Rhonda Larrabee
On April 4th, TMS member Rhonda Larrabee said “goodbye” to the world.
Rhonda was a long‑time member of the Society and deeply involved in its life. Social events? The BBQ—she helped organize it. Serving food? Yes. The Annual General Meeting? She’d be there, checking off your name and handing you a ballot. Strategy meeting? She would be there too, helping her husband (and TMS President) Bryan organize everyone’s thoughts.
Events with Rhonda in charge—or even just helping—ran like clockwork. Why? Because she knew what had to be done, and then she told anybody standing around what to do. She didn’t ask. She told. (Always in a nice way, and always with a smile.) And you did what she said.
Strong personality? Of course. But she was the Chief of the Qayqayt First Nation.
Getting there, though, took grit, determination, and that strong personality—because the Qayqayt Nation was not supposed to exist. And it would not have, if not for Rhonda.
A smallpox epidemic in 1904 and the increasing encroachment of European settlement along the banks of the Fraser River in New Westminster and Brownsville decimated the band. In 1916, a federal commission closed the reserve and ordered its residents to leave. Then in 1951, the federal government effectively dissolved the band altogether.
Many years later, Rhonda decided to trace her heritage. When she discovered this history, she resolved to have the federal government once again recognize the Qayqayt Nation. It took years, but in 1994 she achieved that goal.
That was not the end of the journey. She then led the Nation down the long and difficult path toward treaty. She had nearly reached that goal when she was taken from her community. Someone else will continue along that path, but Chief Rhonda Larrabee will always be remembered as the person who began the journey.
The Society wishes to express its heartfelt condolences to her husband Bryan, her children, and their families. Our Society will survive Rhonda’s passing, but we are much poorer for her departure.
Thank you, Rhonda, for all you gave to us.
And goodbye.
(Photos of Rhonda & Bryan, courtesy Sue Walker)
