Rev. Dr. Bernice Saulteaux

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our Dear Mother, Rev. Dr. Bernice Saulteaux (Juneberry Woman-Wibazoka Winya). Bernice began her journey on Tuesday, September 6, 2022, at the age of 73 after a battle with Liver Disease when she died at the Pasqua Hospital Palliative Care.

Bernice was predeceased by her paternal grandparents David Sr. and Bella Saulteaux (nee Blackface); maternal grandparents Elizabeth Goodelk and Joe Jack and George Prettyshield; her parents David and Dr. Jessie Saulteaux; sisters: Marita Hotomani, Helen Saulteaux and Doreen Saulteaux; brothers: Frank Saulteaux, Roy Saulteaux, Alvin Saulteaux and Arnold Saulteaux; two siblings in infancy Edith Saulteaux and Gordon Saulteaux and a great granddaughter Rowyn Lilly Agecoutay-Bigknife.

She is survived by her children: Dallas Saulteaux (Mike), Regina, SK, Darwin Saulteaux (Tiahnna), Regina, SK, Twyla Saulteaux (Albert), Regina, SK, Tara Saulteaux (Jim), Standing Buffalo Lodge, SK, Davis Saulteaux, Carry the Kettle, SK; 13 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; She is also survived by her siblings: Aletha Whitefeather, Myrtle Hassler, Derrick Saulteaux and Ross Saulteaux all of Carry the Kettle, SK; aunt Rena Ryder, Carry The Kettle, SK as well as numerous nieces and nephews that held a special place in her heart as well as her many circle of friends and family across Canada and the U.S.A.

The family would like to thank the Regina Pasqua Palliative Care with a special thanks to two amazing nurses, Bonny and Janice as well as Dr. Carmen Johnson.

A wake was held in Carry The Kettle Community Center, Carry The Kettle First Nation on Friday, September 9, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. The funeral service was held in the Carry The Kettle Community Center on Saturday, September 10, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. with Tim Eashappie, Clyde O'Watch, Harry Francis, Ruth Blaser, Jan Van Aertselaer and Lorna King officiating. Interment followed in the Saulteaux/Hotomani Family Cemetery, Carry The Kettle First Nation.

The funeral service was livestreamed with the link that is posted below.

Some of Bernice’s Story

Bernice was the youngest child of the late David and Jessie Saulteaux. She was born at Carry the Kettle First Nation on October 29, 1948. She was two months premature, weighing 2lbs 3 oz. The Indian agent called a doctor in Wolseley who took two hours to get to the reserve. The story goes that she was placed in a shoebox which was put on the oven door to keep her warm. Bernice had two sisters, Marita and Aletha, and two brothers, Roy and Frank, as well as cousins who became as siblings: Helen, Doreen, Myrtle, Derrick, Ross, Arnold and Alvin. She was pre-deceased by her parents and grandparents; her siblings, Marita, Roy and Frank, as well as Helen, Doreen, Alvin and Arnold; two siblings in infancy, Edith and Gordon; and a great grand-daughter Rowyn Lilly. She is survived by her sister Aletha, as well as Myrtle, Derrick and Ross; her children: Dallas, Darwin, Twyla and Tara and their partners and families; and her Aunt Rena Ryder; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Bernice attended Day School at CTK for grades 1-4. In 1960, "integration" into the off-reserve schools was taking place, and the Indian Agent sent her and other kids to the nearby town of Wolseley where she completed grades 5-8. She didn’t have a choice about where she would attend school, and she boarded with an elderly couple. Sometime after this, her parents moved to Wolseley to find jobs and a place to stay. They worked for the Chatterson family. David and Roy were employed at the family’s lumber yard and farm, while Jessie did cooking, cleaning and sewing for the family. This is from a message Bernice recently received from Dorothy Chatterson who is now 98 years old:

Dear Bernice and all of your family – it is with heavy hearts that we hear of your health condition. This message comes with loving and caring thoughts at this difficult time. You and your family are very dear to our hearts and their kindness will be with us forever. We still have your house in our yard. We call it Mrs. Saulteaux’s house. It recently got a face-lift and it looks good, standing there with honour and pride. I have a very precious piece of beading hanging here on my wall which your Mom graciously made as a gift to me. It’s a treasure - a star design with red, white and blue beads. It has been admired my many. I also have a picture of your Mom, you and Dallas walking towards the house. I will have some pictures taken and sent on to you. With sincere affection, Dorothy.

In 1965 Bernice was told by the Indian Agent that she had to move to the city for grade 9. She attended Thom Collegiate along with about ten other students from various First Nation communities. This was a major culture shock. She didn't have any family members living in the city so she had to room and board with another student. Bernice only stayed in school for about two months and then she and some other students from other reserves pooled their money and bought bus tickets to go home. After returning to CTK , she was still not able to go to school in Wolseley because the Indian agent wouldn't allow it.

