On behalf of the Nunatsiavut Government and all Beneficiaries of the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement, President Johannes Lampe is extending heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of respected Inuit Elder Jean Crane of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, who passed away yesterday.

“Ms. Crane was a beacon of wisdom, strength, and cultural pride,” said President Lampe. “Her passing is loss not only to Labrador Inuit, but to all who were touched by her teachings, her art, and her unwavering commitment to Indigenous knowledge and education.”

Born and raised in North West River and Sheshatshiu, Ms. Crane lived at the intersection of Innu and Inuit cultures. As the daughter of trapper Gilbert Blake and great-granddaughter of Lydia Campbell, she carried forward a legacy of resilience and deep connection to the land. She was the only one of her family of 13 to attend high school, and was connected to education ever since – combining her deep ancestral ways of knowing and living from the land with an insatiable curiosity and passion for learning.

An accomplished artist known for representing Labrador’s animals and landscapes in a variety of media, as well as a healer who blended her training as a nursing assistant with her traditional knowledge of the healing capacities of the land, Ms. Crane shared her wisdom both locally and nationally.

Ms. Crane’s advocacy for the cultures, lands, waters, and spiritualities of Labrador was matched by her tireless efforts to make Indigenous education accessible and rooted in Northern realities. She served on Memorial University’s Board of Regents and played a pivotal role in the development of the Inuit Bachelor of Social Work and Inuit Bachelor of Education programs, mentoring countless students as an Elder and teacher. She also contributed her voice and vision to the Labrador Institute’s Strategic Task Force. In 2021, Ms. Crane was awarded the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, for her contribution to Memorial University and the culture and society of Labrador. In recognition of her years of service and contributions, she was recently awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal.

“Ms. Crane was deeply respected, sharing her wisdom, love, and strength with everyone around her,” says President Lampe. “Her spirit will live on in the land she cherished, the people she taught, the art she created, and the stories she told. She will be missed, but her legacy will live on for generations to come.”

Media Contact:
Bert Pomeroy
Director of Communications
(709) 896-8582