Ula Margaret Hotomani

Ula(Eula) Margaret Hotomani, age 84, passed away July 11th, 2020. She was born March 26th, 1936 in Carry the Kettle, FN, Saskatchewan.  Ula was predeceased by her parents: mother, Emily Dorothy Hotomani (nee Louison), Victor Whitequill and father Herman Hotomani,  She was also predeceased by her children: partner Joesph George Wasacase, twins Ira and Ian Hotomani, brothers: Bruce Hotomani, Emile Hotomani, Alvin Hotomani, sisters: Sylvia Crowe nee Hotomani and Thelma Starr nee Hotomani.

Ula is survived by her children: Shirlene Asham, Pam Hotomani, Bonnie Hotomani, Sonya (Dave) Bonselaar, Petula Hotomani, Varina Hotoman and Zachary Henery/Wasacase.  She is also survived by siblings: Diane (Guy) Sanford, Karen Delorme, Wanda (Bob) Koch, Wayne Issac, Greg Issac, Herman Issac, Martin Issac, Venita Hoffman and Bonnie Alexander.

Ula was always a hard-working woman her entire life.  Ula worked in differing areas through out her life that included: sugar beet fields, potato farms, restaurants, window factories and weaving to help raise her family.  In the early eighties Ula went back to school to learn to work with people experiencing domestic violence.  Ula went on to become one of the fiercest advocates for woman and children, working at a woman’s shelter Osborne House and later at the Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre on the Family Support Team till she retired at 65 years old.  Retirement did not stop Ula from being an advocate for our people, after retirement you could find her at her new office, Portage Place Mall food court.  She continued to go to the Portage Place Mall and support families while visiting them in the food court.  Families would bring their family members to talk with mom about what they were going through.  Mom continued her office until her health started to fail her in recent years.

Mom enjoyed her powwow dancing and travelling.  She travelled extensively with her son Ian to powwows across the United States and Canada.  Ian even talked mom into to travelling to Sweden one year, mom feared flying but she went and thoroughly enjoyed her time there make new friends and sharing our culture.  She was a proud Jingle Dress dancer until recent years.  Many drummers and arena directors will remember her for her famous comment, “sing faster, just because I am older doesn’t mean I can’t dance fast”.  She loved to travel with all her children, grandchildren and powwow family and she had many.  She loved that we would all set up our camps around her tent and make our own village at the powwows.

Mom was also a Sun dancer; she taught her children the purpose of the Sun dance and the protocols that were adhered to at the Sun dance.  When her first child sun danced, she took her father Herman to the sun dance to help guide.  During one evening after the dancers where allowed to rest and go back to camp, this child/adult started to walk away from the camp site and her grandfather and mother called them back.  They said, “you are at a sun dance to pray, this is our church, you are here to sacrifice and pray.  Powwows are for socializing save your visiting for the powwow”. This guidance has always been appreciated and followed.

Mom loved to joke around and be mischievous.  She always had a smile no matter how hard life was for her at that moment.  Mom was fierce in her advocating for people and her family.  She did not back down if she knew that people depended on her.  Mom always was there to protect her rights as an proud First Nations woman, she watched and gathered clippings of the AIM occupation at Wounded Knee, she marched in protests that demanded our rights be respected.  She was true to her family and people.  She taught her children to fight racism and inequality.

Mom loved her family and always encouraged our family and others to value family.  A family that is together is strong.

Due to the COVID restrictions we are so very sorry for limiting those attending mom’s wake and funeral to family, family meaning our extended family as well.  Thank you to all the people who have sent their condolences and shared with our family their special times spent with our mom.  Our hearts are full of gratitude to you all.

As a family we are sad that we will not see our mom for a long time, but we are happy that our mother is with our dad, sister, brother, grandchildren and all her family.  Our mother is again healthy and in no pain and most of all she is loved here on earth and in the spiritual world.  Thank you Creator, Grandfathers, Grandmothers for guiding my mother on her journey.

Elder: Lenard Mosquito

Woman Elder: Lena BuffaloCalf (sister/cousin)

Helpers: Chip Taypotate and Saskatchewan helpers TBA

Wake Service: July 17th, 2020 @ 3:00pm Kahkewistahaw, FN, SK

Feast: July 18th, 2020 @ 11: 00am Kahkewistahaw, FN, SK

Funeral Service: July 18th, 2020 Kahkewistahaw, FN, SK

Drums: Iron Lance and Group, Buffalo Red Thunder

Pall bearers: Petey Parisian, Derek Hotomani, Gary Hotomani, Lionel Daniels, Micheal Hotomani and nephews TBA from Saskatchewan.

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