March 28, 1940 - October 15, 2020
March 28, 1940 - October 15, 2020
Mary Basil was born in 'aqam on March 28, 1940 to Rosalie Andrew from Yaqan Nukiy and Sam Ignatius from 'aqam. She came into the world with the help of a midwife. Her maternal grandmother was Pauline Sam from Yaqan Nukiy and her paternal grandmother was Christine.
Both of Mary's parents went to the Kootenay Indian Residential School and married shortly after leaving school. Mary also attended the residential school, but she had to leave the residential school at the age of 12 to help take care of her siblings due to the loss of their mother. It was during those early years that Mary's grandmother taught her many skills including how to be a midwife.
Mary delivered her first baby in 1962 and later said "I still remember that girl's birthday, it was Groundhog Day. I am close to her. I feel grateful for having a grandmother who had the patience to teach me how to do hides and to learn how to be a midwife." This set the groundwork for her employment as the Community Health Representative for Lower Kootenay.
Mary and Louie Basil were married in 1956 and had 4 children, Barb, Rusty, Arlene and Louie Jr. who was nine months old when he passed away. Sadly, her husband Louie passed away in 1966.
Mary went on to work in orchards and farms all over the Creston Valley. She married Zach Basil (common-law) and had 3 more children: Sheryl, Randy and Zach Jr. Her husband Zach also had 4 daughters: Leona, Joanne, Delores & Linda. He passed away on October 6, 1970 and it was on this day that Mary vowed to quit drinking. Shortly before her death, Mary marked her 50th year of sobriety. Upon the loss of her husband, Mary was left to raise 10 kids with limited means, and limited education. Mary decided to make drastic life changes, which did not include alcohol.
She moved on even though this meant she had to leave her children to go back to school. She completed her education gaining secretarial skills and worked for the band. In the mid- seventies, Mary became politically involved in the changes to the Master Tuition Agreement. The Lower Kootenay Band Authority including Mary went on a mission for a band operated school to be established in the community. When they succeeded, the classroom setting was held in the small band hall with less than a dozen desks and one chalkboard. Today, the Yaqan Nukiy School is a two-story building with several classrooms for 79 students from Pre- School to grade 7 Mary became an advocate for children in care and became a Foster Parent. She fought the Ministry for Social Services and was successful in obtaining Day Care services for the band.
In the eighties, Mary was now a seasoned politician and the Nation was on a sobriety move. There was an obvious need for a residence for those who were in substance recovery. With the Nation Drug and Alcohol committee and LKB Council, a Recovery Home was established. Knowing this was only a start, Mary spearheaded and was successful in establishing the Recovery Home as a full- fledged Treatment Center. Mary ran the facility herself for many years. In the early nineties, the Ktunaxa Kinbasket Wellness Centre became successful province wide and went into Mobile Treatment.
A small James Bay community in the province of Quebec, and home of Chief Bill Diamond, contacted the Wellness Centre and for the next two years, Mary and a small group of Substance Abuse Counsellors delivered several six-week programs. This led to many more contracts throughout BC and the rest of Canada. Mary was employed with the Wellness Centre until it was relocated from the Lower Kootenay band in 2005.
Today when you think of wellness and sobriety in the Ktunaxa Nation, you think of Mary Basil who had the warmest eyes and a genuine smile for everyone she met and therefore it is fitting that a facility that provides programming that is culturally grounded and supportive of traditional ways of healing along with a full range of withdrawal management services is named the Mary Basil Recovery House and is located in Cranbrook.
Mary was passionate about her Ktunaxa language and culture and practiced her Ktunaxa spiritually. In the book called "Not So Long Ago" Mary is quoted as saying "I feel fortunate that I never did lose the language, despite the residential school. I guess it was because I was always around my grandmother and others. I can understand what the old people are talking about. When you hear it in my language, you feel it inside; when it is translated to English, it changes somehow, a part of it gets lost. We should continue teaching our children no matter who our parents were. If you have Ktunaxa blood you are part of us. I think the history should come from all the people....... That is the true version of us."
After retiring form counselling and politics, Mary found another passion and her motto was: she did not meet a bingo hall she did not like. Mom had a big heart, always giving; she bought a lady a bus ticket out of her own money so she could go back to be her foster mom up North.
Mom always wanted to celebrate people's accomplishments because she felt people needed to be acknowledged and appreciated. Mom's life was all about being humble. Without a doubt, Mary had paid her dues and Mary needs a rest.
Rest in Peace, Mary.
Mary was predeceased by husbands, Louie, Zack and Jack, sons Randy, Zack Jr., and Louie, Jr., her sister Irene and brother Albert, and is survived by her children, Barb, Rusty (Gloria), Arlene, Sheryl, Rhonda (Buford), George, and adopted son Dallas, her brother Roy and sisters Cecille and Amy and numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.