Obituaries

Cree country musician Shane Yellowbird dies suddenly at 42

'An inspiration to many, an accomplished artist, his work with the State and later as Chief highlighted his career, but his greatest achievement is that of family'

‘Gordon always kept propping me up and saying, ‘You can do it, you can do it’

She 'lived the remainder of her life with a smile on her face, positive words on her tongue, and love in her heart for all her family and friends'

Rex Buck Jr. died Feb. 11 at his ancestral village of P’na at Priest Rapids on the Columbia River

AIM co-founder Clyde Bellecourt spent a lifetime challenging authority

A look back on those who died from government officials, tribal leaders and COVID-19 deaths

Don Ivy was devoted to his tribe for decades. His impact continues to inspire and touch others today

Family obituary for the legendary Oneida singer, songwriter and peace humanitarian Joanne Shenandoah, who has died at 64

The actor was often described as a bridge between Indigenous Australia and the outside world who never fit comfortably in either place

The Lakota matriarch was honored for ‘fortitude and courage’ as a nurse, politician and advocate

Red Lake citizen was a lifelong advocate for the betterment of Native people

Russell, Cherokee, was an Air Force veteran and a high school dropout who worked to become one of Indian Country’s most reputable attorneys

Toya was a longtime civil servant and US Navy veteran

The Native elder was once the last fluent speaker of Wukchumni but she worked for more than 20 years to produce a dictionary of the language spoken by her tribe

A tireless advocate for the advancement of the Blackfeet people and the preservation of cultural traditions

He was the co-founder of famed independent advertising agency Wieden+Kennedy

‘Her small thoughtful gestures coupled with her huge heart made a positive impact on everyone she met’

Barney Furman Bush, 1944-2021

Dewey was known for his iconic drone footage of Standing Rock that gained international attention

Hours before her first powwow as a jingle dress dancer, young Nytalia Ashes was killed when a falling tree branch fell on her tent

'Fred impacted not only (Keweenaw Bay Indian Community), but many tribal communities with his leadership abilities'

The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation tried early and often to protect its citizens from COVID-19, but in this case, to no avail

'She was always willing to help somebody [and was] easy to get along with people'

A consummate artist, Yellow Robe believed in the transformational power of theater

Lorraine Loomis, chairperson of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, walks on at 81

Iconic actor and veteran died at 85 in California

First National Director of Community Health Representatives dies at 88: A tribute to Cora Nicholasa "Nicky" Solomon, Ho-Chunk

'He got out there, and he didn't skip a beat'

Mike Gravel helped craft land claims legislation that resulted in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act

'As they listened to him, they were brought into his world and his way of understanding the Grand Canyon'

'She brings salmonberries, brings seal oil and dried fishes'

PORTRAITS FROM THE PANDEMIC

‘We danced so that our Lakota Nation should live’

PORTRAITS FROM THE PANDEMIC

Southern California’s Indigenous community mourns the loss of a cultural leader

"Someone suggested we start a camp; all of a sudden LaDonna said, ‘Hey, I’ve got some land’”

Chet valued the treaty right to fish as one of the female woman warriors who was recognized as one of the 'Indigenous Women of the Columbia River'

Nothing is ever given to you because ‘it is a necessary right. You have to fight for everything'