Obituary of Joseph James Chipesia

Joseph Chipesia

1958-2024

Joe Chipesia was born to Annie Field (Chipesia) & George Chipesia on January 17^th 1958. And this is the life of Joesph James Chipesia in his own words.

“ Im not sure where I was born, I don’t know. I could be born at the old reserve or it was somewhere out in the bush. I’ve always lived here. I’ve travelled down to Prince George and I worked all over the place. Rocky Mountain House, Pintcher Creek, Grande Prairie, and the other side of Calgary,  Power saw work. It’s called Heli-Outfits or something. I liked it but not when it’s foggy, mountains eh? I’ve worked in Chetwynd and Hudson Hope. Power Saw and sometimes packed really heavy loads. Like you pack somebodys lunch, food, soda, 5 gallon gas and oil. Winter time we worked in Bucking Horse, west this way winter time that’s the toughest, snow up to your belly. We worked east from there up to the mountains. Worked across Prophet too up here.  I was pretty much in shape back then. I’ve done some pipe laying work up there. Both my parents were Beaver Indian. I think everyone came from all over the place, they scattered them. In the olden days they lived all over the place down to the mountains they called Horse Track. They eat by catching fish at Fish Lake. I think I had 5 brothers. I think 7 sisters or more, I don’t know. I grew up on the old reserve. Those old buildings, wood stove, you gotta cut your own wood with a hand saw. I think when I was sick they sent me to Prince Rupert for a year. Couldn’t walk I was really sick. A way long time ago. I don’t know when. Most of my time I spent in jail, thats alcohol. Alcohol gets you in trouble, I don’t want to go anywhere, I don’t like towns I like all the people here, but I got to sober up with them. Its just will power, I’ve got to do it before I die here. Now it’s making me really sick. When you past that 50 you’ve gotta quit. I used to like hunting, walk down to the river, fishing mostly, make a fire and drink some tea. Up the road and go to the other place for fishing about 25 miles from here. Trutch and towards Bucking Horse. They used to call it The Gathering Place in the Indian Language. We use to go across the river with horses. Alex Chipesia had his hunting area back out there. The Gathering Place was before me. That’s what they called it. I think the flu just about wiped them all out a long time ago. Moose has got to be my favourite thing to hunt. They make drymeat out of it. The best time in August, that’s when its fat. Everyone likes that, I had a family once. I lost 4 kids and 2 of them are living right here, one with her kids and Maranda Tsakoza. She is living in Camp right now. Harley Tsakoza, he died in heart surgery when he was just a boy. Jamie she died in a car accident she was young too”                           – Joe Chipesia 2014

As some of you may know Joesph had a nickname “Chicken”, how he got that nickname was when he was younger, he slept by the fire and stayed up all night and fed the fire because he was too “Chicken” to fall asleep.

Joe and Gloria had a total of 5 kids together Jamie, Harley, Shane, Jared & Maranda. But Joe raised Duane and Deshanna since they were small and loved them both as if they were his own.

After the loss of Harley, Joe & Gloria tried for another baby, and were blessed with their baby Maranda on Jan 19^th 1995, the best birthday present Joe ever had, after Maranda was born she was spoilt from the time she was born until Joe’s last remaining days.

Joe’s grandchildren gave him a nickname of their very own “Poppa Joe. Joe and Gloria raised Cole since he was a baby and when Cole was able to start talking his older siblings would try to get him to say “Grandpa Joe” but Cole could barely talk and would call him “Poppa Joe”, and that name has stuck with him for over 18 years.

Joesph was never known to be a cheap person, he was known for being super generous and always having his door open giving friends and family whatever they needed and sometimes a little bit more. Even though Joe could not play guitar, he didn’t care. He would play it anyway, and even wrote his own song. He wasn’t shy to sing it for you too “Who is that woman”. One way to know that he was comfortable around you was, if he called you “China or Blackie” or even say “What THEE” to some of the nonsense you were telling him.

It gives us great comfort knowing that he is reunited with his children Harley, Jamie, Duane & Jarret. 

Until we meet again China.