Therese Jeremick’ca dedicated her life to the community of Whati and its residents, serving as a community health-care representative for over 25 years.
The late Jeremick’ca is now set to be memorialized with a re-naming ceremony of the health centre for her outstanding contributions to community on Oct. 4.
“The building will stand as a lasting reminder of her commitment to health care and her people,” says long-time friend and nurse, Anna Felix.
“Her kindness knew no bounds. Her generosity was unbelievable. Her energy level for the well-being of people was an inspiration to me,” she says.
“She was a leader in the healthcare community.”
They called her Miss Jam.
Serving over 25 years at the Whati Health Center, Jeremick’ca was no stranger to answering the call.
(Photo courtesy of Katrina Jeremick’ca)
Jeremick’ca exceeded job expectations, volunteered her time, translated in Tłı̨chǫ and even made house calls during Bingo nights.
Almost three years since she’s passed and “the hole that she left behind we cannot fill. We have not even come close to filling her job.”
After 11 years of working together through outbreaks and a pandemic, Felix says the biggest lesson she taught her was how to listen.
“It was a wonderful lesson for me because by doing that, I learned so much more,” she says.
“Her spirit will live forever in all of us. Not a day goes by that we don’t talk about her.”
Jeremick’ca was a single parent to five children and passed away on March 3, 2021, after a sudden and mysterious bacterial infection entered her bloodstream.
Nearly two years after her death, Katrina Jeremick’ca, her youngest daughter finally got her request approved by the Tłı̨chǫ Community Services Agency (TCSA) and Whati Government to rename the building in honour of her mother.
“This is something that our board unanimously supported,” says Kevin Armstrong, chief executive officer for the TCSA.
“It’s a feeling of pure joy,” says Katrina, “It’s so well deserved. She loved her job, she loved her community.”
“I remember growing up and witnessing her at work being so proud to hold her position. She would help the doctors, the dentists, and the eye clinics that would come. She would even help the janitor over the weekend.”
Jeremick’ca pictured with an Elder at the health center (Photo courtesy of Katrina Jeremick’ca)
Jackson Lafferty is the Tłı̨chǫ grand chief and nephew to Jeremick’ca.
Lafferty remembers spending much of his youth with her at his grandparent’s house.
“My auntie Therese was a role model, and she was Auntie to almost everybody walking through the health center,” he says.
Remembering the fond memories and celebrating her is “going to be exciting and at the same time might be emotional, but it’s going to be happy emotional.”
Lafferty says she even impacted his leadership style.
When it came to gossip, that is something she wouldn’t stand for.
“I truly respected my auntie for that,” he says, “that was something I admired her for, something I took away as part of my leadership style, still sharing that today.”
A ceremony, feast and drum dance will kick off celebrations in early October.
The Covid health team. (Photo courtesy of Anna Felix)
