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Today, family and friends honoured and shared memories and stories about Margaret Fiddler who passed away on Tuesday, July 30. Margaret's family is taking her back to her home in Sandy Lake First Nation for burial. The following eulogy and story was shared with those gathered in Sioux Lookout ... 

Caleb's Shoes, Margaret's Eulogy
August 1, 2013

I arrived home a couple of nights ago from the Fiddlers house, after a gathering of friends and loved ones met to bid farewell to Margaret.

And at the foot of my stairs were 2 tiny blue sandals. Caleb's shoes. Tyance's Caleb.

Perhaps you have to be a certain age to understand how much this can affect you. Our Tyance with her child asleep upstairs in my child's former bedroom. My children are grown now and long gone from home, but when my boys were as young as Caleb is now, the Fiddlers were an important part of our lives. All of the Fiddlers - they operate as a unit after all - but with Margaret at the heart. And that has continued as the generations and Fiddler unions multiplied. I know my family's experience is not unusual - the church is full today of people whom the Fiddlers have touched deeply, and whose lives are the richer for it.

Caleb's little shoes are a symbol of some of the precious lives that Margaret and Ennis have set into motion. They could have been Ellis or Audrey or Alexander's shoes, Margaret's 3 beautiful great-grandchildren. Or they could have belonged to any of the 13 special grandchildren. Margaret introduced them all so proudly at the 35th wedding anniversary party that she and Ennis hosted this past May.

Let me introduce them to you: Paisley, Keeshtan and Sophie are Adam and Mary Jane's wonderful children. Paisley's partner is Osbourne and they are the fine parents of Audrey and Ellis. Keeshtan and Mary are the parents of 6 month old Alexander.

Besides Caleb, Tyance's husband Brian has two lovely daughters Tristan and Avery who are also now part of the Fiddler family.

Shawna, Maya, and Keenan are Jesse and Angie's lovely children, and Kevin is Shawna's partner.

Willow's daughter is Avery, and her husband is Mario, who is the father of Kiara, Bryanna and Brandon.

We have Margaret and Ennis to thank for these precious young children, not to mention their wonderful parents whom we've watched grow up and mature into responsible loving adults.

A bit about Margaret's early years: Her father, Hubert Gillett was born in England and came to Canada as a young man. Here he met and married Margaret's mother, Claudia Thompson who hailed from a Petrolia, a small town in Southern Ontario. Margaret's mother played piano and was a trained elocutionist, so we might guess where Margaret developed her love of music. Ross, Margaret's brother is 7 years her senior. Ross has some mobility issues, so it was a big deal when he and his wife Barbara made a spur of the moment decision last year to drive all the way from their home in St Catherine's to Sioux Lookout to attend Tyance and Willow's wedding. They arrived unannounced at Jesse and Angie's home the night before the wedding. Jesse called Margaret and Ennis to come over "for a surprise". Their reunion was pretty special to witness. For once I saw Margaret speechless.

Margaret's sister Kathie is almost 6 years older than her. Kathie was a travel agent and has travelled the world extensively. Kathie also attended the double wedding last year, and more poignantly, spent a week with Margaret early this month sharing stories, reminiscing and philosophizing as she says. It was a significant final visit.

Margaret was born in October, 1940, during the War. She grew up in London, Ont. Kathie recalls her as a smart studious child who attended advanced classes and made her parents "terribly proud".

Margaret confides that she was given a little extra gift from the Creator - her musical talent. But she used her gift well - she studied piano and accordion and practised conscientiously. I don't think I ever heard a request for a song on her accordion that Margaret didn't know by heart. Many here in Sioux Lookout avidly looked forward to the annual Christmas carol sing that she and Ennis started in 1990, just for the love of singing. There isn't a more heart-warming vision of Margaret than recalling that smile on her face while she was playing her accordion to accompany the parties.

Margaret graduated from Western University with an Honours degree in Home Economics. She was engaged to be married in her final year of school, and the teachers, who were all nuns, made Margaret's wedding a class project. Margaret and her 4 bridesmaid classmates all made their dresses for the wedding, coached by the nuns.

Margaret and her first husband Paul Evans, whom she was married to for 11 years, moved to Thunder Bay after graduation where Margaret started her career as a high school teacher. This was the beginning of Margaret's life-long love for education.

Part of Margaret's role during her first job was to help First Nations kids from remote communities integrate into Thunder Bay and the urban school system. She was a social counsellor and mentor to many young people who later became her friends and admirers. Some of you might be here today. I know many posted tributes to Margaret in the last few days on Facebook - Ziggy Beardy for instance, talked about knowing Margaret Evans as a social counsellor when he was in high school and how he often voiced his frustrations about discrimination in her office. "Margaret was there to settle us down, comforting and encouraging us to go on, which we did." Thomas Beardy is another who wrote: "She was my high school teacher and social counsellor in Thunder Bay. She helped us a lot knowing that we were out for the first time in the city. God bless her soul." Margaret's mentoring role went on for decades and for countless people, many of whom are here today.

