(October 25, 1941 – July 5, 2011)
He was awarded membership in the Order of Canada on October 29, 2004.[2] The investiture ceremony took place on September 9, 2005. His citation recognizes him as an inspirational role model for Aboriginal youth. It notes that as a veteran actor, he portrayed memorable characters in movie and television productions in Canada and the United States.[2]
Biography
Gordon Tootoosis was raised with his 13 siblings in the Plains Cree tradition until he was taken from his home[why?] and placed in a Catholic residential school, where he was treated harshly and forbidden to speak his own language. His father, John Tootoosis, was an activist for aboriginal rights, which got the younger Tootoosis into trouble at school.[1]After his traumatic school years, Tootoosis went into social work, specializing in work with children and young offenders. His interest in his own cultural traditions led him to become an accomplished native dancer and rodeo roper, and he toured with the Plains InterTribal Dance Troupe in the 1960s and 1970s throughout Canada, Europe and South America, becoming one of North America's most popular powwow announcers.[1]
His father was one of the founders of the National Indian Brotherhood and former head of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN). Gordon himself served as the chief of his band and as a vice-president of FSIN. Tootoosis was married to Irene Seseequasis since 1965. They have three daughters and two adopted sons. After their daughter Glynnis died of cancer in 1997, they took the responsibility of raising her four children in Saskatoon.[3]
Tootoosis died on July 5, 2011, aged 69, after being hospitalized for pneumonia at St. Paul's Hospital in Saskatoon.[4][5]
His funeral and interment were held on the Poundmaker Cree Nation Reserve. [6]
Acting career
He won a Gemini Award for his work on the animated show Wapos Bay: The Series and was nominated twice for his work on North of 60.
[edit] Selected filmography
- Alien Thunder (1974) — Almighty Voice
- Stone Fox (1987) — Stone Fox
- Black Robe (1991) — Old Aenons
- Leaving Normal (1992) — Hank Amaruk
- By Way of the Stars (1992 TV mini-series) — The Cree Chief
- North of 60 (1992, TV series) — Albert Golo
- The Call of the Wild (1993) (TV) — Charlie
- Hawkeye (1994)
- Legends of the Fall (1994) — One Stab
- Pocahontas (1995) — Kekata (voice)
- Lone Star (1996) — Wesley Birdsong
- Crazy Horse (1996) — Akicita
- Alaska (1996) — Ben Quincy General Store
- Song of Hiawatha (1997) — Iagoo
- Keeping the Promise (1997)- Chief Saknis
- The Edge (1997) — Jack Hawk
- due South: Easy Money (1998) (TV)- Quinn
- Pocahontas: The Legend (1999) — Chief Powhatan (Wahunsonacock)
- Reindeer Games (2000) — Old Governor
- Dream Storm: A North of 60 Mystery (2001) (TV) — Albert Golo
- Auf Wiedersehen, Pet (2002) — Joe Saugus
- Now & Forever (2002) — Ghost Fox
- Dreamkeeper (2003) (TV) — Kills Enemy
- Smallville (2004) (TV) — Joseph Willowbrook
- Into the West (2005) (TV) — Growling Bear
- Shania: A Life in Eight Albums (2005) — Greey Twain
- Hank Williams First Nation (2005) — Adelard Fox
- Open Season (2006) — Gordy (voice)
- Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee (2007) — Red Cloud
- Out In The Cold (2008) — Soft as Snow
- Wapos Bay: The Series (2005–2010) — Mushom (voice)
- Blackstone (2011)
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