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Yellow Bird: Chippewa man leaves strong legacy
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Filed Under: Opinion

"One of the last traditional Chippewa men, Francis Cree or Ginew Oda Inini (Eagle Heart Man), left the Turtle Mountains for the spirit world Sunday. He was 86.

His spirit lives everywhere now; it's part of the wind that blows, the rain that falls and even the rays of sun that cross the land, said Leslie LaFountain, one of his students.

Cree saw many changes for the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa during his lifetime. Lifestyles have changed and in the turmoil of those changes, life became difficult for many. Some didn't adjust well.

Cree accepted change. He first became a Christian minister and remained receptive to all denominations during his lifetime. He even prayed and offered the Sacred Pipe during a Catholic gathering, LaFountain said.

Later, he grew his hair longer and started having ceremonial sweats. He also was a Sundance helper."

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