Ham, Katharina Giesbrecht (1991-2003)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2005 Sep 19 p. 9

Birth date: 1991

Girl honored for bravery posthumously

By Margaret Loewen Reimer

For Canadian Mennonite

OTTAWA — A 12-year old Low German Mennonite girl received a posthumous bravery award from Ontario's Governor General on June 24.

Adrienne Clarkson awarded the medal for bravery to Katharina Giesbrecht Ham of Bow Island, Alta., with the citation red in Low German. Ham lost her life in July 2003 while attempting to rescue her 7-year-old sister from drowning. Both girls died. The award was accepted by Katharina's father, Enrique Ham, a Mennonite who moved to Canada from Mexico about five years ago.

Because the Hams speak neither English nor French, the Governor General's office contacted Ottawa Mennonite Church, looking for someone who could translate into Low German for the couple.

Erwin Wiens offered to act as a guide and interpreter for the Hams and suggested his friend, Eric Friesen, read the citation.

Friesen, a CBC Radio broadcaster in Ottawa, pre-taped the first hour of his show so he could attend the ceremony.

"I immediately e-mailed the world's foremost Low German expert, Dr. Jack Thiessen, in Manitoba, who, in a matter of hours, had translated the citation into proper Low German," Friesen said.

Wiens translated instructions and proceedings for the Hams during the ceremony.

The Hams "were rather awed by their surroundings," said Friesen. "But Erwin kept them fully in touch. . . . When it came Enrique's turn to receive his medal, he walked to the dais and I came to stand next to the woman who was reading the citations. She red it first in English and then I read it in Low German."

The citation noted that Katharina's sister had slipped off a rock and become caught in the undertow of an irrigation canal near Medicine Hat, Alta.

Katharina jumped into the water and manged to drag her sister to the edge of the canal but, exhausted, was unable to lift her onto the slippery surface. Both girls were swept away by the strong current.

Clarkson spoke personally with the couple after the presentation.

During the reception that followed, many other recipients came up to the Hams and hugges them, sharing their congratulations and condolences. The Hams were obviously moved by the event, said Friesen.

"For me, it was . . . a very emotional and moving experience," said Friesen, who said he couldn't help "feeling a kinship with this Mexican Mennonite couple and to feel some small sense of wonder at having been part of the first ever public presentation in Low German at Rideau Hall."