The late Elder Tom Charles had been battling lung cancer since late 2019. (Submitted photo/Prince Albert Grand Council)

By Derek Cornet

condolences

LLRIB mourns passing of respected Elder

May 26, 2021 | 5:00 PM

After a long battle with cancer, Elder Tom Charles has passed away.

In a media release issued May 26 from the Lac La Ronge Indian Band and Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations, it was announced Charles passed away Tuesday. Chief Tammy Cook-Searson said the community and leadership is in mourning after losing a very respected and admired Elder.

“His spiritual gifts helped him through 293 search and rescue efforts, only 15 of which went unsolved,” Cook-Searson said. “Tracker Tom would drop everything he was doing when called upon for any search, in any condition, in any part of the province, whether he knew the person or not. That’s who he was. He loved to help everyone, and he brought closure and healing to so many families with his gifts and compassion.”

FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron also made a statement on behalf of the FSIN Executive, Senate, Veterans, Women’s Commission, management and staff.

“His spiritual gifts and knowledge of the lands and waters were well-known across our traditional territories, and he was often called upon when someone would need rescuing, or a search was being conducted,” Cameron said. “Even in his last months, battling this illness, he was still participating in searches in his community. He was a very respected elder, a friend to many, and his skills and knowledge will be deeply missed.”

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Prince Albert Grand Council released a message of condolences May 26 to his family, friends and community of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band. It notes Charles had been battling lung cancer since late 2019.

“Tom was a well-respected traditional knowledge keeper who made his home in Lac La Ronge, yet he was larger than life in many other ways,” the statement noted. “With his strong ties to the land and understanding of the natural world, Tom was dedicated to his work finding our community’s loved ones for more than four decades, as well as playing a key role as our Elder and team leader since the inception of our search, rescue and recovery team.”

It adds Charles was gifted with a ribbon shirt in February 2020 to acknowledge his service and leadership at the 2020 Saskatchewan First Nation Emergency Management forum.

“We have many fond memories of our friend, and he will be greatly missed by our team,” the statement reads. “May the tracks he is now following lead him straight to the heavens.”

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno