Influential Native people who died in 2022

Over a dozen prominent and respected Indigenous people died in 2022, many of whom lived a long life of activism and leadership from Sacheen Littlefeather who famously declined Marlon Brando’s Oscar in 1973 to Susan Kelly Power who founded the United State’s first urban American Indian Center in the 1950s.

Here is a list of those who died in 2022 that appeared in ICT:

JANUARY

Clyde Bellecourt, 85. The co-founder of the American Indian Movement died Jan. 11.

“J. Edgar Hoover had us on his top hit list,” he said. “We were number three – civil rights, Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Black Panthers, Weather Underground, even the National Organization of Women were on his hit list.” READ MORE — Mark Trahant, ICT

FEBRUARY

Rex Buck Jr., 66. The leader of the Wanapum band of Native Americans died on Feb. 11.

Buck was given the responsibility of leading the Wanapum people while still in his 20s, according to the obituary. He was relentless in his support of Wanapum culture. READ MORE – Associated Press

MARCH

Jim Denomie, 66. The acclaimed Ojibwe artist died on March 1 from cancer.

Noted one fan on Twitter, “The Native art world is losing one of its greats as Jim Denomie starts his journey. His work has always been such an inspiration—politically pointed, often funny, layered…so Ojibwe.” READ MORE — Sandra Hale Schulman, Special to ICT 

APRIL

Dr. Gordon L. Pullar Sr., 78. The Alutiiq educator and author in Alaska died April 18.

He was also credited with helping bring home more than 1,000 Alutiiq remains that had been taken from Larsen Bay in the 1930s and were being stored at the Smithsonian Institute – a move credited with helping enact the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. READ MORE — Joaqlin Estus, ICT

Enoch Kelly Haney, 81. The former Seminole Nation chief, Oklahoma state lawmaker and artist died April 23.

“With a heavy heart, the Seminole Nation woke to the news of the passing of Chief Kelly Haney. 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. Keep his family in prayer and may they find comfort in knowing the Seminole Nation and Indian Country mourns his loss,” Palmer said in a statement on Facebook. READ MORE — Associated Press

Shane Yellowbird, 42. The Cree singer/songwriter died April 25.

“In 2009, he became one of only three Indigenous artists to ever perform at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville,” according to Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers’ post, “where he was overjoyed to meet and chat with his hero and fellow stutterer, country superstar Mel Tillis.” READ MORE – Miles Morrisseau, ICT

JUNE

Renee Van Nett, 52. The first Native woman, Ojibwe, elected to Duluth City Council in Minnesota died June 3 from cancer.

In a social media post, Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flannagan, White Earth Nation, posted a Gov. Tim Walz proclamation declaring June 7, the day of her funeral service, “Renee Van Nett Day.” READ MORE — Carina Dominguez, ICT

Edward T. Begay, 87. The former vice-chairman of the Navajo Nation and speaker for the Navajo Nation Council died June 12.

“Ed T. was a loving husband, caring father, and gracious grandfather, but to many, he was Cheii. We will miss him at our dinner table, sitting next to us in church, and listening to his stories of the journeys his life has taken him on. We are extremely proud of his service to the Navajo Nation, the State of New Mexico, and his tribal home communities,” Begay’s family stated. READ MORE — Pauly Denetclaw, ICT

JULY

Rev. Marlene Whiterabbit Helgemo, 75. The first Native woman ordained in the Lutheran church died July 22.

“NCAI mourns the loss of Rev. Marlene Whiterabbit Helgemo (Ho-Chunk Nation). After becoming the first Native American woman ordained in the Lutheran church, Rev. Helgemo went on to live a life dedicated to serving Native communities and will be deeply missed across #IndianCountry,” the National Congress of American Indians posted on Twitter. READ MORE — Kalle Benallie, ICT

Tim Giago, 87. Longtime journalist and editor emeritus at Native Sun News Today died July 24.

