DEH GAH GOT'IE KOE/FORT PROVIDENCE
Harriet Geddes has been giving to her community for almost as long as she can remember.

The winners of the 2014 Wise Women Awards, who were honored at the Bread and Roses luncheon in Yellowknife March 8 include Harriet Geddes of Fort Providence for the Deh Cho, from left, Pamela Faith Gordon of Aklavik for the Beaufort-Delta, Patricia Modeste of Deline for the Sahtu, Karen Willy of Yellowknife for the North Slave/Tlicho and Sister Margaret (Maggie) Ann Beaudette of Hay River for the South Slave. - photo courtesy of Status of Women Council of the NWT

The Fort Providence woman was honored March 8 with the 2014 Wise Woman award for the Deh Cho region. The Status of Women Council of the NWT gives the yearly awards out to one woman in each of the five regions in the territory who is dedicated to improving the status of women and who leads, advocates and gives their guidance and wisdom to others.

"It is an honor," Geddes about receiving the award.

Geddes said it wasn't until she was presented with the award that she realized how much she has done in her community and the region. Much of Geddes' actions have come naturally to her.

"A lot of us are just born a natural caregiver," she said.

Geddes learned a lot from her parents who brought her up on the land at the mouth of the Mackenzie River. She also lived with her grandmother and an aunt who taught her about medicinal plants, including what to take and what to leave alone.

Geddes has shared that knowledge with women around the region. She was specifically invited to do so when the Dehcho First Nations' annual assembly was held in Jean Marie River and then in Fort Simpson.

"I find the young mothers were really interested," she said.

Geddes was 10 or 11 years old the first time she remembers helping to care for someone.

"For me it's just part of life," she said.

Her mother and some other women were delivering a baby in Fort Providence. Geddes was given the job of heating the wood oven to a certain temperature and then using it to sterilize the equipment the women were using.

"I thought that was neat," she said.

Caring for others has been a theme throughout Geddes' career, which she began as a community health representative for about three years. She then spent 11 years, beginning in the 1970s, as a court worker. It was during that time Geddes learned about some of the issues in Fort Providence and the surrounding communities.

When the family violence counsellor position was created, Geddes was asked to apply. She held that position for 18 years.

"I'm glad I did," she said.

Sometimes in the smaller communities, women didn't have anyone to help or teach them, said Geddes. In the late 80's, Geddes was also part of the Status of Women Council of the NWT, both as a vice-president and a council member.

Geddes said she made sure that information got to women directly and didn't just stay in band offices or at Friendship Centres. Geddes also volunteered with the Victims Assistance Committee for nine years and was a coroner in Fort Providence, also for nine years.

For almost 12 years, Geddes has been an activity co-ordinator with Dehcho Health and Social Services. As a family violence counsellor, and now in her current position, Geddes takes elders to her camp along the Mackenzie River for at least two weeks in the spring and fall. At the camp, depending on their abilities, the elders smoke fish and gather plants among other activities.

Geddes said she is thankful to the people who nominated her for the award. During the ceremony in Yellowknife, Geddes was praised for her work as a caregiver.

"She is a role model for keeping tradition and cultural values and knowledge alive. Though she has been through many obstacles on her journey, with the ability to help others overcome their grief, health issues and spiritual needs she has become a very powerful advisor. Harriet works tirelessly and effortlessly every day to make a difference for her community," people at the luncheon were told.

The other 2014 Wise Women include Pamela Faith Gordon for the Beaufort-Delta, Patricia Modeste for the Sahtu, Karen Willy for the North Slave/Tlicho and Sister Margaret (Maggie) Ann Beaudette for the South Slave.