In 1966, Bernice gave birth to her first child, Dallas. From 1967-1969 she went to Regina for up-grading and completed requirements for Grades 10-12 in a vocational program. In November 1968, at the age of 20, she got her first job as a clerk at the Liquor Board.

Her duties involved opening mail, taking liquor orders, photocopying, sending and receiving orders for liquor vendors and writing cheques. She was the only First Nation person working there and she stayed until 1970. She then took a medical/clerical course for 9 months.

As a busy Mom, Bernice became even busier when Darwin arrived in 1971, Twyla in 1972 and Tara in 1974. From 1974-1977 she worked at the Plains Hospital as a house-keeper. From 1977- 1982 she worked for the government at SGI, the Highway Traffic Board, where her clerical duties included filing driving-offense tickets and answering phones. From 1982-1983 she was a teacher assistant at Connaught School in Regina, working with First Nation students who needed assistance in the class.

Then Bernice was asked to work with the Regina Lutheran Native Support Committee and began working with Ruth Blaser and alongside the Regina Native Women’s Association. Bernice and Ruth worked together in advocacy for Indigenous women, in race-relations education as well as pastoral work. Dorothea Hudec, who also worked with Bernice and who now lives in Toronto, says this about Bernice’s involvement:

Bernice was a steadfast member and supporter of the Regina Native Women’s Association for many years, working to improve the lives of Indigenous women, children and families. She was the first Indigenous staff person hired by the Regina Lutheran Native Support Committee, working with RNWA and other community groups to improve cross-cultural relationships in Regina and Saskatchewan as a whole. When people got angry or felt hopeless, Bernice’s quiet strength and humour always helped them to see the longer view; the goal they worked towards, rather than only the immediate problem. She was a sincere, courageous visionary in everything she did.

In the early 1980’s Bernice was encouraged by people within the United Church to consider ministry. She gave it a lot of thought. She shared the story that when she was 17 she had her first dream about going into ministry, and over the years, two more; and then in 1984 she had her fourth dream. The Rev John McFarlane, who was the Coordinator of Native Ministries, asked her if she would consider entering what was then called the “Native Ministry Training Program”.

She led a few services with the congregation at Moose Woods, now known as Whitecap Dakota First Nation, and in 1984 she was appointed as a student minister at Hurricane Hills United Church at Carry the Kettle First Nation. After 24 years of being away from her home community, she moved back and quickly became involved in offering worship leadership, pastoral care and other ministerial tasks, including officiating at funerals. Jan Van Aertselaer, who was then serving as minister at File Hills, was appointed as her Educational Supervisor. Jan has always claimed that she learned a lot more from Bernice than Bernice learned from her. As a student, Bernice participated in a weekly Learning Circle of about five students facilitated by John McFarlane at the Prairie Christian Training Centre (PCTC) in Fort Qu’Appelle.

This small Learning Circle grew into a more extensive program offering courses in theology, biblical studies and church history. Eventually, in 1984, it became the Dr. Jessie Saulteaux Resource Centre, so named because of the vision of Jessie, Bernice’s mother, of having locally trained ministers serving Indigenous communities. At that time the Rev Alfred Dumont came to be the first official director of the Centre.

Bernice was one of the first graduates of the program in 1987, and she was ordained at that time by Saskatchewan Conference of the United Church of Canada. The Ordination service took place at Carry the Kettle First Nation and there were many visitors from the wider church for this historic celebration. Very slowly, and with much thought and care, Bernice began to invite conversations about introducing traditional Indigenous teachings and practices into the Christian worship traditions to which people had become accustomed. Over time, things gradually changed to include both, in ways that people were ready to embrace.

In 1984 Plains Presbytery was formed which included the Pastoral Charges of Hurricane Hills, White Bear, File Hills, Cote and Whitecap Dakota. Bernice was very involved in the meetings and decisions leading to this development and she offered much good leadership to the new structure. In 1988 the All Native Circle Conference was formed to join Indigenous congregations across the country, and Bernice also offered wisdom and leadership throughout that process.

After a few years, the Dr. Jessie Saulteaux Resource Centre decided to move to Manitoba for various reasons, one of them being that many of the students lived in northern Manitoba and it was a long trip to Fort Qu’Appelle. They located a facility in Winnipeg and became part of a heart-breaking struggle when neighbours in the area made it clear they were not welcome there. Another site was found along the Brokenhead River near Beausejour, which was an ideal location. The Centre moved there in 1990 and lots of work needed to be done. Bernice was very much involved in the discussions and negotiations.

