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Mural honours slain Calgarian woman

By Suzanne Wilton, Calgary Herald October 4, 2010 Be the first to post a comment

CALGARY - When Gloria Black Plume was stomped to death in a Ramsay alley, local
artist Xstine Cook vowed to honour the aboriginal
woman with a mural in the southeast inner-city community.

Cook made good on that promise, unveiling Sunday an art installation on the door
of her garage that faces the alley where Black
Plume was slain 11 years ago.

"I hope she rests in peace," an emotional Cook told a group of the woman's
relatives who attended the unveiling of the colourful
mural that was spray painted by a young aboriginal artist, Jesse Gouchey.

It was in March of 1999 that Black Plume's bloodied and battered body was
discovered in the lane behind a home -- which Cook would
later move into -- in the 1000 block of 20th Avenue S.E.

The 49-year-old woman, who suffered an alcohol addiction and a few months before
her death had ended up on the street, was picked up
by two men who agreed to give her a ride to a nearby truck stop.

The encounter, however, turned deadly and ended in Black Plume's violent death.

John Jemal Karaibrahimovic was initially convicted of second-degree murder but
was acquitted at a subsequent trial. Throughout the
court proceedings, he insisted his friend, Jason Robidoux, killed Black Plume
after the pair had spent the night drinking at a strip
bar.

But no one else was ever charged, leaving Black Plume's family unable to find
closure or justice.

Black Plume's eldest child and only daughter, Kaily Bird, said she is deeply
touched that a stranger wanted to honour her mother.

The painting, she said, is symbolic because it depicts a mother bird with its
babies sitting on a street branch under a crimson sky.

Black Plume's maiden name was Bird, and she raised six children alone.

"She was everything to us. She was kind, always laughing. She was a loving
person," said Bird.

"My mom wasn't just some aboriginal woman who was forgotten."

"I'm honoured and thankful that someone would honour my mom like that."