“He really wasn’t scared,” said Takes War Bonnett with a laugh who worked with Giago for nearly 14 years. “He wasn’t scared to do things. He wasn’t scared to speak up.” READ MORE – Jourdan Bennette-Begaye and Mary Annette Pember, ICT

Gary Niles Kimble, 80. The first Native American, citizen of the Gros Ventre, Aaniih tribe, in Montana to run for Congress died July 30. 

“He knew the plight of American Indians,” Kimble’s cousin Bum Stiffarm said. “Maybe that lit a fire inside in how he can help improve the lives and livelihood of American Indians living on reservations.” READ MORE — Noel Lyn Smith, ICT

AUGUST

Alan R. Parker, 79. The Chippewa Cree Tribal Nation citizen was a decorated soldier, attorney, educator and author who died Aug. 5.

His wife Sharon said Alan worked on reports that helped stimulate the creation of the Senate committee of Indian Affairs. He served as Chief Counsel to the US Senate Committee on Indian Affairs from 1977 to 1981, becoming the first Native American to ever do so. From 1982 to 1987 he was president of the American Indian National Bank, an enterprise he designed to support tribes across Indian Country. Later, he organized the first Native American “think tank,” the National Indian Policy Center at George Washington University. READ MORE — Carina Dominguez, ICT

SEPTEMBER 

Kevin Locke, 68, an acclaimed Native flute player, hoop dancer, cultural ambassador and educator died Sept. 30. He was a citizen of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and from the ancestral line of Anishinabe.

“Kevin Locke was undoubtedly one of the greatest flutists, hoop dancers and teachers the world had ever seen. He will be greatly missed. The Native American Music Awards would like to extend their deepest condolences and sorrow to his family,” the statement read. READ MORE — Associated Press

OCTOBER

Sacheen Littlefeather, 75. The actress and activist died Oct. 2.

Littlefeather, Apache and Yaqui, was the first Native person to appear at the podium at the Academy Awards and drew international attention as well to the American Indian Movement protests at Wounded Knee.

“When I am gone, always be reminded that whenever you stand for your truth, you will be keeping my voice and the voices of our nations and our people alive,” she said in a 2018 documentary about her life, “Sacheen: Breaking the Silence.” READ MORE — Dianna Hunt, ICT

Jeff Barnaby, 46. The Mi’kmaw filmmaker died Oct. 13 from cancer.

Canada’s national film funding agency Telefilm Canada tweeted, “We wish to extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of filmmaker Jeff Barnaby. His visionary take on genre cinema, and uncompromising dedication to his Indigenous heritage in the stories he told, has left an inspiring mark on cinema.” READ MORE – Miles Morrisseau, ICT

Susan Louise Kelly Power, 97. An activist who helped open first-ever urban Indian center in the US died Oct. 29.

“Susan K. Power walked in the path of her ancestors, feeling the responsibility that comes when you’re descended from a line of hereditary Yanktonai Dakota chiefs and a mother who was a tribal leader,” her daughter Mona Power said. “Her mother often said, ‘The chief’s family eats last,’ and Power lived according to that example, forever generous in putting community needs ahead of her own, sharing all she had” READ MORE— Amelia Schafer, Special to ICT

NOVEMBER

Joye Braun, 53, died Nov. 13. She was a Cheyenne River Sioux citizen and an environmental activist who worked for the Indigenous Environmental Network as the National Pipeline organizer and was the organization’s representative in The People Vs Fossil Fuels Coalition.

“Her advice and counsel was sought by many, she could always be counted on to speak the truth and she pulled no punches. For this, and so much more, she was respected by colleagues and adversaries alike,” Kandi White, Indigenous Environmental Network’s program director, said. “Joye is/was the epitome of a Modern Day Warrior. We will continue the work she was dedicated to in her honor; just as she would expect us to. Our sister will be greatly missed.” READ MORE – Kolby KickingWoman, ICT

Ethel Aanwoogeex’ Lund, 91. The Alaska Native leader and health care pioneer died Nov. 11.

Originally from Wrangell, she found her passion for Alaska Native and health care issues, and throughout the 1970s Lund was one of the founders and later the president of SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium, now known as one of the largest Native-run healthcare organizations in the country. READ MORE — Juneau Empire