From 1992-1994, when the Rev Dr Stan McKay was elected as Moderator of the United Church of Canada, Bernice took on some of his duties at the Centre, as he was then serving as its director. In 2011 the Dr Jessie Saulteaux Resource Centre amalgamated with the Francis Sandy Centre in Ontario to become the Sandy-Saulteaux Spiritual Centre. From 2010 until 2011 Bernice worked there again as Keeper of the Learning Circle while they searched for someone to fill the permanent position. Her pattern was to be there for two weeks and then at CTK for two weeks. She had a place to stay in Beausejour and made many trips back and forth. Until recently, she attended Learning Circles there in the role of Elder.

In 2013 Bernice was chosen by St Andrew’s Theological College in Saskatoon to be a recipient of an Honourary Doctorate. This is what was said about her:

The Rev Bernice Saulteaux is honoured for her long ministry at Carry the Kettle First Nation, her presence and leadership within Plains Presbytery and the All Native Circle Conference, her contribution to native ministry on a national level, and her deep engagement with the community of Carry the Kettle. Bernice’s commitment to holding together both Christian and Aboriginal values and traditions bridges cultural differences with integrity and respect. Bernice has played and continues to play a significant role in the education of students for ministry at both the Sandy-Saulteaux Spiritual Centre and St Andrew’s College.

In 2015 she was named an Honoured Elder by the Sandy-Saulteaux Spiritual Centre.

Also in 2015, Bernice was presented with a Volunteer Award by the Saskatchewan Senior’s Mechanism, a group which annually recognizes contributions made by seniors within the province. Bernice’s award was in the category of “Contributions to a First Nations or Metis Community”. The presentation took place at a dinner with the Honourable Vaughn Solomon Schofield, who was the Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan. .

Over the years, Bernice served on many different groups and committees within the United Church nationally. Many of these meetings happened in Toronto and other places across the country. These are some of them:

Committee on Leadership Training in Aboriginal Communities

Committee on Indigenous Justice and Residential Schools

All Native Circle Conference, serving as Leading Elder for several years

Gathering of Conference President-Elects and Leading Elders

Several General Councils as a commissioner, and General Council Executive

Healing Programs Working Group for the National Indigenous Council

Judicial Committee of the United Church

Transition Commission for recent changes in the structure of the United Church

Living Skies Regional Council

National Indigenous Elders Council

In 2018, Bernice was part of a group called “Caretakers of Our Indigenous Circle” who developed a document titled “Calls to the Church”. This document continues to inform decisions related to the participation of Indigenous congregations and communities within the United Church of Canada.

In the spring of 2020, during the time of pandemic restrictions, Bernice was a resource person for a series planned by the Urban Indigenous Circle in Alberta for Indigenous History Month. It was by Zoom. She spoke about “Women’s Spirituality, Social Justice and Faith” as a representative of the National Elders Council. Although she found Zoom a little challenging, she embraced the challenge beautifully by soliciting technical help from the younger members of her family.

Bernice also contributed to groups and committees beyond the church. From 1986-2002 she was a Band Councilor for CTK. During those years, she worked with Chiefs Tony Ashdohonk, Joe O'Watch and Barry Kennedy. She was on CTK’s School Board, Elders’ Board and Justice Board. She was also on the Town of Wolseley's School Board and Health Board. For many years she was on the Highway Traffic Board for Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI).

Bernice attended many traditional and spiritual gatherings, ceremonies, pow-wows, dances and feasts at home and in other places in Canada and the United States. She was inspired to study and learn about the history of the Assiniboine (Nakoda) people, including learning about her great grandmother who was stabbed 13 times at the massacre and survived. She became known as "Stabbed Many Times", and growing up, Bernice heard lots of stories about her and other ancestors.

All through the decades of her contributions to the wider church and community, Bernice remained as a minister within her home community, until 2021. In her daily pastoral work, there would be no way to count the number of home and hospital visits she made over the years, or the number of funerals and weddings and baptisms at which she officiated or offered support. At times, she was also called upon by other communities, near and far, who were in need of ministerial support. We could never measure the number of kilometers she drove in all kinds of weather at all hours of the day and night.

One of Bernice’s greatest gifts to the church and beyond is that she accepted invitations from very many local congregations and communities to speak about the history, traditions and present realities of Indigenous communities. She also welcomed groups of visitors to CTK, engaging other community members as resource people and as providers of hospitality. She spoke with honesty and gentleness. She dedicated herself to bridge-building between Indigenous and non-Indigenous individuals and communities. She said that her mother told her “If ever you’re invited to such gatherings, you go”. And so she went, and she went, and she went, always so full of grace, and her quiet presence always a blessing.

How can we adequately honour such a life of service, dedication and love? Bernice would want us to continue to carry the vision that she embraced, and to let that vision inform our lives as we seek to mend this broken world with acts of courage and faithfulness and love.