Norbert Raymond Tanner

The Voice of the Blue Thunderbird

Norbert Tanner, a beloved elder, knowledge keeper, drummer, singer, and proud traditional member of the Waywayseecappo First Nation, began his journey to the spirit world on March 16th, 2026.
Norbert was predeceased by his parents Francis and Louisa Tanner; his siblings Milton, Henry, Edwin, Robert, Francis Jr. (Pat) and a baby sister. His sisters Viola, Margrie, Dorothy and Eleanor.
He is survived by his wife Joyce and sons, Joe (Marsha), Tennessee (Gloria), Gideon (Sheena) and Leroy (Roxanne); his grandchildren, Montana, Dylan, Logan, Hailey, Kaitlyn, Alistair, Tyler, Felicity, Carmine and one great-grandchild Remi.
Norbert was a lifelong promoter of the Ojibway and Sioux traditions as he spent his life walking the good red road, dedicating himself to learning, practicing, and sharing the traditional ways.

Norbert was well known on the powwow trail as a fancy dancer and grass dancer. Him and his family spent many summers attending powwows throughout North America. Norbert was a very kindhearted, non-judgemental, approachable, outgoing person. He made everyone he met feel seen and special, often giving people nicknames, especially his cousins, nephews and nieces. He liked to tease people by grabbing their ears or shoulders in a playful way to make people laugh. He was also a great runner and hockey player. He played for the Northern Lights hockey club and a forward wearing the jersey #21. He loved playing hockey and passed on many tips and tricks to his sons and grandsons. Norbert had a great love of life and meeting new people and hearing their stories from all over the world. His desire and devotion to the community of Waywayseecappo was seen through his work at the CFS, Health Office, Elder Justice Committee, and Treaty 4 Trust Committee. Norbert was a storyteller and knowledge keeper who believed everyone's story should be heard. Here is his life story in his own words:

"The Creator gave every nationality a way of living and a language".

Story telling is part of our culture. Stories of our history, treaty rights, ancestors and individuals need to be shared. Our people say, “share your life story and honor one another while individuals are still alive.” Everyone has a story.

Story telling is part of our culture. Stories of our history, treaty rights, ancestors and individuals need to be shared. Our people say, “share your life story and honor one another while individuals are still alive.” Everyone has a story.

I am sharing my life story and encouraging individuals to do the same so as we get to know each other more in life. We also need to write our living will and witnessed by two family members as to which family members will carry on with our properties and our sacred personal belongings.

In the beginning, there were my grandparents, my parents, nine boys and five girls in my family. I am the third youngest. As a child, I only spoke the Ojibway language. My mom was from the Birdtail Dakota Nation and my dad was Ojibway and one of the farmers in Waywayseecappo."

When I was seven years of age, I was forced by the Government of Canada, like many other children, to attend an Indian Residential School. I attended the Indian Residential for twelve years, which was operated by the Presbyterian church. I had to learn and understand the English language in a very short time. We were not allowed to speak the only language I knew, which was Ojibway. The Residential School had a mixed farm. As I got older, I milked the cows for one year, and then helped feed the cattle the next year. Other boys fed the pigs and cleaned the pig pens. Others fed the chickens and collected the eggs. When we returned to school September, we hauled hay and straw bales. Then we got all the vegetables off the gardens.

I also kept myself busy by being involved in sports and track and field so I wouldn't be so lonely for my parents, siblings and relatives. At each track meet, I would compete in the two-mile event, one mile, half mile and the quarter mile events. There were seven of us on a team that competed in a three-mile cross country event held in Manitoba. Our team placed second. Gordon Bell High School of Winnipeg placed first. There were about thirty school teams that competed.

We had well organized Halloween parties and Christmas gatherings at the Residential School. There were about sixty-five girls and sixty-five boys from Saskatchewan and Manitoba who attended Birtle Indian Residential School.

I came home to Waywayseecappo and lived with my parents and my brothers and sisters. My brothers and I worked for local farmers. At the age of twenty-five, I became one of the band councillors for ten years. I was a teacher aide and the Home and School Co-ordinator at the Rossburn Elementary and Collegiate Schools in the seventies.

In 1973-74, I graduated from the Native Social Counselling course in Brandon, Manitoba. In 1986-88 I graduated from the Child and Family Services Training in Winnipeg, Manitoba. I retired in 2015 after working twenty-three years for West Region Child and Family Services as a Prevention Resource Services and Case Aide worker.

My wife and I fostered children in Care from 1985-2000. We have four sons, Tennessee, Norbert Joseph, Gideon and Leroy. My wife and I have grandchildren and great grandchildren.

I was one of the tour guide and interpreter at Shawenequapek Kipichewina (South Quill camps) in Riding Mountain National Park in Manitoba from 1995-1999. We shared our cultural teachings, pow-wow singing, and dancing to all the tourists of the world who visited the cultural camp.

In March 1998, I went to Warsaw, Poland to promote our camp, cultural singing and dancing. In May 1998 I attended Rendezvous Canada Trade Show in Vancouver, British Columbia. In March, 1999 I attended the World Trade Show in Berlin, Germany.

I was given tobacco in 1997 to sit as one of the four elders in the Waywayseecappo monthly court. We also have elders sharing circles on Mondays before and after court. These court elders have years of sobriety.

Since 1997, I have been on the Treaty Four Trust Committee. There are thirty-four First Nations Communities in the Treaty Four territory. Treaty four trust committee receives instructions from the thirty-four Chiefs as to which projects to work on.

I am a wellness worker at the Waywayseecappo Health Centre since April 4th, 2016, building a healthy community. I was certified in Standard First Aid and CPR/AED level C in 2020. I have certificates for Grief, Edu-Therapy training and Life Skills coach Training level two in 2021.

My sobriety date is April 11th, 1985. My drum group, "The Northern Lights" pow-wow singers recorded a record in 1982 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. I still sing pow-wow songs and dance at pow-wow celebrations in Canada and United States.

Our personal stories will be shared with our families, relatives and friends. Our cultural teaching and language will be passed down to future generations.

In closing, many elders and knowledge keepers encourage our people to share our life stories, honor one another while the people are still alive.

I really enjoyed sharing my life story.

Norbert Tanner
"The Voice of the Blue Thunderbird"

Norbert made an impactful impact on many people he met especially on his wife, sons, and grandchildren. His legacy as a respectful elder for the Waywayseecappo Community and people will never be forgotten.

The family would like to take this time to thank Waywayseecappo band, fire keepers, cooks and anyone who bought food, the pall bearers, cross maker, Waywayseecappo School, the people who bought firewood and all the numerous people who stopped by to visit or sent messages of condolences to the family.

Miigwech / Wopida