Dakota Raven Whonnock

It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Dakota Raven Whonnock, Wołk’ine’ga on March 28, 2021. The Whonnock, Greekas, and Williams family would like to thank everyone for the outpouring of love for our beloved Dakota. We appreciate the calls, the messages, and all the people who showed up to support our family through our sorrow. Continue to hold each other up and walk gently. Dakota will be eternally missed and we cherish the memories created with her during her 18 years here with us. Gilakas’la, thank you

Dakota Raven Whonnock, Wołk’ine’ga, was born in Vancouver, BC on May 3, 2002 to Rachael Whonnock and Ivan Johnson. She was welcomed home by big sister Christine, big brother Nathaniel, and a few years later they all welcomed little brother Isaiah.

Dakota was smart and inquisitive from the beginning. She had a big heart and loved her family and her siblings fiercely. She always wanted the best for everyone. Through her life she really took on a ‘big sister’ role, advocating for her siblings and making sure they were taken care of.

Dakota was curious about life and wanted to know how the world worked. She had a thirst for knowledge that could never quite be quenched. Everyone who got to know her would agree that she always asked great questions and she was open to exploring just about any topic.

Personable is an understatement. Dakota was social, loved gatherings, and was ready anytime for adventures and new experiences. She loved karaoke and having fun with the people in her world. She was creative, loved to draw and write and even wrote a song for a friend who was going through a difficult time.

Strength, resilience, sensitivity, truth, curiosity, family, love, kindness…are just a few ways to describe Dakota. She was unique. She developed beautiful qualities through sometimes challenging circumstances and made incredible friendships and added members to her chosen family through programs like CRUW, Hip Hop Drop, and learning to build a canoe. She was so proud of what she was learning and what she was able to accomplish through that program – building a canoe and beautiful paddles and finding ways to connect to her culture.

Dakota was so authentically herself that she inspired you to be yourself in a real way. She was smart, she spoke truth and protected what she believed in. She also had a sweet vulnerability, bringing kindness and curiosity to everything she did.

She was a leader who had the ability to bring people together. She was an old soul, wise beyond her years, and always willing to open up and share what was on her mind. Because of these qualities, Dakota offered great insight and advice to friends and family who needed it.

Everyone who came into her presence immediately felt welcomed. She would ask you who you were and get to know you in her own way, asking questions and finding common interests.

Dakota had a lot of big dreams for her life and her future. She wanted to create a world where people loved one another. She was powerful and generous with her heart and her time. She was there for anyone who needed it. She advocated for her loved ones, held people accountable to their word because she herself stuck to hers. She encouraged us to take leaps and not be fearful and we will keep her memory strong by sharing memories of her young life and brightening the world the way she did.

We will miss you eternally Dakota and we will do all we can within our lifetime to honour your memory and live life to the fullest.

Until we meet again.

To those whom I love

& Those who love me:

When I am gone, release me, let me go.

I have so many things to see and do,

You mustn’t tie yourself to me with too many tears,

But be thankful we had so many good years.

I gave you my love, and you can only guess

How much you’ve given me in happiness.

I thank you for the love that you have shown,

But now it is time I traveled on alone.

So grieve for me a while, if grieve you must,

Then let your grief be comforted by trust.

It is only for a while that we must part,

So treasure the memories within your heart.

I won’t be far away for life goes on.

And if you need me, call and I will come.

Though you can’t see or touch me, I will be near.

And if you listen with your heart, you’ll hear,

All my love around you soft and clear.

And then, when you come this way alone,

I’ll greet you with a smile and a ‘Welcome Home’.