John Tootoosis
Encyclopedia
John Tootoosis was a prominent Cree
First Nations
leader in Canada
. He is the grandson of Yellow Mud Blanket, and grandnephew of legendary Cree leader Pitikwahanapiwiyin
.
Upon the formation of the Union of Saskatchewan Indians in 1946, he served as its president and later as a member of the executive. In 1959, the union was reorganized as the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations
(FSIN), and Tootoosis became its first president. In 1970, he was appointed to the federation's newly formed senate, and served in this capacity for the next 19 years.
His son was the actor Gordon Tootoosis.
Cree
The Cree are one of the largest groups of First Nations / Native Americans in North America, with 200,000 members living in Canada. In Canada, the major proportion of Cree live north and west of Lake Superior, in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the Northwest Territories, although...
First Nations
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
leader in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He is the grandson of Yellow Mud Blanket, and grandnephew of legendary Cree leader Pitikwahanapiwiyin
Pitikwahanapiwiyin
Pitikwahanapiwiyin , commonly known as Poundmaker, was a Plains Cree chief known as a peacemaker and defender of his people.-Name:...
.
Upon the formation of the Union of Saskatchewan Indians in 1946, he served as its president and later as a member of the executive. In 1959, the union was reorganized as the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations
Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations
The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations is a Saskatchewan-based First Nations organization.The federation grew out of a number of different organizations. Although the Federation of Saskatchewan Indians was organized in 1959 , it grew out of the Union of Saskatchewan Indians, founded...
(FSIN), and Tootoosis became its first president. In 1970, he was appointed to the federation's newly formed senate, and served in this capacity for the next 19 years.
His son was the actor Gordon Tootoosis.
Further reading
- Sluman, Norma and Goodwill, Jean Cuthand. John Tootoosis: Biography of a Cree Leader. Ottawa: Golden Dog Press, 1982.