TAILFEATHERS Sharla

It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of SHARLA DAWN TAILFEATHERS (Aipottaki – Flying Woman) at the age of 45 years; born on November 6, 1966. She is the loving mother of Jarred and NoahTailfeathers; survived by her beloved friend Reno, father to her boys; the loving daughter of Sylvia and the late Leslie “Punch” Tailfeathers; sister to Trevor (Jennifer) and Kyle (Rolanda) Tailfeathers; auntie to Tyler, Sydnee, Jaymee, Maycee, Zac, and Amethest.
Sharla was predeceased by her sister Charmaine Marie; father Punch Tailfeathers; grandparents Albert & Margaret Many Fingers and Ken & Helen Tailfeathers.
Throughout her elementary and junior high years, Sharla was known for her athletic abilities and participated in school sports and also barrel raced in local Indian rodeos.
The one memorable memory family and friends have of Sharla was when she was a toddler. She was a Chicken dancer and would be seen performing at local Indians Days celebrations.
Sharla had the reputation as the adventurous cousin and had no limitations in adventuring to a different country to volunteer to work or just be on an adventurous journey.
After she graduated from the Cardston High School in 1984, she applied to the Lethbridge Community College and completed her 2 year Child and Youth Care diploma program in 1986. In 1987, she applied to the Canada World Youth program offered out of Brighton, Ontario and trained for approximately 3 months to prepare for her assigned habitat project for humanity work in the small community of Choochibaba, Bolivia. A part of her training was to learn how to speak Spanish and she became semi-fluent in speaking the language. Bolivia was her first foreign experience and she enjoyed telling family and friends of her time in that country, having to live a different culture and life-style. In between her travels, she would come home to be with her parents and family before she left again.
It was important for Sharla to remain involved with the Sundance ceremonies, knowing that this spiritual gathering was a part of her Kainai traditional ways. She also participated in other spiritual events such as the sweat lodges. Sharla role modeled her faith to Jarred and Noah by exposing them to the traditional way of life.
Sharla received her degree in Psychology from the John F. Kennedy University in San Francisco, California in June, 1992.
Having an itch to travel again, she travelled to London, England and during her stay she found employment in the London school system for a year as a teacher-aide. She would tell her parents stories of how she would see the Royal family in their horse drawn carriage being driven through the streets on special occasions. She wanted to find out what it was like in the country of Europe so Sharla and two other friends bravely backpacked around Europe for a couple of months. When she returned home, she worked for the Blood Tribe Health Unit and then went for further training at Lac La Biche, Alberta to become a Coordinator for the Brighter Futures Programs for Health Canada.
Sharla’s (Aipottaki) “Circle of Life” has been completed; as her traditional name implies, Aipottaki is making that inevitable Spiritual Journey with our “Creator”.
A Wake Service will be held at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Blood Reserve on Monday, October 29th, 2012 from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. The Funeral Service will be held at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Blood Reserve on Tuesday, October 30th, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. with Canon Allan McCuaig and Reverend Andrew Horne Officiating. Interment in St. Paul’s Cemetery, Blood Reserve.
Email condolences to: legacyfh@telus.net
Arrangements entrusted to Cal Salmon.
Legacy Funeral Homes Ltd.
P.O. Box 208
Cardston, Alberta T0K 0K0
Phone (403) 653-3222
Fax (403) 653-3677
legacyfh@telus.net