"Kokum" reflects on her past

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The mouth watering aroma of an awaiting birthday dinner spread deliciously throughout the house and caused taste buds to gulp in anticipation.

Smiling adults and giggling children (numbering about a dozen) were seated throughout the living room as they awaited this special dinner.

"It's my Kokum's birthday," said a tot as she fiddled with a napkin on the table.

Kokum is 83 years old Metis great grandmother Elise Cardinal of Cold Lake.

Elise, born in the St. Paul area in 1904, began her married life with husband John in "about 1922".

Tragedy struck early in her life and the hardships began at an early age.

Her four children were very young when John suddenly passed away ? the victim of a hunting accident.

Elise, speaking lucidly about her past, explained how she trapped beaver and muskrat and "trapped the occasional rabbit" in order to feed and clothe her children. She told of the hours toiling over raw furs which she would transform into clothing.

She remembered how her sons Louis, Cy and Eddie pitched in to help her as they grew older. She smiled as she spoke of her only daughter, Delphine, who, to her mother's delight has borne 15 children of her own.

A look of thoughtfulness crept across her no-so-aged-face as she sadly spoke of yet more tragedies that stole her sons Louis and Cy, the latter in 1980 and Louis last May. Both were sufferers of heart problems.

Then, nodding her head toward the kitchen door, she spoke of Eddie, her remaining son, with whom she now lives.

"Eddie is a good boy," she said, "and he is helping me a lot."

Moving to her Cold Lake home in 1974, Elise recalls her previous addresses in Frog Lake, Fishing Lake and Bear Lake.

"I'm a 'lake person', I guess," she smiled, as she reflected over her past.

"My mother was always helping me in those days and I remember times when she would bring me blankets to keep me warm and food to keep me fed."

The only survivor of seven brothers and four sisters, Elise says the most important singular aspect of a child's life is education.

"Life is hard without an education and I tell my grandchildren (which number over two dozen) to be sure to finish school."

Culture is important to Elise as well. She said that keeping the Cree language intact is important for the retention of that culture.

Eddie, who looks after his mother and remains steadfastly by her, says these types of family get-togethers do not occur often enough and that the last time was "in 1985 when we celebrated Mom's 81st birthday."

Daughter Delphine agrees and says though she realizes how difficult it can be when the family is spread out, "more family gatherings would be nice."

Elise was an is a generous and caring person. Her sons and daughter were not the only ones raised by her.

Helen Bruno, a long-time family member recalls the early years.

"She (Elise) was so good to everyone. She took me in at an early age and raised me like her own ? so much that, in fact, I am now a true family member."

The one thing Helen recalls was her "Mom's" strong urge and position on the question of schooling.

"She sent everyone to school and seldom did we miss without good cause," she said.

Laughing, Elise spoke of the fact that school buses "didn't operate in those days and we never had a horse or anything. We lived on $15 a month and survived by our wits and knowledge of the forests."

Life never really got easy for Elise, but she has no regrets. Working hard at survival and ensuring a good home for her kids kept her mind active and alert.

Of the more complicated issues in life she said, "I have a hard time to explain in English. Life was hard but it was good. My sons and daughter have always been a support to me in times of need."

Feeling life's reward is based on the respect received from her children. Elise is content.