Halfway River First Nation mourns loss of esteemed councillor, Linda Brady

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C.  — Halfway River First Nation (HRFN) Councillor Linda Brady’s daughter says her mother will be remembered as “someone who stood up” for her people.

“She definitely was a fighter,” said Tracy LePage, who resides in Charlie Lake. “She’s was a force of nature in all of our lives.”

“She took care of my dad. She took care of my brother. She took care of the Halfway community.”

Brady passed away this week at the age of 69, and the First Nations community has rallied around to show support.

“[Chief Darlene Hunter] told me so many people that want to pay their respects and are very upset to hear that she had passed away,” said LePage.

Born in Vancouver, Brady graduated from Charles Tupper Secondary School in 1970.

Eventually settling in Williams Lake, she became a member of Halfway River First Nation by marriage.

The Brady Ranch, located outside of the First Nation, was started by LePage’s paternal great-grandfather.

LePage’s fondest memories growing up were of living off the land, hunting, berry picking, and embracing the family’s Indigenous roots.

“It was roughing it,” said LePage. “There was no electricity, no running water. You had to pack your water from the lake up to the cabin. “We spent a lot of time out there.”

In her teenage years, LePage took up beadwork.  As she moved into her 20s and started her own family, she eventually taught her mother the Indigenous pastime.

“My mom wanted to learn,” said LePage. “I gave her all of my beading supplies and so she took that over for me.”

LePage said she had called her mother “a couple of days” before her passing.  Her parents had gotten sick, and she heard it in her mother’s voice.

“I know they had been sick for a while,” said LePage.  “Her voice when I spoke to her, I said ‘you sound sick.’ She said, ‘I am. But I’m getting better.’ and she thought she was.”

Eventually, after being admitted to the hospital, tests determined Brady had developed pneumonia and a septic infection in addition to contracting COVID. 

Brady had served on the HRFN council since moving north in 2017.  

She is survived by her two children, her husband of nearly 47 years, and six grandsons.