Janet Cochrane

Janet Cochrane, CM (March 1, 1912 – December 6, 1994) received the Order of Canada in 1989.

Janet Cochrane (née Williams) was born March 1, 1912 in Fisher Bay, Manitoba. Her family's name originally was Papaniakus when they lived in Norway House, Manitoba but they had it legally changed it to Williams upon settling in Canada.Her father had purchased land and a fishing port and made a comfortable living for his family. Janet had three sisters and two brothers.

She met her future husband Arthur Cochrane, in Fisher River during the summer holidays. Janet attended a Catholic school and Arthur attended a residential school in Brandon, Manitoba. Later, Janet and Arthur married. Arthur went to work for Janet's father, but before he could work for his father-in-law, Arthur had to relinquish all of his treaty rights to work off of the reserve because one could not live and work in Fisher Bay while maintaining treaty status.

Janet Cochrane had eight children; four, however, died from pneumonia while still infants.She raised two girls, Frances and Margaret, and two sons, Edmund and Lawrence.In 1954, Arthur became very ill, almost dying; although he pulled through, he was left without his sight due to the illness.In 1955, the Cochrane family had to leave Fisher Bay in order to find better care for Arthur.Frances stayed behind so she could finish high school.Upon arriving in Winnipeg, Janet went to work as a housekeeper in the River Heights, Winnipeg.Her sons and daughter also worked helping to support their family.Janet and Arthur were married for 47 years when in 1978,Arthur Cochrane suddenly died.

Janet and a friend, Amy Clements, were thinking about a meeting place for First Nation people, where their families from all over Manitoba and Canada could meet and share and talk about their heritage with each other.

In 1956, Janet and Amy, the originators of the Friendship Centre concept, developed the Indian and Métis Friendship Centre in Winnipeg, which was the first Friendship Centre to officially incorporate. It was the first of this kind of meeting place in Canada.

In 1958 their doors opened, the first Friendship Centre in Canada was called the Winnipeg Friendship Centre.In the early days of their movement, the Friendship Centre was largely dependent on volunteers.These volunteers helped with fund-raising events and relied on donations and grants from the Municipal, Provincial and Federal Governments.Janet and Amy assisted First Nation and Métis people moving into urban areas who were seeking a better life for themselves and their families.Janet organized and worked behind the scenes.She volunteered at the Indian and Métis Friendship Centre for over 35 years, declining offers to be paid for her work. She has served as general impetus, motivator, and coordinator for fundraising and hands-on worker for any group or project designed to help First Nations people adjust to city life.

Janet also had another dream which she fulfilled in 1984.She approached her daughter Frances, who was an avid volunteer at the Indian and Métis Friendship Centre, with the fact that there was no senior's housing complex for First Nation Elders in Manitoba.She felt that First Nation Elders deserved a place that they could call their own.In 1984, Janet and Frances applied for a grant at the Core Area Initiative to do a study for a First Nation Elders Housing Complex.

This grant consisted of 2 phases: firstly money for a First Nation Senior's Housing complex, which Janet and Frances received in 1984. Then, Kekinan Inc. was born.Janet and a friend Lena Settee named Kekinan, which means "Our Home, Our Place" in the Cree language.This housing complex is still up and running and is located in the heart of the core area in Winnipeg.The second phase, which is still under scrutiny, was supposed to have on-site health care services available to First Nation Elders; however, due to government intervention, nothing has come of the second phase.

On April 20, 1989, Janet was recognized for her contributions and was nominated to receive the Order of Canada.Initially, she did not want to accept her award, but finally did, thinking that it would bring light and maybe even inspire other First Nations people to pursue their dreams.On October 18, 1989, Janet went to the investiture ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, Ontario to proudly accepted her award on behalf of all First Nation People.

Janet has also been acknowledged for her work from the Indian and Métis Friendship Centre.The centre has named a hall after her, and had several portraits painted of her. She has been a long-time member of the Native Women's Group and was the President of the Indian and Métis Senior Citizen's Group of Winnipeg.

On December 6, 1994, at 82 years of age, Janet Cochrane lost her fight with cancer and died in Winnipeg with family by her side.