the community and people around her. To many she was known as the woman who offered prayers in Cree and English at banquets and conferences. Recently, she had entered her second term as Provincial Elder and Advisor to the Metis Nation of Alberta's provincial president and vice-president.

Passionate about her people, culture and language, many of the friends she left will keep fond memories of her.

"Of all people, I will miss her the most," said Metis Nation of Alberta president Audrey Poitras, adding, "she liked to help those less fortunate." Those sentiments were echoed by newly elected vice-president Brenda Blyan who always had a special spot in her heart for Gray.

Born Delia Marie Cunningham in a log cabin at Wabasca, Mrs Gray's roots ran deep stemming back to the Red River communities.

Her active community life also began a long time ago ways.

At age four, she moved to St. Albert where she lived with her granny, Sophie. It was Sophie who taught her many herbal and root medicines, some of the remedies originally from Cree leader Big Bear. From her other granny, Rosalie, she learned much of her Cree. She struggled through tuberculosis from the ages 11 to 16. In 1935, at age 18, she moved to Edmonton and worked for 10 years at the General Hospital. She married Bob whom she had known since she was around 12, in 1945. Work took the family to Paddle Prairie in 1957, then High Prairie for a few years. In 1962, they and their seven children returned to Edmonton and its fast-developing Native community.

Gray became best known for her association with the Canadian Native Friendship Centre, of which she was a lifelong member. She was also a Senator with the National Aboriginal Friendship Centre Association, a founder of the All Native Festival, and active with the Aboriginal Veterans Society of Alberta. She also gave of her time to the Native Seniors Centre, the Montgomery and Kingsway Legions Women's Auxiliary, and was an Elder with the University of Alberta Native Studies Program.

Her volunteerism also spread to the John Howard Society, the Native Society, and the Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire. Mrs Gray was first appointed to the Elders Senate of the Metis Nation of Alberta in 1990, a position of which she was extremely proud.

Her son Harold said, "she had the gift to make everyone feel special."

She leaves daughters Bobbi, Betty and Anne, as well as her sons Gordon, Glenn, Harold and Robert Jr., and grand daughters Cindy Baker and Krista Leddy, four great grand daughters and her sisters Maria and Bessy.