April 6, 1931 - November 20, 2019
yaa ?a lut previously: ?uu?ath aqwis
BC Language Champion for the Tseshaht and Ditidaht
"A Lifelong Learner, A Community Supporter & Teacher, A Mother, A Grandmother & A Great grandmother"
Kathy Gallic was born on April 6, 1931 on Kukmakimth (Keith Island) in the Broken Group Islands of Barclay Sound. The late Margaret Shewish, (wife of late Chief Adam Shewish) delivered her in the family longhouse.
She was the oldest daughter of Jessic Gallic (nee Campbell), Nitnaht, and Jimmy Gallic, Tseshaht. Kathy had 4 siblings, 3 that reached adulthood: late James Gallic, Willard Gallic and the late Mary-Ann Mack (nee Gallic). She was predeceased by her brother Edward.
As a young woman she married Doug Robinson, a Tseshaht man from the Watts family with roots in Nitnaht.Together they raised 11 children of their own and fostered many others. Their family would grow to include 22 grandchildren and 37 great-grandchildren (still counting).
Kathy was predeceased by her husband Doug Robinson, son Wilfred Robinson, grandson Alexander Lucas and granddaughters Amber Star Little and Niki Robinson and great grandson James Larsen.
She is survived by daughters Katherine, Irene, Joyce, Anne, Jessie, Margaret, Erma, Wanda, Amy and Tracey and grandchildren Richard Lucas Jr., Dawn Zellers, Lana Lucus, Kathy Lucas, Ander Lucas, Tammy Lucas, Jeanette Lucas, Hector Little, Trevor Little, Tracy Little, Nelda Jackson, Marilyn Little, Crystal Little, Howard Little, Kory Robinson, Cody Robinson, James Knighton, Gordon Robinson, Wilfred Robinson, Theresa Robinson and many great grandchildren.
Kathy had a great love for and pride in her heritage and a natural talent for linguistics - she could speak most and understand, write and compute all 16 Nuu-cha-nulth dialects. As a language and cultural teacher she worked at haahuupayak elementary school for 18 years leaving both the children she taught and the school itself with a rich legacy of traditional language and teachings, prayers, song and dance including the first nuuchahnulth curriculum for haahuupayak.
Kathy loved sharing her culture with everyone and this included traditional cooking. So it was natural for her to approach the Kinsmen 50 years ago to started a traditional salmon barbecue at the Fall Fair - her family continues the tradition.
Kathy has worn many hats in her life: daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother ('grans'), linguist, translator, teacher, historian, cultural icon, entrepreneur, community activist (she fundraised for many groups and causes) and friend. She will be missed by all.