In Memory of Kevin Loon

My Baby Bro!

My brother was a gift from God! Not only a gift from God but a gift which Diane, Kevin’s biological mother, made possible. Diane, your gift to us allowed us to love him unconditionally. Many in the Cree Nation and in the Innu Nation loved him. Diane and family, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

He was two days old when my family adopted him. Hold out your hand, like this, that was how small he was. Two pounds! He was a fighter right from the start, never gave up! I remember the day very clearly when my parents asked us what we would think if we had a baby in the family. I remember feeling very excited because, being the only boy in my family, I get to have a brother, I thought to myself. Not that I have anything against my sisters and I enjoyed getting spoiled up to that point.

My baby brother was always by my side. Whenever I wouldn’t be home when it was his bedtime, he would wait up for me. When he knew I was home, he would come into my room. He even wanted to sleep in my bed whenever I would have my girlfriend over.

My parents relied on him to keep me on the straight path. My parents would ask him to accompany me wherever I would go. I enjoyed his company. One Goose Break, they told him to go with me to Mistissini to get supplies we needed. We took off early in the morning to go to Mistissini and got back to the camp in no time! I told him not to tell my dad how fast we were going. But, being the reliable baby brother he was, he told my dad we went 120 to 130 km/h. He got me into trouble.

My brother had a hard time dealing with the passing of our father. He did not know how to deal with his passing. He didn’t understand how we were able to “move on” and felt alone. He was stuck in his grieving. I am thankful that his friends were there for him. Nathan, Lee Roy, Marcel, Eric, Ben, Patrick, Benjamin, Joe Max, Pelle, Nathaniel, Ernest and many others, thank you for being there for my brother. Recently, I noticed he was living life and I believed he had finally stopped his grieving for our late father, Allan. He started to enjoy life out on the land, taking every opportunity to spend time out there. In his previous hunting trips, he would come over to our place and he would say, “I didn’t get a moose bro, but I’ll bring some moose meat for you and your family.” On his last trip and with the news that they got moose, I believe my brother finally got his moose.

My brother’s legacy was his ability, without hesitation, to help others. He never refused helping another person when they asked for his help. He had a disability but never ever let it interfere with his life. He did not, ever, quit and never did I hear him say that he couldn’t do anything! He was friendly to everyone! You met him on the street, driving by in a car or in a distance; he would greet you with a big smile and wave. I never thought I would do his eulogy, this early, or that he would be the one doing my eulogy. But here I am, sharing his eulogy to thousands of people. That was my brother though he had many friends across the Cree Nation and the Innu Nation.

The first thing my mother asked when I told her the news of my brother’s passing was, “What am I going to do now?” Mom, Kevin is in a better place and with dad. You did a wonderful job raising a loving, caring, fun and a very respectful young man! I love you mom!

To my baby bro Kevin Lee, we love you and we miss you. You have a beautiful daughter and we promise to continue your loving and caring ways with her. When I look at her, I see you when you were her age. I see the most special trait you had, in her, saying things out of the blue and making us laugh. He was always so proud of her, always introducing her as, his daughter Tamara.

On behalf of my family and the Bosum family, we are extremely grateful to family, friends, and the staff of the Cree Nation of Mistissini, the Chief and Council, the Cree Nation and to many, many others who have stood by our side. Your kind gestures and continuous prayers have been of great comfort. Tragedies are not one wishes for but there is comfort in knowing that this tragedy has resulted in my gaining a brother, Jason, thank you for coming into my life and into my family’s life.

We love you all and God bless you all!

Thank you!

Clifford Loon