Margaret and Ennis met in Thunder Bay during their joint work as counsellors of northern Native students. It was a strong and mutually supportive relationship that we all know had a wide-reaching effect. Ennis told me the other day that he talked Margaret into giving up a trip with her father to England to instead go with him for the first time to Sandy Lake. Only he hadn't told his parents he was bringing up a divorced woman. So when they arrived in Sandy, Ennis had to take Margaret to the United Church minister's house while he broke the news to his parents. That minister by the way, was Stu Harvey, whose tender poem that he wrote for Margaret is in the bulletin you received today. And needless to say, Margaret won over Ennis' parents, just as she won over his family and the entire community of Sandy Lake with her quiet capable sensitivity and helpfulness.

When Margaret and Ennis moved to Sandy Lake in the early 70's, there was only one phone to call out of the community (though lots of phones for local calling). The homes didn't have hydro. Laurel Wood tells stories of Margaret hauling IN the water and OUT the slop pail/toilet, - and of her washing and drying CLOTH diapers for the twins in a mail-order washing machine with a hand lever for agitation and a hand cranked wringer. Laurel also tells of one time when they made 60 pies for a community feast - on a woodstove no less. But Margaret and Ennis' home in Sandy always had an open door and a welcome and sharing atmosphere.

Margaret taught school in Sandy Lake for several years. A former student told us the other day about remembering her playing her autoharp and singing to her class.

Margaret was active with the Sandy Lake United Church for many years. She played the organ and accordion for the choir Adam says "for as long as I can remember". She considered it a great coupe one time when she traded a guitar to the Sandy Lake church for a piano - and everyone was happy! She helped start the Sandy Lake Community Christmas choir which ran for years, conducting the choir at times and playing the key board. In 2009 they produced a wonderful CD worthy of their pride.

I guess Margaret's family in the south must have wondered where in the world their daughter ended up. Her sister described Margaret as a flower child and a hippy. She told me there were 14 years when the family never heard from her at all. Kathie is still in awe when she talks about Margaret giving birth to Tyance at the Sandy Lake Nursing Station when her labour came on early. In those days there were TWO nurses in Sandy Lake. (I think there are about 10 now.)
Margaret was a tireless, enthusiastic, committed mother who went the distance for her family. Her personal relationships were so strong and so important to her that I have barely touched yet on Margaret's impressive career.

The theme that ran through Margaret's entire working life was one of supporting and assisting students to get an education at home. Based on her strength as a mother and her belief in accessible education, she refused to accept that a child had to leave home to get educated. And so Margaret worked to make that happen in the north. Margaret was nothing if not a problem solver. Florence said last night, "One thing about Margaret - when she got something in her head, she didn't let it go. The rest of us just think of things but Margaret created the solutions." She refused to take any credit for much of her work - she was an unsung hero.

Margaret was instrumental in the creation of Windigo Education, facilitating the transfer of programs from Indian Affairs to the Windigo communities in the late 1980s.

One of Margaret's major contributions was as a co-founder of Wahsa Distance Education. Using Wawatay Radio airwaves, Margaret helped open doors for northerners to stay home but still get their high school diploma. More than 400 people have graduated from Wahsa since it began in 1991.

A fabulous blending of skills and vision came about when Margaret and Brian Beaton teamed up. The two of them created the first electronic bulletin board for Northern Chiefs First Nations Council - that was like a very early email system for K-O communities - and it represented a new and innovative way for communities to communicate. Then there was Margaret's role as principal of KiHS - the region's first Internet high school which is going strong today. She also worked for NNEC at some point, and she was active in Sandy Lake's local Education Board.

Oh and somewhere in those years she squeezed in a Masters of Education degree and took the coursework in Toronto for her doctorate.

You can see from all of this that Margaret was a builder. She was front and centre in helping develop and deliver so many important services. But the theme was always the same - her passion for accessible First Nations education.

What about this brilliant but simple initiative? One day Margaret found out on the Internet about Dolly Parton's project to support child literacy. So Margaret helped organize the sign-up of all the babies in Sandy Lake, including getting a lot of those children's births registered because they needed a birth certificate to qualify. And those children got a personal book mailed to them every month from Dolly until they turned 5 years old.

That's another thing about her - Margaret was a consummate researcher -not in any way held back by her relative isolation. She was not a side-liner - she never knew what it was to feel strongly about something and not take action. She was always driven by her sense of things that could be made better.

There's so much I'm not able to cram into this short biography. Margaret did so much and helped so many. And through it all, she was forever positive and gracious - even in the face of a cruel disease, which sadly took her from us too soon. But as Tom Terry said yesterday, even in death, Margaret was an inspiration.

I'll leave you with the few words from a book that Margaret published last Christmas with Jesse's help for her children and grandchildren. The book is called Snippets and it's made up of a collection of facts and memories from her life. She ended the book with this personal advice to her children:

"And occasionally, take a step back from yourself, my kids, and allow yourselves to look at the whole picture.
The strengths that you have.
The things that you are accomplishing.
Your children who are growing into wonderful young people who are
Inquisitive;
Willing to take appropriate risks;
Looking forward to the lives ahead of them.
It is a pretty good world out there from our vantage point.
Keep working in your lives to do your part so that years from now, you can say that your world is a little better off than when you entered it.
And remember to love those who are close to you."

