Service caters to Native mourners

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Edgar and Arnold Ahenakew want to make sure traditional funerals are not a thing of the past.

That is why they have formed Keyanow Funeral Services in Prince Albert.

"It was something we thought there was a need for," explained Edgar Ahenakew.

"People are not treated with the proper respect and dignity. A funeral in a Native setting is a lot different than one in a non-Native setting. Native funerals last the good part of the day and have sets of wakes, while at a non-Native funeral, everybody is fidgety and looking at their watches."

The Ahenakews have a working agreement with River Park Funeral Home in Prince Albert. Keyanow, which is the Cree term for "our", will remove the deceased from the hospital and transport the body to River Park. Keyanow will then be responsible for transportation to the wakes and burial service. River Park is responsible for the technical aspects of the process.

"We gather the information from the family and provide cards at the funeral," explains Edgar Ahenakew. "We are open to suggestions from the family. We take the lead from them, but we don't tell them what to do."

"There are a lot of traditional things (you can do)," added Ahenakew. "There are traditional singers or an honor song. We don't really offer it, but we can accommodate it. Things vary from community to community. It also depends on what the religion is of the family."

The Ahenakews have been busy marketing Keyanow for most of this year and Edgar said that word is slowly getting around, but it will take some time before people are comfortable with what they are offering.

"We've visited band offices and talked with chiefs," said Ahenakew. "There has been good response, but it will take a while to get going.

"It will have to promote itself. People aren't sure what we are all about and people have a wait-and-see attitude."