Ellen Googoo was born in Waycobah on 1907. Her parents were Grand Chief Gabriel Sylliboy and Harriet Marshall. She had four brothers and five sisters.
She got Married in the 1920's, to Michael Googoo and had thirteen children and five adopted children. Her children are William Googoo, Mary Bernard, Late Gabriel Googoo, Ryan Googoo, Alex Googoo, Bernard Googoo, Late Michael P. Googoo Jr., Stanley Googoo, Anna K. Pierro, Germaine Martin, Geraldine Paul and two daughters who died in infancy. Her adopted children were Wayne Googoo, Donald Googoo, Henry Googoo, Barbara Googoo, Matilda Pierro, and Bridget Marshall.
She lived in Waycobah and during the centralization she moved to Eskasoni for five years then returned back to Waycobah.
Ellen owned a farm with horses, chickens, cows, etc. She later owned a store and basket shop. They supplied milk, butter, and cream to the people, mostly the people who didn't have any cows. She also bottled berries and vegetables. Her father also had a farm and her husband was a painter.
Ellen's hobbies were making rugs, clothing, blankets and making baskets. She made baskets all her life starting from when she was a young girl.
Since Ellen was a victim of the centralization she moved to Eskasoni from 1947 to 1950. After five years away she returned back home in 1950 with only two cows remaining. She had taken her own farm and left her store behind. This was because in Eskasoni they were limited to the amount of farm animals that they had.
Ellen never had a hard time in her life because they always had enough. They butchered their own meat and had a garden in which they grew their own vegetables.
In the 1940's their home burned down but they had rebuilt it in the same spot. They bought a truck in 1950 where they delivered milk, butter and cream to Wagatcook. All her sons were always busy working, cutting wood, and tending the farm, excepting one who joined the army at the age of 17. While, the girls cleaned the house and made baskets.
Ellen Googoo passed away in 1987 at the age of 80. She had 57 grand children and countless great-grandchildren.
By Wendy Bernard
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