Thanks Margaret from your friends and family. You've left us a tall example and big footsteps to follow. But Caleb and his cousins have their shoes ready. We'll never forget you.

by Lois Mombourquette

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Here is the story that was shared ...

A Tribute to Margaret Fiddler ...

Heaven became a better place because you are there now. I know that is where you are because that is the place that you worked so hard to be. Watching over each of us and guiding us with your gentle reminders about what is right and what needs to be done ...

Those thoughts kept going through my head yesterday when I got the news that Margaret had left us to continue her journey on the other side. Of course I thought it was an original thought but just to be sure I did a "google" on it only to discover that there was a song called "Heaven is a better place" and there are lots of references to these same thoughts in many different memorial statements. So rather than thinking of it as an original thought, I took a page out of Margaret's book of sayings and decided that I would ADAPT it to make it fit into the teachings I received from this very special friend, mentor, teacher ... For example ...

ADAPT teacher professional development to work using the Contact North network when it first became available in 1988. ADAPT high school courses to work over Contact North and when that method was rejected due to costs, ADAPT the courses to be delivered in partnership with Wawatay radio beginning in 1990 ... and thus began the ongoing story of Wahsa Distance Education Centre. Then ADAPT a simple computer Bulletin Board System in 1994 to connect school staff and students with each other across the north ... and thus began the ongoing story of the Kuhkenah Network. Then once again in 1999, ADAPT high school courses to be delivered first over the BBS, then using 3 different programs supporting the operation of the Keewaytinook Internet High School.

I was privileged to be part of each of these developments that were led by Margaret. I sure learned to ADAPT in order to make the impossible happen in the north. Throughout all these ADAPTIONS was the demand for QUALITY and HIGH STANDARDS in building and operating these services with the people in the north. Margaret always worked so hard to ensure the people across the north were able to access equitable services in their own communities.

I learned so much from Margaret about the importance of family and community. Her laughter and her stories are captured in some of her writings about these experiences, like "Travelling the Winter Roads of Computer Communication in the Far North". She always wanted everyone to understand and respect the innovations and the challenges that First Nations experience. She had little patience for anyone who put roadblocks or obstacles in front of her as she worked hard to create new opportunities across the north. Somehow she always found a way around those challenges, often by gaining the support of strategic partners and First Nation leaders. She always found a way to make good things happen.

Her life was filled with love and joy in everything she undertook. Her family and friends meant the world to her. She celebrated every opportunity to visit, laugh and share stories and a meal. I feel so fortunate to be able to call Margaret a dear friend, my mentor, my teacher for these past 30 years. I cried when I learned of her passing but the tears were filled with the joy of knowing such a great person who helped me be a better person in so many ways. I will miss my visits with Margaret but I will always remember her and think of the many teachings she left with me. I look forward to having this new relationship with you in this new way of remembering and working with everything you shared with me ... Thank you Margaret ... 

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The following poem was written by a friend of Margaret's last year ...

Take Heart, My Friend

Stu Harvey
Brandon, Manitoba
May 20, 2012

Take heart, my friend -
      For though agenda's long and days are short,
          There will be time -
               At least the time required
                   To give your peace
                         To those around who
                               Matter most to you.

Take heart my friend -
      For though your body's arms and legs
          No longer go where they should go
               Or do what they should do,
                    Your heart and mind, for now at least,
                        Pour out a love some people
                            Never knew

Take heart, my friend -
      For many die a sudden painless death
           With no restriction
                   Departing,
                         But rather, lacked sufficient time
                              To say their fond farewells,
                                   And separate themselves
                                         From life
                                             Which they had known.

Take heart, my friend -
     For you've been given life,
          Albeit shorter than you'd hoped,
               Still long enough for you to add
                    Some treasured gift of life
                         Into the lives of those
                             Who will go on -
                                   And then tomorrow
                                        Greet the
                                             Sun.

Take heart, my friend -
      For there are lives you've touched
            As you have walked this road with us,
               Whose lives have changed

                     Because one day you

                         Came along beside,
                              And set us on a course

                                   We'd otherwise have

                                         Missed.

Take heart, my friend -
      For some day we'll all meet
           Far out beyond the skies;
               Where all the tears and pain
                    Of life which we have known
                         Drifts off behind us -
                             Like the bubbles in the trail
                                  Behind the motor
                                       On our boat.

O Lord,
     This morning as the lonely song
          Of this small bird
               Sings out so clearly in these
                    Quiet hours before the Dawn,

Be with my friend
     And hold her gently in Your arms;
           Support her kin
              And bring us all once more
                    Into a time of great
                        Reunion in the sky.

And 'till that day,
     I pray O Lord,
          Your love, and peace, and joy,
              Will fill her heart;
                    That she might live remaining days
                          Enriched
                                Because of all the things
                                     She's seen
                                          And done
                                               And poured
                                                     Into our
                                                          Lives.

And,
    Thanks to you,
        My friend.