Friend says homicide victim Dory Cook protected Indigenous women from violence

A long-time friend of Dory Cook says her death is especially painful because she became a victim of the very violence she worked so hard to protect Indigenous women from.

On Sunday evening, police in Saskatoon found Cook, 77, dead inside a home on the 200 block of Avenue R South, across the street from St. Paul’s Hospital.

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Rachel Smallboy, 42, is facing a charge of second-degree murder in connection to Cook’s death, and police said the case marked the city’s seventh homicide investigation of the year.

Terri Bear-Linklater said Cook was someone who went above and beyond to help people who were at risk, vulnerable, underserved and struggling with poverty. She said Cook also dedicated much of her time to supporting Indigenous women who were facing violence.

“What’s really sad about this whole thing is how she’s been taken from us,” Bear-Linklater said. “It is through this violence that she fought so hard against.”

Bear-Linklater said her friend will be remembered as a dedicated mental health advocate and a musician who always had her guitar in hand. She said Cook always wanted to share her music with others.

“I absolutely loved that about her, because it’s so vulnerable when you do things like that,” Bear-Linklater said.

Bear-Linklater said she often crossed paths with Cook at local bars, karaoke nights and at the Ness Creek Music Festival near Big River, where Cook had performed.

And whether it was at a memorial or a ceremony, Bear-Linklater said her friend always had kind words to share with those who were struggling.

“She always wanted to get up and talk and give a little speech about believing in yourself,” Bear-Linklater said.

The last time the two saw each other was when Cook attended one of Bear-Linklater’s shows at a bar, and Bear-Linklater said she will always remember that night.

“She came up and we jammed together,”  Bear-Linklater said.

“She loved singing old-time country songs, and she was always the life of the party.”

When the two parted ways that evening, Bear-Linklater said Cook hugged her and said, “We must do this again soon.”

“I wish we would have made that connection again,” Bear-Linklater said.

One of the memories Bear-Linklater said she will cherish is travelling to India with Cook for a mutual friend’s wedding, describing it as the “trip of a lifetime.”

She said Cook loved trying local food, despite not being a fan of spicy dishes, and remembered her as someone who was passionate about healthy living.

Bear-Linklater joked about one instance where Cook had made a health shake using tap water, but quickly learned the importance of using bottled water while traveling.

“I’ll never forget it,” she said. “I’m so glad I got to travel with her.”

Bear-Linklater said she would like to see a walk organized to honour Cook’s memory, with the hope it will also spark a broader conversation about ending violence against Indigenous women.