- Gordon Tootoosis
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Gordon Tootoosis 
Tootoosis in the 2005 film Hank Williams First NationBorn October 25, 1941
Poundmaker Reserve, Saskatchewan, CanadaDied July 5, 2011 (aged 69)
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, CanadaOccupation Actor Years active 1973–2011 Gordon Tootoosis, CM (October 25, 1941 – July 5, 2011) was a Canadian actor of Cree and Stoney descent. He was a descendant of Yellow Mud Blanket, brother of the famous Cree leader Pitikwahanapiwiyin.[1] He was acclaimed for his commitment to preserving his culture and to telling his people's stories. He served as a founding member of the board of directors of the Saskatchewan Native Theatre Company. Tootoosis offered encouragement, support and training to aspiring Aboriginal actors. He served as a leading Cree activist both as a social worker and as a band chief.[2] In Open Season and Boog and Elliot's Midnight Bun Run, Tootoosis was the voice of Sheriff Gordy.
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]
Contents
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
Tootoosis in the 1970s
His first acting role was in the film Alien Thunder (1974), with Chief Dan George and Donald Sutherland. He portrayed Albert Golo in 52 episodes of North of 60 in the 1990s. He is best known to British audiences for playing the Native American Joe Saugus, who negotiates the purchase of the Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge in Auf Wiedersehen, Pet series 3 (2002). Gordon appeared in the CBC Television mini-series By Way of the Stars with Eric Schweig as Black Thunder and Tantoo Cardinal as Franoise. Tootoosis starred with Russell Means in Disney's Pocahontas (1995) and Song of Hiawatha (1997). In 1999, he and Tantoo Cardinal became founding member of the board of directors of the Saskatchewan Native Theatre Company. In 2011, he appeared in Gordon Winter at the Persephone Theatre in Saskatoon and Prairie Scene in Ottawa, his first stage role in 15 years.[7]
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.
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)
See also
- John Tootoosis
- National Indian Brotherhood
- Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations
References
- ^ a b c Wise, Wyndham. "Gordon Tootoosis". The Canadian Encyclopedia. http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0009905. Retrieved 2011-07-05.
- ^ a b c "Gordon Tootoosis, C.M.". Order of Canada. Governor General of Canada. http://www.gg.ca/honour.aspx?id=9792&t=12&ln=Tootoosis. Retrieved 2011-07-05.
- ^ Eastman, Charles Alexander; Trosper, James (2009). Michael Oren Fitzgerald. ed. Living in Two Worlds: The American Indian Experience. Bloomington, Indiana: World Wisdom. p. 204. ISBN 9781933316765. http://books.google.ca/books?id=8IMDeYp7Q6wC&pg=PA204&dq=eastman,+%22two+worlds%22,+tootoosis&hl=en&ei=tQSyTYCVEefm0QHYyKHwCA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&sqi=2&ved=0CCkQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=eastman%2C%20%22two%20worlds%22%2C%20tootoosis&f=false.
- ^ Chung, Amy (July 5, 2011). Canadian+actor+First+Nations+leader+Gordon+Tootoosis+dead/5055281/story.html "Canadian actor and First Nations leader Gordon Tootoosis dead at 69". The Vancouver Sun. Postmedia Network. http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment Canadian+actor+First+Nations+leader+Gordon+Tootoosis+dead/5055281/story.html. Retrieved 2011-07-06.
- ^ "Actor Gordon Tootoosis dies: family". CBC News. July 5, 2011. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/story/2011/07/05/sk-tootoosis-gordon-110705.html. Retrieved 2011-07-05.
- ^ "Actor Gordon Tootoosis funeral held on home reserve". CBC.ca. 2011-07-08. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/story/2011/07/08/sk-tootoosis-funeral-110708.html. Retrieved 2011-07-09.
- ^ Fuller, Cam (July 7, 2011). "Tootoosis remembered for arts, spirituality and public service". Vancouver Sun. Postmedia Network. http://www.vancouversun.com/Tootoosis+remembered+arts+spirituality+public+service/5065050/story.html. Retrieved 2011-07-08.
External links
Categories:- 1941 births
- 2011 deaths
- Canadian film actors
- Canadian television actors
- First Nations actors
- Deaths from pneumonia
- Infectious disease deaths in Saskatchewan
- Cree people
- Nakoda (Stoney) people
- Actors from Saskatchewan
- Members of the Order of Canada
- Gemini Award winners
- Canadian screen actor stubs
- Indigenous peoples of North America stubs
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