Honouring the Life of Unkan Wanbdi Wakita (Oct 4, 1943 - Dec 15, 2025)

Описание: Wanbdi Wakita was born in Wipazoka Wakpa Oyate (Sioux Valley Dakota Nation) to Hehaka Cuwe Maza (Phillip Wasicuna) and Cora Wasicuna (nee Ross) on October 4th, 1943. His siblings were Mary Jane McGrandie, Betty Bullard, Raymond Wasicuna, Grace Habel, Tim Wasicuna and Glenn Wasicuna. A natural storyteller, he often shared how his mother had a house built while his dad was serving in World War II, something he felt very proud about. He learned to skate on the river as a tiny boy in a pair of skates 2 sizes too big that he found at the dump. He told his friends, “I’m going to put these on and skate without falling down,” and he did, starting his lifelong love of hockey. He grew up riding horses and speaking Dakota, something he continued in secret in spite of the abuse in residential school. “I was a rebel”, he’d say, a quality that helped him endure and fight boundaries all his life.

Following the example set by his father and relatives, Wanbdi served in the Canadian Armed Forces Princess Patricia Light Infantry as a Peacekeeper for six years. There, he excelled athletically and was invited to play hockey in the sports battalion, also known as “hockey heaven”. When he returned to Canada, he worked at numerous jobs, including a term as Chief, went to University, and eventually found what he called “Creators’ work. He spent over 30 years working with men in corrections as an Elder, until joining the University of Manitoba’s Access Program as Grandfather in Residence seven years ago.

Wanbdi was a Sundance Chief and Spiritual leader devoted to teaching and sharing what he learned through prayer and ceremony. He often spoke about “human being healing” and the universal truths he considered applicable to everyone. This was evident in the vast number of people he has impacted – people of all nations, near and far. He had an expansive idea of what it means to be relatives, adopting many people over his lifetime. He cherished all his takojas and children, blood and adopted, including all his nieces and nephews who he claimed as daughters and sons when their parents passed away.

His work ethic kept him busy to the end, which he loved. He was passionate about many things – being Dakota one of them. He so wanted his home community of Sioux Valley to be healthy, thriving, and unified. He wanted youth to learn their language and all of us to realize the sacredness and power of prayer. He encouraged, “Start with your heart, your feelings and with love.”

Wanbdi has been described as humble, kind, dedicated, and profoundly wise. Wanbdi found the courage to love people which fueled his work and willingness to give of himself. Over his life, he has been acknowledge for his good deeds more times than there is space to list. Most recently, he was honoured at Keeping the Fires Burning. In 2016, he was invested into the Order of Manitoba.