Obituary

Gordon Tootoosis (Cree). First Nations and Canadians in politics and the arts are mourning the acclaimed Cree actor Gordon Tootoosis, who died on July 5. Relatives told Canadian media that the 69-year-old actor succumbed to pneumonia at St. Paul’s Hospital in Saskatoon. Born on the Poundmaker Reserve in Saskatchewan, his father was aboriginal activist John Tootoosis, a co-founder of the AFN and the founder of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN). Tootoosis was descended from Yellow Mud Blanket, a brother of the legendary Plains Cree leader Poundmaker. Tootoosis’s first acting role was as the Almighty Voice in 1972?s Alien Thunder, co-starring Chief Dan George and Donald Sutherland. Over the next 35 years he appeared in more than 40 films, including the role of Wesley Good Voice in AMERINDA's feature film, The Reawakening,  as well as television series and onstage.  Tootoosis’s other roles included Legends of the Fall (1996) and the television series Northern Exposure, among others.  He received accolades onstage as well, with rave reviews for his lead performance in the play Gordon Winter. Tootoosis was also a founding board member of the Saskatchewan Native Theatre Company. In 2004 he was awarded membership in the Order of Canada, which recognizes a lifetime of outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation.

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