Elizabeth (Lakota Woman) Graham
Lieu de naissance : Pine Ridge Reservation South Dakota
Date de naissance : 26 mars 1942
Lieu de décès : Eskasoni
Date de décès : 15 mars 2015
Elizabeth Rose Graham, age 72, of Eskasoni, passed away peacefully with her loving family by her side on Sunday, March 15, 2015, at the Northside General Hospital, North Sydney.
Born on March 26, 1942, in Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota, she was the daughter of the late Ernest and Suzanne (Richards) Graham.
Elizabeth went to school in New Hampshire and eventually was married there; she has one daughter, Chrystal Groff. She worked in a restaurant and had her own business. Elizabeth wanted to upgrade, so she went back to school and graduated from Cambridge College, Massachusetts with a Masters Degree in Business. For a few years, she worked with the Boston Indian Council as the director of health. It was here that she met her long time partner, Ernie Knockwood in 1981. Elizabeth later worked at Harvard University as director of education.
In 1984 she moved to Eskasoni. Elizabeth worked with Mi’kma’q Family and Children Services. She established two centres for Indian women in Waycobah and one in Truro (Millbrook). In 2003 she retired due to Parkinson’s disease.
Elizabeth and Ernie did a lot of travelling by car, camping in Mexico, Canada, USA and occasionally in the winters they would travel to Florida.
She loved her culture. We were on the Indian Red Road following the old native traditional ways.
Elizabeth served in the United States Military for three years. She also enjoyed meditation and participated in the Shambhala Buddhist Community, Sydney.
Elizabeth is survived by her partner, Ernest ‘Ernie’ Knockwood, one daughter, Chrystal Groff, son-in-law, Christopher Groff, grandchildren, Rhianna and John Groff, five sisters, their children and their children’s children, Crystal and her children, Ernie (seven children), Creighton (four children), Anthony (two children), Baby Crystal (three children), Riclia (two children), second sister, Ernestine (two children), third sister, Beverly (one child), fourth sister, Crystal (six children) and fifth sister, Karen (three children, two deceased).
Cremation has taken place under the direction of V.J. McGillivray Funeral Home, 16 Reserve St., Glace Bay.
As an expression of sympathy for Elizabeth, memorial donations in her memory may be made to the Shambhala Buddhist Community.
Online condolences to the family can be expressed at: www.vjmcgillivray.ca.
