Marie Nolan was an influential Ojibway woman from the Garden River First Nation who was instrumental in developing many community initiatives. She worked on projects related to recreation, infrastructure, economic development, education and more over her lifetime. Marie cared deeply about her community and improving life for its members. She will be remembered for her contributions to nation building and community development.

1. “A comprehensive plan should educate a
community, it should address the social
fears, concerns and stigmas people have, and it
should provide a practical knowledge on how
to address the issue” – Alan Ross,

2. “...after 23 years in council this is the
proudest moment in my life when we’re
honouring one of our citizens that has
accomplished something so huge – he is a
Stanley Cup winner!” – Chief Lyle Sayers of
Garden River First Nation
“...Jordan, you are a leader for us all and we as
leaders, Chiefs and Councillors, I ask you to work
with us to defeat these awful things in our
communities so our young ones can have fun and
continue to enjoy celebrations like this” – Deputy
Grand Chief Glen Hare

5. “Gardens, scholars say, are the first sign of a commitment to a
community and by their connection to the land, they are
connected to one another.” – Anne Raver

9. “It's the flock, the grove, that matters. Our
responsibility is to species, not to specimens; to
communities, not to individuals” – Sara Stein

14. “In every community, there is work to be done. In
every nation, there are wounds to heal. In every
heart there is the power to do it.” – Marianne
Williamson

18. “Community engagement is just as important as
education, criminal justice, or urban development, because
we cannot tell what to teach, what should be illegal, or how
to develop a community without engaging people.” – Peter
Levine

22. “Without a sense of caring there can be no sense of
community.” – Anthony D’Angelo

41. “All growth depends upon activity. There is no
development physically or intellectually without
effort, and effort means work” – Calvin Coolidge

79. ``...First Nations share one commonality and belief: the only way
to become an economically independent, self-governing nation is
through the development of significant and sustainable own
source revenues`` - Ted Williams

90. “...we lost our father at a young age and
martial arts helped to teach us life skills and
discipline to get us through tough times” –
guest speaker Anthony Pettis, UFC Fighter
“...a lot of people here drink alcohol, if there is
something we can do about that because it is
mostly underage drinking and it’s a big
problem” – Emily Southwind, Sagamok
Anishnawbek, on promoting healthy lifestyles

95. “...better road maintenance because my cousin
fell in a pothole and broke his leg” – Julian
McNichol , Sagamok, on what to improve in
his community
“...I would like a cleaner reserve and
more garbage bins because I don’t like
“...more recreational activities to keep the walking and seeing garbage
youth busy, like camping trips” – Trinity everywhere” – Mitch
Gokoko, Sagamok Anishnawbek, on ideas for Manitowabi, Sagamok
the youth in the community Anishnawbek, on ideas for a cleaner
community

96. Marie Nolan is an Ojibway born in the city of Toronto, Ontario and
raised on Christian Island, otherwise known as the Beausoleil First
Nation. She became a member of the Garden River First Nation upon
her marriage to husband, Terry in 1972. Sadly, Terry passed on to the
Spirit World in March 2010 and this month would have marked their
38th year of marriage. She is the mother of three girls, Angela, Brandi
and Debra, and is a grandmother of eight.
Marie has and continues to be instrumental in the development of a
variety of initiatives within the Garden River First Nation. Notably
the Shke-Sahkehjewaosa Community Centre; the GRFN Ball Park;
early stages of the Four-lane Highway Planning Development;
establishment of the Anishinabek Nation Credit Union; preliminary
study work for the proposed Industrial Park; the GRFN Bingo
Enterprises; the Aboriginal Information Technology Centre; and the
Education Recreation Centre.
Throughout her life, Marie has participated in a number of
organizational development activities within the Aboriginal
community including: working with the Toronto Native Canadian
Centre, the Ontario Metis Outreach Program, Native Big Brothers
through UOI, as well as the Sault Ste. Marie Indian Friendship Centre.
Marie was caring and mindful of her community's needs and she will
be greatly missed.