THOSE WHO'VE TOUCHED OUR LIVES
Suzanne Rochon-Burnett
One of Canada’s most prominent women in broadcasting may be physically gone, but the spirit of Suzanne Rochon-Burnett will continue to live. Some say this striking woman of Metis heritage could have been a model or a movie star. Instead, Rochon-Burnett, known as a determined humanitarian, had a long and distinguished career in broadcasting.
In
over 50 years since she started broadcasting, she had an overwhelming
number of accomplishments. These include being the first Aboriginal person
to hold two Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
licenses and being presented with an Order of Canada in 2003. She formed
her own Native Arts company, launching the careers of many Aboriginal
artists. Rochon-Burnett sat on numerous boards, including the Canada Council
for the Arts, and was a past director for TV Ontario. She was also the
first Aboriginal woman to be inducted into the Aboriginal Hall of Fame.
Rochon-Burnett also sat on the Board of Trustees for Brock University, where she received an honourary degree and was recognized for her outstanding contribution to Canadian cultural life, particularly her support and encouragement of Aboriginal art. When she received her degree, she told a graduating class, “Don’t be afraid to move forward despite challenges. Look at them as opportunities to grow and learn. You must move forward. After all, even if you fall flat on your face, you’re still moving forward.”
On her passing, the President of the Metis Nation of Ontario, Tony Belcourt said, “Her life of accomplishments is a textbook perfect story of the best of role models for many to honour.”
And Roberta Jamieson, CEO for the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation says Rochon-Burnett will be greatly missed. In a press release, Jamieson said, “Our sister Suzanne will be remembered for her strength of spirit, her tremendous courage, and her incredible vision. She was fiercely proud of her Metis heritage and demonstrated boundless generosity in sharing her traditional values with all Canadians.”
Jamieson adds, “Her contributions to the Board of the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation as well as TVO and the Canada Council are legendary. Suzanne remained devoted to her family and her people throughout her life journey, always ready to help her people, her community and country. We will be forever enriched for having had Suzanne walk among us.”
Suzanne Rochon-Burnett passed away after complications from lung cancer on Sunday, April 2, 2006 in Welland Ont., with her only daughter, Michele-Elise Burnett at her bedside. She was 71. Friends and family were invited to a traditional ceremony and celebration of Rochon-Burnett’s life on May 7, with a reception at Brock University in St. Catherines.
Vine Deloria Jr.
Indigenous People throughout the world mourned his passing because he was hailed as the most influentialNative American scholar of his time. Vine Deloria Jr. passed away November 13, 2005, at the age of 72. Deloria was aretired University of Colorado Professor, American Indian activist and author.
Deloria was born in 1933 in Martin, South Dakota, on the border of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. He served in the marines and graduated from Iowa State University. He earned a master’s degree in theology, initially planning to become a minister, but went on to earn a law degree in 1970.
He is best known for his more than 20 books, including, Custer Died For Your Sins, God is Red, and Evolution, Creationism and Other Modern Myths. As a historian, Deloria promoted Native science amid conflicting western views. As an advocate, he worked many initiatives, including legislative and otherwise, to protect sacred sites, ancestral remains and artefacts and the federal-tribal relationship.
Indian Country Today, says TIME magazine once called Deloria one of the 10 most influential theologians of the 20th century. Last year, he received the second annual American Indian Visionary Award from Indian Country Today.
Indian Country Today reports, “He remained an incisive writer and social critic to the end. He refused an honorary degree from the University of Colorado because he disapproved of its performance during an athletic scandal. During his last year, he was working on a major book on the miraculous deeds of American Indian medicine men.”
Tariana Turia, Co-leader of the Maori Party in New Zealand says in a press release that while she did not meet the icon, she has “always been inspired by his keen intellect and his absolute commitment to articulating the world view of his people which as a result inspired other indigenous scholars and activists, including tangata whenua here in Aotearoa.”
And Colorado University history professor Patricia Nelson Limerick told Ascribe, The Public Interest Newswire, “I know a lot of remarkably productive thinkers and writers, but the extended, productive achievement of Deloria was breathtaking . Writing for scholarly and popular audiences, seeking out the full scope of documents of Indian treaties and agreements, speaking in the most dynamic and engaging manner, and drawing on extraordinary skills in political negotiation and litigation: such a package of expertise and skills probably is not going to hit the planet again.”
Deloria is survived by his wife Barbara, two sons and a daughter, along with seven grandchildren. A public memorial was held for him in Golden, Colo.
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