Nzhishenh norman In loving memory of Norman Recollet July 8, 1927 – January 11, 2019 Norman will be fondly remember as a wise, loving, kind and humorous man of 91 years of age. Norman was a proud son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and Uncle (5 Generational Uncle). Norman was born in 1927 on the Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory. He was the only surviving child of Annie Wakegijig and Alex Recollet. His siblings were: Philip, Bella, Eli, Margaret, Sam, Stella and Isadore. Norman married his wife Muriel in 1957 and shared a life together until she passed on into the Spirit World in 2012. Muriel gifted Norman with her two children: Eddy and Carol (both predeceased) who gifted them with grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Norman was a cultural treasure, full of knowledge and willingness to share those teachings with everyone he knew. Norman was a silent warrior who fought for the reclamation and protection of the inherent rights of the Anishinaabe people. Norman remained a humble man regardless of his significant contributions and accomplishments as a warrior. Norman was a defender of the land and the people. He began his duty as land protector as a water guide to campers in the waters of Killarney at the young age of 14. He continued his journey as defender of lands and resources when he and his wife Muriel returned home to Wahnapitae First Nation in 1964. His vision was for the preservation and protection of our traditional territory. They built Post Creek Campground into a business and maintained it for many years. Norman became a friend to many and created an ever-growing extended family with his campers. He was instrumental in the process of the WFN land claim. He had much pride in the work he engaged in. He was a lumberjack and served in the USA Army – 82nd Airborn Regiment. He was very proud to be an Iron Worker and member of the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers. He worked on the Mackinaw Bridge, as well as other bridges in Saginaw and Kalamazoo, Michigan. In July of 1972, Norman was elected the first Customary Chief of Wahnapitae First Nation and devoted 28 years of duty in his role as Chief. In 1979, one of his most prominent movements was his journey to England alongside of other First Nation leaders to meet the Queen. This journey was successful in ensuring the rights of First Nations were preserved and entrenched in the Canadian Constitution. The township of Recollet located near Wawa, Ontario, was named after Norman with a certificate and the map of the township. The document was dated in 1974 from the Government of Ontario in recognition of the valuable contribution to the development of the region. His name appears on all official maps, records and documents of the Province of Ontario since June 27, 1974. In 2012, Norman was recognized by the Wahnapitae First Nation with the health centre created in his name “Norman Recollet Health Centre.” Norman was so authentic in his truth that it gestured you to be authentic in your pursuit of knowledge, truth and to uphold your individual integrity in the collective duty to the preservation of the Anishnaabe way of being and living. His contributions were immeasurable, his reputation immense, his humility legendary.
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