Smoke curled into the air from a ceremonial smudge as eight Indigenous drummers sang during 13-year-old Olivia Johnson’s funeral held Tuesday morning at Red Deer’s Festival Hall.
The drummers, who included her father, faced her coffin in tribute to Olivia, who tragically died in Sylvan Lake on April 9.
A comforting quilt was draped over her open casket. Photos featuring Olivia during her short life filled nearby displays.
About 200 people gathered to celebrate Olivia, whose spirit name was Morning Star Walking Eagle.
They were asked to drop their tear-stained tissues into paper bags in the hall marked ‘tear bags’ which are traditionally burned in a sacred fire.
Speakers shared special memories of Olivia, including her brother Joel who said his sister brought light into their lives.
“She loved so hard. She loved everybody. She saw the good in everybody,” said Joel during his eulogy.
“She taught us so much. She taught us how to live without apologies.”
He said she was their family’s birthday cake maker. She wouldn’t let them buy cakes. She was always making something for somebody, and was a master of the ‘eye roll.’
“I’m going to miss her so much. It’s so painful because it’s so early and so tragic.”
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