Port Moody lowers flags to half-mast to honour life of Qayqayt Chief

She grew up with secrets.

As a young girl, Rhonda Larrabee’s mother denied her Indigenous heritage, telling her daughter they were French and Chinese.

“It was nothing for her to be ashamed of and yet she was,” Larrabee explained in the documentary A Tribe of One. “I want to make it right.”

Larrabee died on Saturday, according to a post from the Qayqayt First Nation. She was surrounded by family.

Her grandfather had lived in a community on the banks of the Fraser River. However, around the time her mother was sent to residential school in Kamloops, the community was lost and the land was sold.

“We were the last family to inhabit the Indian Reserve,” she said.

On the condition that they would only discuss it once, Larrabee eventually convinced her mother to tell her the truth about her ancestry. After her mother’s death Larrabee worked to revive the Qayqayt First Nation, which was considered inactive at the time.

She eventually became the first documented member of the band. In 1994, Larrabee served as chief of what was the only band in Canada without a land base.

Now recognized by all levels of governments, the Qayqayt First Nation remains one of the smallest nations in Canada.

“The history of Qayqayt First Nation was unknown for many years and is a sad story. We have worked tirelessly for many decades to ensure the legacy of our ancestors will live on for many generations,” stated Chief Rhonda Larrabee after being named an Honorary Fellow by Douglas College in 2021.

While strongly identified with New Westminster, the nation’s traditional territory stretches into Port Moody.

“We acknowledge the nation’s deep and ongoing connection to these lands,” stated Mayor Meghan Lahti.

Writing on behalf of council and staff, Lahti offered condolences to the friends and family of Larrabee.

Flags at civic facilities in Port Moody are set to remain at half-mast until April 15.

Toward the end of the Tribe of One documentary, Larrabee talked about her hope to see a great change over the next 20 to 25 years.

“And if not, my children will have to take over from here,” she said.