|
Cecile (Wawanolett) Joubert, 98, died peacefully at her home in Troy, NY
on October 4, 2006, following a short illness. An Abenaki Indian, Cecile
was a descendant of the famous undefeated Abenaki leader known in
English as Graylock. Cecile was born January 8, 1908 on the Abenaki
Reserve of Odanak, Quebec, Canada. She was the daughter of the late Elie
and Marie (Nagazeoi) Wawanolett and the devoted wife of the late Alfred
A. Joubert. She is survived by three children, Joyce Hamel, Elie Joubert
and Edward (Darcy) Shea; six grandchildren, Michele, Jay, Brian, Tina,
Debbie and Terry; and five great-grandchildren, Amber, Karlee, Alysha,
Luke and Jeremy.
Cecile was a woman of incredible talents and love. Throughout her life
she traveled between upstate New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Odanak,
touching the hearts of people she met everywhere. She once told me
about how she remembered hearing the bells ringing at Odanak signaling
the end of WWI! As a young woman in the 1920s, Cecile loved to dance
and was a flapper! She moved easily between the Native and non-Native
worlds, but always made it known she was extremely proud to be Abenaki.
When she and her late husband Fred were unable to have children, they
opened their hearts and brought Joyce, Elie, and Darcy into their
family. That was very characteristic of Cecile’s loving kindness. She
had a big heart, and it was one filled with joy and laughter. Her
vivaciousness continued throughout her life: I can remember watching her
dance at a party after a band council election at Odanak, and loving
every minute of it. She was tri-lingual, and many people who met her
later in her life knew her as a patient and generous teacher of the
Abenaki language-and many professional linguists credit her as being one
of its last very fluent speakers. Cecile was incredibly young at heart
and always ready for fun, whether it be bingo (she was a die-hard
addict!), or a long road trip to visit friends and relations all across
N'dkinna (our land). Her positive and giving spirit was unflagging, and
she encouraged me many a time during the years we struggled to save
Wissatinnewag from destruction. So here I have included a wonderful
photo of Cecile taken at our celebration of finally saving Wissatinnewag
in 2001, outside at Ted Wirt's property, which abuts the upper terrace
of Wissatinnewag. We know you will be watching over us...
|
|
