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April 14, 2011
Northern Ontario’s First Nation Voice since 1974
www.wawataynews.ca
Celebrating the life of a spiritual leader
William Winter June 4, 1921 to March 31, 2011 Rick Garrick Wawatay News
The late William Winter was remembered as a very spiritual man who lived out his teachings. “The principles that he instilled in other people he led by life example,” said Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Stan Beardy. “He was a very compassionate, considerate caring individual and that’s how he molded his life.” Beardy recalled an incident after he was first elected as his community’s chief that speaks to Winter’s compassionate nature. “I became a chief when I was fairly young, before I was 30 years old,” Beardy said. “He came to see me as a young chief to offer his support if I needed it. And I have many times throughout my political life gone to him for advice so I am very grateful for that.” Winter, the first Native archdeacon to be appointed in northern Ontario, passed away
March 31 at the age of 89 with his family at his side in Sioux Lookout. “I was in the room when he took his last breath,” said Anglican Church Bishop Lydia Mamakwa of the northern Ontario region of the Diocese of Keewatin and one of Winter’s nieces. “Some of (the people) shed tears and we were singing songs that talk about leaving this world and going on to the kingdom of God.” Winter’s funeral was held April 4 in his home community of Kingfisher at the Mary Ann Aganash Memorial School gymnasium with many people from across the region in attendance, including Beardy, NAN Deputy Grand Chief Mike Metatawabin and Anglican Church Primate Fred Hiltz. “It was a celebration of his life, a celebration of his achievements,” Beardy said. “He lived a full life and he contributed a lot to the well being of society. People flew in from many communities to pay their respects and I think that just shows how much he was
respected.” Mamakwa, who led the funeral service, described it as “a very moving blessed time.” “William provided a lot of wisdom in example in his life as a minister and as a community member,” Mamakwa said. “As long as he lived until the time that he could no longer do anything, he upheld his beliefs and values. And most of all his faith in God.” Mamakwa recalled Winter’s love for the people, his kindness and his humility. “No matter what happened, if he was facing a difficult situation as an archdeacon, he always looked for the good in it and to make things right again,” Mamakwa said. “That is what he always strived for. He said whenever someone falls or makes a mistake, you help them get up again.” Mamakwa said Winter inspired her when she was young, motivating her to follow the path he had forged in the Anglican Church. “He was one of the Elders in the early 1970s who had the vision that the Native people will
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have a Native bishop with their own diocese in the future,” Mamakwa said. Winter was born in 1921 at Kaneesosink Traditional Territory, located between Kingfisher Lake and Big Trout Lake, where he grew up with the traditional practices, spiritual values and principles. He joined the four-year Native Ministry Theology program in 1971 and was ordained as an Anglican priest in 1974, one of the first seven Native priests to be ordained into priesthood in the Diocese of Keewatin. After being inducted as the first Native archdeacon in the Diocese of Keewatin in 1983, Winter established the Northern Ontario Region Ministry Structure and installed Native priests-in-charge in northern Ontario’s First Nations communities. During the late 1970s, Winter and his colleagues began discussions about a regional Native diocese with its own Native bishop, which eventually led to Mamakwa’s consecration as bishop in 2010.
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