It is with heavy hearts that our family announces the passing of MARY DORINE RABBIT (MANY FINGERS) on January 21st, 2024. Dorine was a mother, Grandmother, Great-grandmother, Daughter, Sister, Sister-in-law, Auntie, Friend, and a Dedicated Catholic Elder from the Blood Nation. Born on July 4th, 1945, In Cardston, Alberta. Dorine was the daughter of the late Helen and Wallace Many Fingers Sr. including her brothers Wallace Jr Many Fingers, Tony Many Fingers, Maurice Jr Many Fingers, and sisters Pauline McCallen, Dolores Day Chief, Lois Frank and Crystal Many Fingers. She was married to Albert Tony Rabbit and raised four children together: Colinda Rabbit, Wendy Standing Alone, Audie Rabbit, and Nicole Rabbit. Grandchildren: Aylssa, Dakota, Kyle, Jesse, Julia, Nikko, Micheal, Kateri, Joel, Ali, Sela and Nathan. Great Grandchildren: Seianna, Miley, Phoenix, Drezus, Marcus, Avianna, Elias, Kailer, Mathias, Gabriel, Romeo, Aaliyah, Landon, Asher, Isaiah, Carter.

Dorine was a talented student, graduating High School at St. Mary’s RC Residential School. Dorine was selected in 1967 to represent the Bloods as one of the Indian princesses at the Native Expo Pavilion in Montreal.

One of the first Bloods to obtain teaching credentials, a BA in education and an MA from the University of Toronto, She dedicated many years to the goal of quality Indian education services and restoring the Blackfoot language.

Dorine with Marvin Fox, Dorothy Rabbit, Phillip Aberdeen, and others operated the first social development program on the Reserve for Kainai Industries worker’s families in 1972. Dorine was a musician who sang joyful songs and in 1995 hosted a Bluegrass music festival. At age 50 Dorine accomplished her goal of climbing Chief Mountain.

Dedicated to Indian Control of Indian Education. Dorine served a term on the Blood Band Council with Head Chief Jim Shot Both Sides in 1976. She chaired the Education Committee when the Blood Tribe voted to take over the Reserve Schools: Led the Blood Tribe, with Richard Mills and Helen Many Fingers, in the takeover of Indian education on the Blood Reserve in 1988.

With Rufus Good Striker and others on the Constitution Committee, they laid the groundwork for self-determination via independent custom elections, band law and order bylaws and a new Blood Tribe Police. Dorine was strongly committed to democratic governance while on the Council and Also helped with protest groups who demanded the same.

Dorine came from the Fish Eaters Clan and was adopted by Iipakinamaiksi Clan by marriage. Nelson and Katie Rabbit loved Dorine as their daughter. Dorine fulfilled that role as daughter and more so to the entire family. She was loved by all. This greatly influenced her life and career, as she developed with the Tribe’s Elders the first comprehensive Blackfoot language curriculum for the Blood Tribe Education Society and represented the Blood Education program at the Blackfoot Language Symposium in 1991. She devoted 40 years as an in-class educator serving not just Bloods but hundreds of Indian students on and off the Reserve with the Peigan and Westwind school boards.

Dorine demonstrated her commitment to Catholic education by operating, with her Mother Dr. Helen Many Fingers and many Catholic parents the Saint Kateri Catholic School on the Reserve for two years. Dorine defended denominational school rights appearing before a Parliamentary Committee considering changes to the Indian Act.

Dorine took part in the Blood delegation sent to meet the Pope in Edmonton to hear the Catholic Church apologize for its role in Canada’s cultural genocide at the Residential schools. Dorine was also a survivor of coerced and forced sterilization of indigenous women she was currently pursuing to set a precedent to ensure indigenous rights are protected and honoured and continuing her legacy to care and protect all.

Dorine went on many pilgrimages to Mexico and Marmora to strengthen her faith. She was a devout Catholic who served on the Blood Tribe Parish Council for many years. She belonged to community prayer groups and was involved in the Cursillo movement. She loved going to Lac Ste. Anne every year with her family and friends. Dorine always enjoyed celebrating Sunday mass with her family and attending church in Standoff with Father Pawel Andraz. She had many friends and spiritual sisters including Agna Bergant and Lorna Keras. She left her family a lifetime filled with accomplishments that included her Blackfoot culture and language, education, hard work and determination, ethics, and friendship. But the greatest gift to all was how she walked fearlessly forward to shine her light. Her wish was for her family to follow her teachings and guidance to lead a spiritual life filled with peace.

She is cherished and will be greatly missed by all.

A Wake will be held at TANNER CENTRE, Cardston, AB, on Wednesday, January 31, 2024, from 6 – 11 P.M. Then will continue at Doreen’s residence all night.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at ST. MARY’S IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CATHOLIC CHURCH, Blood Reserve, AB, on Thursday, February 1, 2024, at 11:00 A.M. with Father Pawel Andrasz O.M.I. celebrating.

Following the Funeral Mass, Doreen will be laid to rest in Standoff at the Iipakinamaiksi family cemetery.