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Nika Bartoo-Smith
Many prominent leaders, artists and activists passed on in 2023. In memory, here is a list of those who died in 2023 who appeared in ICT:
January
Lee Tiger, 72, was the son of the first chief of the Miccosukee Tribe after the nation split from the Seminole. Tiger was also a Grammy-nominated musician and environmentalist. He died on Jan. 5.
“He was a beautiful soul who advocated for unity between cultures through respect for one another and envisioned a world where we could all come together through peace, love, and caring for our Mother Earth,” said Curtis E. Osceola, the chief of staff for the Miccosukee Tribe. “Lee is sorely missed by his family and friends but we will always have his music to remind him of his message of unity, ‘One Earth, One People, Come Together Right Now.’” READ MORE — Sandra Hale Schulman, Special to ICT
Oliver Aveogan Leavitt, 79, was a Iñupiat leader and whaling captain. Leavitt died on Jan. 9.
“Oliver’s lifetime of service to his country, his people and most importantly, his family will never be forgotten.” said Rex A. Rock Sr., Iñupiaq, ASRC president and CEO. “We are eternally grateful for his hard work and sacrifice over the last 50 years. On behalf of the North Slope Iñupiat, we thank Oliver’s loved ones for sharing him with us. His passing leaves a void in the hearts of our people and those across the state. We send our heartfelt prayers to Annie, his children and all of his loved ones.” READ MORE — ICT
Lorraine E. White, 94 was the first woman to hold the office of Quechan Tribal president. She died on Jan. 21.
Lorraine attended catholic boarding schools in Arizona and New Mexico, and went on to attend Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kansas. After graduating from Haskell with business courses, she took a position with the Bureau of Affairs in Parker, Arizona. Lorraine began as a fiscal accounting clerk, which is one of the lowest grade civil service positions. In less than 20 years of tenure, Lorraine became the first Native American and the first woman to hold the position of BIA superintendent. After 33 years of service with the BIA she retired and decided to run for council and was elected as the first woman to hold the office of Quechan Tribal President. READ MORE — ICT
February
James Abourezk, 92, was the first Arab-American elected to Congress. The prominent politician and champion of Indigenous rights died on Feb. 28.
“He was definitely a voice for the powerless and people who were looked down on,” Abourezk’s son, Charles Abourezk, said. “Whatever motivated him to do that is what motivated him to take on the powerful and the bullies of the world on behalf of the powerless.” READ MORE — Pauly Denetclaw, ICT
March
George (Mangtaquli) Noongwook, a Yupik elder and culture bearer from Savoonga, Alaska, died on March 18, 2023.
He was 74. He was a drummer, singer, and historian of St. Lawrence Island music, and an ardent advocate of Yupik and Iñupiaq whaling rights through his decades-long service to the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission. He was also a dedicated and insightful scholar of his people and their environment. READ MORE — Henry Huntington, Special to ICT
Ben Shelly, 75, was the former Navajo Nation president. He passed away on March 22 after battling a long illness.
“He was very straightforward,” said Buu Nygren, Navajo Nation President. “He was always courageous. I think with that type of fearless attitude; just being a heavy equipment operator, to ascend to be president of the Navajo Nation is something to be said for his type of leadership style. Jasmine and I want to extend our condolences to his family. I think the state of New Mexico on the Navajo side should be very proud of him.” READ MORE — Kalle Benallie, ICT
April
Richard Perry, 53, was a Yu’pik-Athabaskan writer who died on April 23.
He wrote for many Alaska Native and Native American publications including First Alaskans Magazine, Alaska Business Monthlyand ICT. He was working part-time in public relations for Perseverance Theatre. He was part of a Native artist group called Fish Head Soup, which publishes Native American comics. He was also a contributor to the graphic novel series “Chickaloonies.” READ MORE — Joaqlin Estus, ICT
May
Joe Garcia, 70, was the former governor of Ohkay Owingeh. He died on May 13. He was known as a strong advocate for tribal sovereignty. He also served two terms as president for the National Congress of American Indians.
