Wilma Pelly, the Canadian indigenous actress best known for her role as Elsie Tsa Che on the series North of 60*, died in Calgary on 28 December 2020. Born Wilma Episkenew in Fort Qu'Appelle SK on 5 March 1937, Ms Pelly was a member of the Muscowpetung Saulteaux First Nation.
Her daughters, Leeanna Rhodes and Stella Pelley, said their mother leaves a legacy of hard work and perseverance, having worked in factories and at a gardening centre and in factories before finding work as an extra in the early 1990s.
The rest, as they say, is history. Ms Pelley worked in TV, film and theatre for 25 years. Her daughter told CBC, "She had no training in being an actress or anything like that, but she nailed it. Nobody in our family had ever done anything like that, so we were really proud of her...and she loved what she did.
Her North of 60 character, Elsie Tsa Che, resonated greatly with its audience, and with good reason, for Elsie Tsa Che closely resembled Wilma Pelly herself. Elsie was a highly respected elder who could communicate her disapproval with a mere look. Her daughters said the role was written for Ms Pelly because of her connection to her family and indigenous culture.
"I think a lot of viewers really related to my mom," said Leanna Rhodes. "I believe a lot of people related to her like she was their Kookum [the Cree word for grandmother], and all of her teachings on the show, they learned from."
She added that becoming something of a legendary figure among First Nations communities across Canada was a meaningful part of her legacy. "What it meant for me to see my mom on screen was that there were always people out there who gave other Nations, and other people, a chance."
* Footnote: Walt has reviewed North of 60 not once but twice! See "Soap opera review: 'North of 60'" (WWW 9/10/18) and "Walt recommends a soap opera. Really? Yes, really!" (WWW 26/9/20 - includes video clip). Yes, I like it that much!
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