🌺 Honouring My Indigenous Roots — A Tribute to the Grandmothers Who Carried Us Through
By Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita
I want to share something deeply personal and meaningful: a reflection and tribute to my Indigenous ancestry — a story that spans generations, lands, and languages, rooted in strength, resilience, and love.
I come from a long line of strong, wise women whose stories deserve to be remembered and honoured. My ancestry flows through the powerful lands of the Pacific Northwest, from Oregon up the coast to Sooke, and deeply through the territories of the Songhees Nation.
I have spent time gathering stories, names, and connections — piecing together our tree so that future generations will understand where they come from and how far we’ve come. My ancestors lived through colonization, displacement, and struggle — yet they carried on, raising families, protecting culture, and preserving spirit. 🌿
🌸 Honouring the Grandmothers
This is especially for the grandmothers — the ones whose hands worked tirelessly, who whispered stories in the dark, who stood fiercely in the face of hardship. They were the roots of the tree, grounding us when storms came.
- To my Great Great Great-Grandmothers, whose quiet resilience kept our lineage alive through turbulent times.
- To my all Grandmothers, whose strength runs in my blood and echoes in my memories, teaching me that love is stronger than fear.
- To Marie Ann Louis Frisé-Marguerite S. Maranda dit le Frise —Mary Ann Maranda dit le Frise, Mary Ann Brulé Vautrin, Theresa Elisia and every matriarch before and after — thank you. Your strength runs in my veins. 💛
🌳 Comprehensive Family Tree of Christina Winterlik (Zipolita)
Below is a comprehensive family tree, tracing ancestors and connections — from Oregon to Sooke, BC, through Songhees, Iroquois, Kalapuya, and Coast Salish roots.
🔹 4th Great‑Grandparents
- Louis Shaegoskat (b. 1796) married Louise Shaegoskat (1811–1879)
(French Canadian roots)
🔹 3rd Great‑Grandparents (Brulé / Maranda / Vautrin)
- Joseph I. Brulé (1831–1858) married Marguerite S. Maranda dit Jean‑Baptiste Vautrin (1833–1922)
(French Canadian; possible Coast Salish/T’Sou-ke ancestral mix)
🔹 2nd Great‑Grandparents (Brulé / Poirier & Enos)
- Ellen T. Brulé (1856–1925) married Joseph Poirier (1829–1898)
- Theresa Eliza (Songhees) (1836–1882) married Joseph Enos Sr. (1835–1918), son of João Ignácio d’Almada
(Songhees ancestry and Portuguese lineage)
🔹 3rd Great‑Grandparents (Brulé / Vautrin)
- Mary Ann Brulé (Mary Ann Maranda dit le Frise)(born Marie Ann Louis Frisé) (bapt. 1834–d.1922)
- Daughter of Louis “dit le Frisé” (Iroquois) and Louise (Kalapuya)
- Baptized July 4, 1839 in Oregon
- 1st marriage: Joseph Brulé — six children (only Ellen & Cecile survived)
- Migrated Oregon → Cowlitz → Victoria → Sooke after 1850
- 2nd marriage: Jean Baptiste Vautrin (from 1860) — nine children
🔹 Great‑Grandparents
- From Mary Ann’s 1st marriage: Ellen Brulé → married Joseph Poirier → Mary Ann Poirier (b. 1870–d. 1940)
- From Songhees/Enos line: Joseph Enos Jr. (1867–1918), son of Theresa Eliza and John Enos(Joao Ignacio d' Almada)
🔹 Grandparents
- John J. Enos (1893–1956), son of Joseph Enos, married Anna Nancy Anderson (1902–1982)
🔹 Parents
- (My father’s ancestry: Bohemian + My mother's Swedish lines)
🔹 Me
- Christina Winterlik (Zipolita)
🌍 Cultural + Geographic Connections
- Iroquois / Kalapuya – via Louis “dit le Frisé” and Louise
- Songhees (Lekwungen) – via Theresa Eliza, linking to Indigenous Vancouver Island ancestry
- French Canadian & Coast Salish – via Brulé, Poirier, Vautrin, Shaegoskat lines
- Portuguese (Azorean) – via João Ignácio d’Almada (Enos paternal ancestry)
- Swedish & Bohemian – through mother's and father’s side
🌐 Migration Map: Oregon → Sooke
- 1834: Mary Ann born in Marysville (now Corvallis), Willamette Valley, OR
- c.1839: Baptism at St. Paul Mission, Oregon
- 1850: Moves north after Oregon Treaty
- Settles: Cowlitz → Victoria → Sooke
- Later: 1917 photo at Grande Ronde, OR visiting daughter’s family
🔥 Carrying the Flame Forward
As I continue to build this tree and document these lives, I want people to know: we are still here. Our ancestors are not forgotten. We carry their memories, their teachings, and their dreams for a better world — one where our children are safe, our culture is respected, and our stories are celebrated. 🌺
“We are the granddaughters of the women they could not silence.”
If you are part of my family, or if our trees intertwine — please reach out. Let’s build this story together.
With love,
Tina Winterlik / Zipolita
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