“His untimely departure is a significant loss for Indian Country, as he was a true culture keeper for his people and a dedicated advocate for Native Nations across the Southwest region,” Fawn Sharp, the president of the National Congress of American Indians, said in a statement. “Beyond his role as a leader, Joe Garcia was a mentor, a visionary, and a compassionate soul who touched the lives of many. He leaves a profound legacy of service, leadership, and cultural preservation.” READ MORE — Associated Press
Lisa J. Ellwood, 57, a citizen of the interrelated Lenape Indian Tribe of Delaware, Nanticoke Indian Tribe in Delaware and Nanticoke-Lenape Indian Tribal Nation in New Jersey worked as a journalist and served as a longtime employee of ICT. She died on May 11 after a battle with cancer.
ICT Editor’s Note: Lisa Ellwood was an extraordinary person and incredible colleague to the IndiJ Public Media, ICT, and ICT Newscast teams. She was one of the three contributors who stayed with the organization when it was revived in 2018. Her role as press pool manager and formerly an opinion editor was crucial to ICT’s rebirth, and her passion for the work and mission showed each day. Lisa’s “distinctive voice” also played a huge role in the newcast’s opening, a legacy that will live on. Our condolences to her family. READ MORE — Vincent Schilling, Native Viewpoint
Iñupiaq artist, Joseph Engasongwok Senungetuk, 83, died at home in Anchorage Alaska with loved ones by his side on May 31.
“Joe’s work spoke to events that were happening in our world in a really powerful and truthful way,” said Victoria Hykes-Steere, Iñupiaq, assistant professor of Alaska Native governance, Alaska Pacific University.“ He spoke through his art… He used his art to show what we were feeling internally. He was expressing our reality in his art. He did it quietly, but his art wasn’t quiet. His art was forceful. It was brutally honest.” READ MORE — Joaqlin Estus, ICT
June
John McCoy, 79, a Tulalip Tribes citizen and U.S. Air Force Veteran, who also previously served as a senator for Washington State. McCoy passed away on June 6.
“John was a formidable advocate for tribal rights — for the Tulalip Tribes and for all tribes,” U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Everett, wrote on social media. “He focused on expanding access to education through new technologies and by ensuring that Washington state education included knowledge of Native peoples. I will miss John. My heart goes out to Jeannie and their family.” READ MORE — Richard Arlin Walker, Special to ICT
Charles Wilkinson, 81, was an author, professor and American Indian law attorney who advocated for tribal sovereignty. He died on June 6.
As a non-Native scholar, many of Wilkinson’s colleagues, friends and students described him as dedicated to working with Indigenous communities. He spent time being on the ground and immersed with the people that he defended.
“I think he just fell in love with Indian Affairs and he just enjoyed every trip, or minute, or time that he was around Native leaders and just kind of going into the communities and not just reading about them or whatever, but physically going there,” said Richard Trudell, who met Charles through the beginnings of NARF. READ MORE — JoVonne Wagner, ICT
Alfred “Alfie” Jacques, 74, Turtle Clan from the Onondaga Nation, was known as one of the world’s most talented wooden lacrosse stick makers. The renowned stick maker died on June 14.
On top of his dedication to the craft of stick making, Jacques had been a skilled lacrosse player. He and his father Lou built a makeshift box in their backyard before an arena for play had been built at Onondaga. He played goalie for the Onondaga Warriors, coached by Lou. Jacques, alongside his brother Clyde and cousin Travis, was a member of the 1967 Lafayette High School lacrosse team which was inducted into the Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame as the 2006 Team of Honor. He was inducted into the Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2011 and the Upstate Lacrosse Foundation Hall of Fame in 2014.
He played at the professional level for the Syracuse Stingers in 1974. Alfred was particularly proud to have served as general manager for the Onondaga Redhawks during their 2010 Presidents Cup championship season. READ MORE — Nathan Abrams
Chris ‘Spanto’ Printup, 42, Apache and Seneca, launched a clothing design company based out of Los Angeles, called Born X Raised, in 2013. Sadly, he died from injuries sustained in a car accident on June 25.
“I grew up in Los Angeles in the ’80s and ’90s, when the way you dressed was a very loud statement,” Spanto told Vogue Magazine in June. “We wore our clothing like a suit of armor and a badge of courage. I keep and carry the same energy with me when I design my collections.” READ MORE — Sandra Hale Schulman, Special to ICT
Keller George, 85, served as an Oneida Indian Nation tribal leader and Wolf Clan representative of the Men’s Council. He also held the position of president emeritus for the United South and Eastern Tribes Inc., also known as USET. George died on June 25.
