Prominent Anishinaabe elder Dave Courchene Jr. dies at 71 in Manitoba
CBC
The son of a prominent Anishinaabe elder who died Wednesday at age 71 hopes the work his father was doing to share Indigenous knowledge and teachings will continue at the internationally recognized centre he founded decades ago.
The Turtle Lodge Centre of Excellence in Indigenous Education and Wellness said in a social media post that Dave Courchene Jr. had "begun his journey into the Spirit world."
Courchene Jr. was also known by his spirit names Nitamabit and Nii Gaani Aki Inini, which translate to "The Original Way; One who Sits in Front and Leading Earth Man."
The post said he died peacefully at his home on the Sagkeeng First Nation surrounded by his children and grandchildren.
Courchene Jr. founded the lodge at Sagkeeng in southern Manitoba in 2002 as a gathering place to exchange intergenerational knowledge, revitalize language, train youth leaders and find environmental solutions to climate change.
"He insisted that we continue the work that he laid out for us and I think people recognize that. He blazed a trail for us," Dave "Sabe" Courchene said of his father in an interview with The Canadian Press.
He said his dad had been living with recent health challenges and it was important for him to be at home with family during his final moments.
"We've had some time to prepare mentally and emotionally but you can never really be prepared," said the younger Courchene.
Sagkeeng Chief Derrick Henderson said the passing of Courchene Jr. is being felt far beyond the community.
"I think it's a huge loss to our Indigenous people on Turtle Island," Henderson said. "And people ... internationally that knew Elder Dave because he travelled worldwide, and you know his knowledge is no longer here."
Henderson says Courchene Jr. was a humble leader who cared deeply about the environment.
"His passion was the land and the water," Henderson said.
On Earth Day in 2019, the elder and knowledge keeper shared his wisdom with CBC viewers about how to care for and reconnect with Mother Earth.
WATCH | Learning to care for Mother Earth with Elder Dave Courchene:
