Gordon Tootoosis, (October 25, 1941 – July 5, 2011) was a

First Nations First Nations or first peoples may refer to: * Indigenous peoples, for ethnic groups who are the earliest known inhabitants of an area. Indigenous groups *First Nations is commonly used to describe some Indigenous groups including: **First Natio ...

actor of

Cree The Cree ( cr, néhinaw, script=Latn, , etc.; french: link=no, Cri) are a Indigenous peoples of the Americas, North American Indigenous people. They live primarily in Canada, where they form one of the country's largest First Nations in Canada ...

and Stoney descent. Tootoosis was a descendant of Yellow Mud Blanket, brother of the famous Cree leader

Pîhtokahanapiwiyin Pîhtokahanapiwiyin ( – 4 July 1886), also known as Poundmaker, was a Plains Cree chief known as a peacemaker and defender of his people, the Poundmaker Cree Nation. His name denotes his special craft at leading buffalo into buffalo poun ...

. He was acclaimed for his commitment to preserving his culture and to telling his people's stories. He once said, "Leadership is about submission to duty, not elevation to power." 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. In '' Open Season'' and ''

Boog and Elliot's Midnight Bun Run ''Open Season'' is a 2006 American computer-animated adventure comedy film, directed by Jill Culton and Roger Allers from a screenplay by Steve Bencich, Ron J. Friedman, and Nat Mauldin with a screen story by Culton and co-director Anthony Stacc ...

'', Tootoosis was the voice of Sheriff Gordy. He was awarded membership in the Order of Canada on October 29, 2004. 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.

Career

His first acting role was in the film ''

Alien Thunder ''Alien Thunder'' (also known as ''Dan Candy's Law'') is a 1974 Canadian Northern film directed by Claude Fournier and starring Donald Sutherland. Its original screenplay was written by W.O. Mitchell but Mitchell removed his name from the fi ...

'' (1974), alongside Chief Dan George and

Donald Sutherland Donald McNichol Sutherland (born 17 July 1935) is a Canadian actor whose film career spans over six decades. He has been nominated for nine Golden Globe Awards, winning two for his performances in the television films ''Citizen X'' (1995) an ...

. 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 The Tees Transporter Bridge, also referred to as the Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge, is a bridge in northern England. It is the furthest downstream bridge across the River Tees and the longest remaining transporter in the world. The bridge is ...

in ''

Auf Wiedersehen, Pet ''Auf Wiedersehen, Pet'' () is a British comedy-drama television programme about seven British construction workers who leave the United Kingdom to search for employment overseas. In the first series, the men live and work on a building site in ...

'' series 3 (2002). Tootoosis appeared in the

CBC Television CBC Television (also known as CBC TV) is a Canadian English-language broadcast television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster. The network began operations on September 6, 1952. Its French-l ...

mini-series ''By Way of the Stars'' with

Eric Schweig Eric Schweig (born Ray Dean Thrasher; 19 June 1967) is an Indigenous Canadian actor best known for his role as Chingachgook's son Uncas in ''The Last of the Mohicans'' (1992). Early life Schweig was born in Inuvik, Northwest Territories. He is ...

as Black Thunder and

Tantoo Cardinal Tantoo Cardinal CM (born Rose Marie Cardinal; July 20, 1950) is a Canadian actress of Cree and Métis heritage. In 2009, she was made a member of the Order of Canada "for her contributions to the growth and development of Aboriginal performing ar ...

as Franoise. He appeared in the award-winning movie ''

Legends of the Fall ''Legends of the Fall'' is a 1994 American epic Western drama film directed by Edward Zwick and starring Brad Pitt, Anthony Hopkins, Aidan Quinn, Julia Ormond and Henry Thomas. Based on the 1979 novella of the same title by Jim Harrison, the fil ...

'' (1994), and starred with

Russell Means Russell Charles Means (November 10, 1939 – October 22, 2012) was an Oglala Lakota activist for the rights of Native Americans, libertarian political activist, actor, musician, and writer. He became a prominent member of the American In ...

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's ''Pocahontas'' (1995) and ''Song of Hiawatha'' (1997). In 1999, he and

became founding members 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. Tootoosis won a

Gemini Award The Gemini Awards were awards given by the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television between 1986–2011 to recognize the achievements of Canada's television industry. The Gemini Awards are analogous to the Emmy Awards given in the United States ...

for his work on the animated show '' Wapos Bay: The Series'' and was nominated twice for his work on ''North of 60''.

Personal life and death

Tootoosis was raised with his 13 siblings in the Plains Cree tradition until he was forced from his home; taking indigenous children away from their communities and into residential schools was Canadian government policy at the time. Tootoosis was placed in a Catholic residential school, where he was treated harshly and forbidden to speak his own language. His father

John Tootoosis John Baptiste Tootoosis (July 18, 1899 Poundmaker Reserve, Saskatchewan – February 1, 1989) was a prominent Cree First Nations leader in Canada. He is the grandson of Yellow Mud Blanket, the brother of legendary Cree leader Pitikwahanapiwiyin ...

was an activist for

aboriginal rights Indigenous rights are those rights that exist in recognition of the specific condition of the Indigenous peoples. This includes not only the most basic human rights of physical survival and integrity, but also the Indigenous land rights, rights ...

, which got the younger Tootoosis into trouble at school. 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. His father was one of the founders of the

National Indian Brotherhood The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) is an assembly of Canadian First Nations (Indian bands) represented by their chiefs. Established in 1982 and modelled on the United Nations General Assembly, it emerged from the National Indian Brotherhood, wh ...

and former head of the

Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN), formerly known as the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, is a Saskatchewan-based First Nations organization. It represents 74 First Nations in Saskatchewan and is committed to honouri ...

(FSIN). Gordon himself served as the chief of his band and as a vice-president of FSIN. Tootoosis married Irene Seseequasis in 1965. They had three daughters, Glynis, Alanna and Disa, three sons, Lee, Winston Bear, and Clint. After their daughter Glynnis died of cancer in 1997, they took the responsibility of raising her four children in

Saskatoon Saskatoon () is the largest city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It straddles a bend in the South Saskatchewan River in the central region of the province. It is located along the Trans-Canada Hig ...

. Tootoosis died on July 5, 2011, aged 69, after being hospitalized for

pneumonia Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as alveoli. Symptoms typically include some combination of productive or dry cough, chest pain, fever, and difficulty breathing. The severity ...

at St. Paul's Hospital in

. His funeral and interment were held on the Poundmaker Cree Nation Reserve in Cut Knife. In 2015, the Saskatchewan Native Theatre Company changed its name to the Gordon Tootoosis Nīkānīwin Theatre Company in honour of Tootoosis.

Selected filmography

* ''

'' (1974) as Almighty Voice * ''

Marie-Anne Marie Anne or Marie-Anne is the name of: Aristocrats *Princess Marie Anne of France (1664-1664?), daughter of King Louis XIV of France *Infanta Marie Anne of Portugal (1861-1942), Portuguese infanta and Grand Duchess consort of Luxembourg *Marie A ...

'' (1978) as Chief Many Horses * ''The Mad Trapper'' (1978) * ''

Red Serge The Red Serge refers to the jacket of the dress uniform of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. It consists of a scarlet British-style military pattern tunic, complete with a high-neck collar and blue breeches with yellow stripe identifying a ca ...

'' (1986, TV Series) as Sioux Chief / Chief Mighty Buffalo * '' Stone Fox'' (1987, TV Movie) as Stone Fox * ''

Airwolf ''Airwolf'' is an American action military drama television series that centers on a high-technology military helicopter, code-named ''Airwolf'', and its crew. The show follows them as they undertake various exotic missions, many involving esp ...

'' (1987, TV Series) as Charlie Rising Moon * ''

MacGyver Angus "Mac" MacGyver is the title character and the protagonist in the TV series ''MacGyver''. He is played by Richard Dean Anderson in the 1985 original series. Lucas Till portrays a younger version of MacGyver in the 2016 reboot. In both p ...

'' (1988-1991, TV Series) as Phil Crow / Perry * '' Friday the 13th: The Series'' (1989, TV Series) as Spotted Owl * '' Black Robe'' (1991) as Old Aenons * '' Leaving Normal'' (1992) as Hank Amaruk * ''Call of the Wild'' (1992, TV Movie) as Charlie * ''By Way of the Stars'' (1992-1993, TV Mini-Series) as The Cree Chief * The Spirit Rider (1993) Film “ as Joe Moon * '' North of 60'' (1992-1997, TV series) as Albert Golo * ''

Northern Exposure ''Northern Exposure'' is an American Northern comedy-drama television series about the eccentric residents of a fictional small town in Alaska that ran on CBS from July 12, 1990, to July 26, 1995, with a total of 110 episodes. It received 57 ...

'' (1993, TV Series) as Ed's father, Pete * '' Hawkeye'' (1994, TV Series) as Ravenoak * '' Lonesome Dove: The Series'' (1994, TV Series) as Indian John * ''

'' (1994) as One Stab * ''

500 Nations ''500 Nations'' is an eight-part American documentary television series that was aired on CBS in 1995 about the Indigenous peoples of the Americas, Native Americans of North America, North and Central America. It documents events from the Pre-Colu ...

'' (1995, TV Mini-Series) (voice) * '' Pocahontas: The Legend'' (1995) as Chief Powhatan * ''

Pocahontas Pocahontas (, ; born Amonute, known as Matoaka, 1596 – March 1617) was a Native American woman, belonging to the Powhatan people, notable for her association with the colonial settlement at Jamestown, Virginia. She was the daughter of ...

'' (1995) as Kekata (voice) * ''

The X-Files ''The X-Files'' is an American science fiction on television, science fiction drama (film and television), drama television series created by Chris Carter (screenwriter), Chris Carter. The series revolves around Federal Bureau of Investigation ...

'' (1996, TV Series) as Shaman * '' Lone Star'' (1996) as Wesley Birdsong * ''

Crazy Horse Crazy Horse ( lkt, Tȟašúŋke Witkó, italic=no, , ; 1840 – September 5, 1877) was a Lakota war leader of the Oglala band in the 19th century. He took up arms against the United States federal government to fight against encroachment by wh ...

'' (1996, TV Movie) as Akicita * ''

Alaska Alaska ( ; russian: Аляска, Alyaska; ale, Alax̂sxax̂; ; ems, Alas'kaaq; Yup'ik: ''Alaskaq''; tli, Anáaski) is a state located in the Western United States on the northwest extremity of North America. A semi-exclave of the U.S., ...

'' (1996) as Ben Quincy General Store * ''Coyote Summer'' (1996) as Mopeah * '' Four Directions: A Canoe for the Making'' (1996, TV Series) * ''

Keeping the Promise ''Keeping the Promise'' is a 1997 historical drama television film based on the children's novel '' The Sign of the Beaver'' by Elizabeth George Speare. The film was released to DVD and VHS on July 25, 2000. It was shot in Ontario, Canada. Pl ...

'' (1997, TV Movie) as Chief Saknis * ''

The Edge David Howell Evans (born 8 August 1961), better known as the Edge or simply Edge,McCormick (2006), pp. 21, 23–24 is an English-born Irish musician, singer, and songwriter. He is best known as the lead guitarist, keyboardist, and backing voca ...

'' (1997) as Jack Hawk * ''Song of Hiawatha'' (1997) as Iagoo * ''Forgotten Warriors'' (1997, Short documentary) as Narrator * ''The Gift of the Grandfathers'' (1997, TV Short documentary) as Narrator * ''

The Magnificent Seven ''The Magnificent Seven'' is a 1960 American Western film directed by John Sturges. The screenplay by William Roberts is a remake – in an Old West–style – of Akira Kurosawa's 1954 Japanese film '' Seven Samurai'' (itself initially relea ...

'' (1998, TV Series) as Chief Ko-Je * ''

Que la lumière soit ''Let There Be Light'' (original title: ''Que la lumière soit !'') is a 1998 comedy fantasy film directed by Arthur Joffé, starring an ensemble cast. Cast * Hélène de Fougerolles as Jeanne * Tchéky Karyo as Harper * Ticky Holgado as Angel R ...

'' (1998) as Indian God * '' Due South'' (1998, TV Series) as Tom Quinn * ''

Dead Man's Gun ''Dead Man's Gun'' was a western anthology series on Showtime from 1997 to 1999. The series followed the travels of a gun as it passed to a new character in each episode. The gun would change the life of whoever possessed it. Each episode was ...

'' (1998, TV Series) as Charlie Three Claws * '' Big Bear'' (1998, TV Mini-Series) as Chief Big Bear * ''Lakota Moon'' (1999, TV Movie) as Rolling Thunder * ''

Reindeer Games ''Reindeer Games'' (alternatively titled ''Deception'') is a 2000 American action crime thriller film directed by John Frankenheimer in his final feature directorial outing before his 2002 death. It stars Ben Affleck, Gary Sinise, Charlize T ...

'' (2000) as Old Governor * ''Bear with Me'' (2000) as John Ours * '' Nobody's Baby'' (2001) as Dog Havasu * ''Zoe'' (2001) as Red Shirt * ''

The Doe Boy ''The Doe Boy'' is a 2001 independent drama film written and directed by Randy Redroad. It was selected as the United States winner of the Sundance Film Festival/NHK International Filmmakers Award in 2000. ''The Doe Boy'' was produced by film ...

'' (2001) as Marvin * ''Dream Storm: A North of 60 Mystery'' (2001, TV Movie) as Albert Golo * ''Christmas at Wapos Bay'' (2002) as Mushom * ''

'' (2002, TV Series) as Joe Saugus * '' Black Point'' (2002) as Standing Bear * '' Now & Forever'' (2002) as Ghost Fox * ''

Smallville ''Smallville'' is an American superhero television series developed by writer-producers Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, based on the DC Comics character Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. The series was produced by Millar Gough ...