“George’s leadership and guidance was instrumental in setting the foundation for USET/USET SPF and the organization we are today,” stated current USET/USET SPF President Kirk Francis in a released message. “While Indian Country has lost a true champion, we are so grateful for the decades of leadership and dedication he provided to our USET family and Indian Country overall.” READ MORE — JoVonne Wagner, ICT
July
Nicole Ducheneaux, 44, was the Lakota lawyer who represented the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe in its fight against the Dakota Access Pipeline. She died on July 14.
Ducheneaux was a founding partner of the Big Fire Law and Policy Group based in Omaha. She began her legal career in Montana as a public defender. In 2012, she joined the law firm Fredericks Peebles and Morgan in Omaha, the predecessor of Big Fire Law Firm. There, she advocated for tribes and tribal entities across the United States and was a “formidable and innovative litigator,” according to a social media post by Big Fire Law Firm. READ MORE — Kevin Abourezk, ICT
Jack Mark Edmo, 83, a citizen of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, passed away on July 17.
Edmo had an incredible life as a Native cowboy and lived his dream. He won over 170 belt buckles. His mother, Helen, made him a pair of elk hide gloves and he used them riding broncs, creating the idea of wearing gloves while bronc riding. READ MORE — Lori Edmo
Earl Barlow, 96, was a Blackfeet educator, who worked to further Native rights. He died on July 26.
“He was a true leader and a strong advocate for education and specifically Native education and Native leaders,” Corrina Guardipee-Hall, superintendent of Browning public schools, said in an email. “He was one of my heroes in education. He was a former Superintendent for Browning Public Schools, He was the first superintendent to hire Native Leaders, paving the way for our people, giving our student(s) role models to look up to.” READ MORE — Kolby KickingWoman, ICT
August
Robbie Robertson, 80, from the Six Nations of the Grand River in Canada, was a famous singer and songwriter who played as lead guitarist and songwriter for The Band. He passed away on Aug. 9.
Stevie Van Zandt, of Bruce Springsteen’s E-Street Band, posted, “RIP Robbie Robertson. A good friend and a genius. This Band’s music shocked the excess out of the Renaissance and were an essential part of the final back-to-the-roots trend of ‘60’s. He was an underrated brilliant guitar player adding greatly to Bob Dylan’s best tour and album.” READ MORE — Miles Morrisseau
September
Jimmy Buffett, 77, was a multi-platinum selling artist and creator of the Margaritaville franchise who forged a strong partnership with the Coquille Indian Tribe. He passed away on Sept. 1 from a rare form of skin cancer.
“One of our folks was at a conference and got talking [to a Margaritaville representative] and a little light bulb went on,” said Ray Doering, director of public affairs for the nation’s Mith-ih-Kwuh Economic Development Corporation, also known as Tribal One. “The Tribal Council thought a brand-name hotel would work well here, but they appreciated Buffett’s and Margaritaville’s values. And they saw the benefits of building a hotel in partnership with them.” READ MORE — Richard Arlin Walker, Special to ICT
Henry Boucha, 72, an Ojibwa citizen of the Animakee Wa Zhing, was a Hall of Fame hockey player and Olympic medalist. Boucha passed away on Sept. 18.
“Henry was an outstanding player who won an Olympic silver medal at 19,” Scott Taylor, editor of Game On magazine and author of the book, “A History of Excellence: The Untold Stories of Manitoba’s Indigenous Sport,” told ICT. “I knew him as a guy who was proud to be Ojibwa at a time when it must have been terribly difficult for a Native American to get a chance to play.” READ MORE — Miles Morrisseau, ICT
October
Dr. Rudolph Carl Rÿser, 77, Cree and Oneida descent, and advocate for Indigenous self-determination. Rÿser contributed significantly to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People. He passed away on Oct. 10.
Rudolph contributed to policies and laws affecting Indigenous peoples internationally, contributing for more than 25 years to developing the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), the U.N. World Conference on Indigenous Peoples. Following UNDRIP, he established the International Covenant on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples to address UNDRIP limitations. The ICRIN has been ratified by numerous Indigenous nations worldwide. READ MORE — Sam Stoker, Center for World Indigenous Studies
This story is co-published by Underscore News and ICT, a news partnership that covers Indigenous communities in the Pacific Northwest.
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