JULIAN,  Anita Maria - age 58, of Indian Brook, known as Anita Mother, as she was in life, surrounded by her love, Robert St-Louis and family after a brief and courageous battle with lymphoma. Anita began her journey to the spirit world at the Ottawa General Hospital on February 19, 2026. Daughter of the late Becky and Ekien Julian. Born in Indian Brook, she made her home in Ottawa and was a proud member of Sipekne’katik First Nation. 

If you ever had the honor and privilege of meeting Anita, she was supportive and caring, had a heart for her family and friends, but most of all she was tough as nails. Anita loved her local pub, Finnigan’s on Montreal Road, watching and cheering for her beloved Ottawa Senators, playing pool and cribbage, skating the Rideau Canal, snowmobiling, biking, the outdoors, fishing, campfires and always ready for an adventure. Anita’s humor was one of her many great attributes, even on the hardest days could find something to laugh about and made sure everyone around her did too. A straightforward woman, if she didn’t express her feelings in words, she wore it on her face. Having both an easygoing nature and being a rambunctious fire cracker, she was your typical ‘you can take the girl out of the rez, but you can’t take the rez out of the girl!’

Anita had a love for sports, playing ball, hockey and watching wrestling. Before females were playing on local village hockey teams, Anita was instrumental in planting the seed for the establishment of females playing hockey in local Mi’kmaw communities.  

Anita worked many trades including carpentry and masonry, in her younger years she was a nanny and babysitter in her community of Sipekne’katik. Anita was a rocker girl at heart, she loved her rock and roll music but also had a soft spot for classic country and was known for blaring her powwow jams from her house in Vanier. 

Besides time spent in Ottawa, she made many trips back home when needed by her family and friends. She always expressed her pride and love for her daughter Ashley and when she became a grandmother, her love for life blossomed even more for her grandchildren. 

We would like to take this time to express our utmost gratitude and thanks to Anita’s healthcare providers within the Intensive Care Unit at Ottawa General Hospital. Thank you all, for all you did, We’lalioq. 

Anita is survived by her partner of twenty five years, Robert St-Louis; her only child, Ashley (Izzy) Rikihana, and grandchildren, Mariarangi, Keknukawtiken, and Irahuamairangi; siblings, Stephen (Christine), Wanda, Keith (Lea-Ann), Raymond (Cheyenne); godfather, Edward Julian; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and her besties.  

Anita was predeceased by her parents, Mary (Becky) Pictou and Stephen (Ekien) Julian; siblings, Louis (Sam), Patricia (Patsy), and Walter; nephew, Sammy Boy; and Godmother, Georgina Johson Julian.  

Visitation will be held Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at the family home 31 Sesame Street, Indian Brook, Nova Scotia until the Funeral service that will be held on Saturday, February 28, 2026, at 3PM in St. Kateri’s Roman Catholic Church, Indian Brook. Cremation will follow after the funeral and burial at a later date.

A meal, silent auction (Salite) and afterlife celebration will be held at the Shubenacadie Royal Canadian Legion Branch 111, 4PM-11:30PM.  The silent auction will be 4PM-8PM.  

Donations in Anita’s memory may be made by e-transfer to Ashley, AshleyRJulian@gmail.com. Salite’ Items can be dropped off at 31 Sesame St, or brought to the Legion. Tributes, words of comfort and memories of Anita can be shared with the family at www.ettingerfuneralhome.com