'' (2002-2004, TV Series) as Joseph Willowbrook * ''

On the Corner ''On the Corner'' is a studio album by American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, and composer Miles Davis. It was recorded in June and July 1972 and released on October 11 of the same year by Columbia Records. The album continued Davis's exploration o ...

'' (2003) as Floyd * ''

Dreamkeeper ''Dreamkeeper'' is a 2003 film written by John Fusco and directed by Steve Barron. The main plot of the film is the conflict between a Lakota elder and storyteller named Pete Chasing Horse (August Schellenberg) and his Lakota grandson, Shane Chas ...

'' (2003, TV Movie) as Kills Enemy * ''

Moccasin Flats ''Moccasin Flats'' is a Canadian drama television series that ran for three full seasons. The show, which has aired on the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) and Showcase Television since 2004, is co-produced by Big Soul Productions ...

'' (2003-2006, TV Series) as Joe Redsky * ''

Seven Times Lucky ''Seven Times Lucky'' is a Canadian crime drama film, released in 2004. Directed by Gary Yates (director), Gary Yates, the film stars Kevin Pollak as Harlan and Liane Balaban as Fiona, a con man and a young student who get involved in a criminal sc ...

'' (2004) as Mr. Five Wounds * ''The Making of 'DreamKeeper (2004, Video documentary short) as Himself * ''

Hank Williams First Nation ''Hank Williams First Nation'' is a 2004 film directed by Aaron James Sorensen. It is Sorensen's first feature film. The film stars Gordon Tootoosis, Jimmy Herman, Stacy Da Silva, and Colin VanLoon. Plot The film follows the story of a seventy-fi ...

'' (2005) as Adelard Fox * '' Into the West'' (2005, TV Mini-Series) as Growling Bear * ''Fugitives Run'' (2005) as Dan John * '' Shania: A Life in Eight Albums'' (2005, TV Movie) as Greey Twain * ''

Shoebox Zoo ''Shoebox Zoo'' is a fantasy TV series made in a collaboration between BBC Scotland and various Canadian television companies. It is mostly live-action, but with CGI used for the animal figurines. It was first broadcast in 2004, by CBBC. The ...

'' (2005, TV Series) as Nathaniel Stonebear * ''The Spirit of Norway House'' (2005, TV Movie documentary) as Narrator * '' Wapos Bay: The Series'' (2005–2010, TV Series) as Mushom (voice) * '' Dream Makers'' (2006, Documentary) as Himself * ''

That Beautiful Somewhere ''That Beautiful Somewhere'' is a Canadian feature film written, directed and produced by Robert Budreau, produced by Ian Murray and executive produced by Bill Plumstead and Matthew Stone for Loon Film Inc. and Lumanity Productions. The film stars ...

'' (2006) as Harold * '' Open Season'' (2006) as Sheriff Gordy (voice) * ''

'' (2006, Video short) as Sheriff Gordy (voice) * ''Mr. Soul'' (2006) as Clifford * ''

Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee ''Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West'' is a 1970 non-fiction book by American writer Dee Brown that covers the history of Native Americans in the American West in the late nineteenth century. The book expres ...

'' (2007, TV Movie) as

Red Cloud Red Cloud ( lkt, Maȟpíya Lúta, italic=no) (born 1822 – December 10, 1909) was a leader of the Oglala Lakota from 1868 to 1909. He was one of the most capable Native American opponents whom the United States Army faced in the western ...

* ''Out in the Cold'' (2008, Short) as Soft as Snow * '' Blackstone'' (2009-2011, TV Series) as Cecil Delaronde * ''For Love of Liberty: The Story of America's Black Patriots'' (2010, TV Movie documentary) (voice) * ''Doomsday Prophecy'' (2011, TV Movie) as John * ''Wapos Bay: Long Goodbyes'' (2011) as Mushom * ''

Guns, Girls and Gambling ''Guns, Girls and Gambling'' is a 2012 American action crime thriller film written and directed by Michael Winnick. The film stars an ensemble cast, which includes Gary Oldman, Christian Slater, Megan Park, Helena Mattsson, Tony Cox, Chris Katt ...

'' (2012) as The Chief (final film role)

References

External links

Gordon Tootoosis at The Canadian Encyclopedia
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Tootoosis, Gordon 1941 births 2011 deaths 20th-century Canadian male actors 20th-century First Nations people 21st-century Canadian male actors 21st-century First Nations people Canadian male film actors Canadian male television actors Canadian male voice actors Canadian Screen Award winners Cree people First Nations male actors Deaths from pneumonia in Saskatchewan Male actors from Saskatchewan Members of the Order of Canada Nakoda (Stoney) people

Career

Personal life and death

Selected filmography

See also

References

External links