Cease Funeral Home wrote:
Obituary for “Tatanka Chante” – whose Lakota name
means Buffalo Heart
Tatanka Chante, also known by his English name Gary
Silk, began his journey back to the Spirit World,
peacefully at his home, on the morning of the
welcoming back of the Thunders’ Spring Equinox
March 20, 2010.
A memorial service will be held at his home in Bemidji
MN, at noon March 23, 2010. His Koda, Henry Skywater
will guide his brother into the Spirit World. It will be
done Tatanka Chante way.
He was born on October 1, 1948, on the Standing Rock
Reservation, Ft. Yates, ND the son of Arthur Silk and
Mazie Louise Jordan.
Shortly after joining the United States Army, his life
changed forever. He understood what his journey in
life would be; he was to be a warrior for the People. He
would continue the fight that the warriors and his
ancestors before him fought. It was walking in the
Longest Walk in 1978 and the teachings of the Treaties
taught to him by the Elders that guided him in the right
direction. His greatest weapon in this fight was the
guidance he received from the Creator and the Spirit
helpers.
This Guidance led him on a series of spiritual journeys.
Iron Cloud and Pazi, his brothers from the Horse
Nation, carried him on these journeys. Alongside him
each time on the Bigfoot Ride, Treaty Ride, Unity Rides,
the Buffalo Walk, Trail of Red Tears and others were
the Riders, his Kolas. With each Ride he was on – his
path crossed someone else’s and he enriched their
lives so much.
Tatanka Chante was a humble man. He didn’t believe in
making a big show of what he did and he didn’t believe
in doing things the easy way. He knew that there is little
value in things that come too easily. He willingly
endured many hardships and difficulties for what he
believed in, for the sake of the People and for the good
of Mother Earth and all living things. He gave freely of
himself and knew that this was the greatest offering
that he could make.
Some looked upon him as a leader. In an earlier time,
he might have been known as a legendary Lakota
Warrior. Some say he walked with the Spirit of Crazy
Horse.
He would make no claims to such things. He just
thought of himself as Ikceya Wicasa, a common man of
the People. But to those who loved him he was indeed
legendary. A legendary Husband, as well as Father,
Grandfather, Uncle, Son, Nephew and Friend.
Tatanka Chante, You can rest now. Your legacy will live
on and those who loved you will strive to walk in your
honor.
Ho, hetchetu alo.
He is survived by: his wife, Jolene (Gurneau) Silk of
Bemidji, MN,
Children, Gabriela Silk of Denver, CO
Martin Chasing Hawk of Mitchell, SD,
Nicole Silk of Green Grass, SD
Courtney Silk of Green Grass, SD,
Wilford Looking Horse of Green Grass, SD
Kota Silk of Green Grass, SD
Ashley Gurneau Gibson of Bemidji,
Cody Gurneau Wagner of Bemidji,
Brothers, Raymond Silk of Pacifica, CA
Robert Silk of Selfridge, SD
Milton Silk of Glenullen, ND
Arthur Silk III of Ft. Yates, ND
Gordon Silk of Bismark, ND
Sisters, Sylvia Silk of Stockton, CA
Yvonne Lacher of Rockland, CA
Shirley Morton of Ft. Yates, ND
Geraldine Schriock of Mandan, ND
Carmelita Silk of Bismark, ND
Colleen Miller of Morristown, SD
Special Granddaughter, Courtney Silk
13 grandchildren, numerous nieces, and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, an unborn
child, brothers Elmer Silk, Henry Silk, sisters Nancy
Thompson, Judith Ann Silk, nephews Nekoma Rangel,
Jimmy Laundreaux, Grant Marshall, and David
Fernandez.
Honorary Casketbearers will be The Riders, sons Kota
Silk, Wilford Looking Horse, and brother Robert Silk.
Messages of condolence may be left at
ceasefuneralhome.com.
Wondering at Bad River wrote:
I keep thinking about the meeting last night,
mesmerized by the offensive language and
actions by those present. Screaming,
laughing, and being rude to one another will
accomplish little. In fact, throughout the
meeting I kept thinking about – what was
thought to achieve. Our Tribe’s most
valuable resource time, wasted. What has
changed, what will change?
Most importantly, the Tribal Council appointed
a group of individuals from our community to
represent the Tribe via a Board. This Board
consists of various individuals, many of whom
were and are professionals within our
community. It is very difficult to believe that
collectively they, a group of unrelated
individuals who have probably shared very
little outside of their Board meetings, are
conspiring against three individuals, who
coincidently are elders.
These “ex” housing employees, Mary and
Patty, emphasized what monetary benefits
they have procured, in addition to
highlighting their “Indianhood”. Yet, being an
employee is measured more than being
Native or what you have produced – more
likely it is determined by your relationship
with your co-workers. It is obvious from the
Housing employees and Board’s decisions
that these employees lacked these essential
skills.
It is also questionable that our now HR
Manager, may too lack some essential skills
necessary for him to do his job. Which brings
me to the most important questions, never
asked or answered at the meeting: The
Housing Board was forced re-organize
temporarily until a new Director came aboard
because the Tribe hired their Interim Director,
Bob Houle, to be the Tribe’s HR Manager.
Thus, the question what role did our Council
play in perpetuating this problem by not
assuring Housing was taken care of? Why
wasn’t the HR position held until the new
Director for Housing was appointed?
With all of the pressing problems within our
community, it is disheartening to see this
Council following in the footsteps of their
predecessor, wasting time. We absolutely
need Housing to grow. When was the last
time new housing was built or a home
ownership program was initiated? How can
all of the surrounding Tribes build when we
are tearing down?
Funny, how we can all sit back and point
fingers – this is our Tribe. Together, we need
to ensure that we have a healthy, operable,
culturally progressive community for our
future.
AJ wrote:
well from what i read here,Bad River is
BROKE, then again we been broke for a long
long time and seem it never change till the
real books are open up for all too see at any
time, second well it seem this has been a
trend when it comes too the good ole say
WHITE MAN GREED
well now it indian greed here on the REZ
WeKnowHackerson wrote:
you should check references on your new
housing exec director...he was demoted and
later let go from his previous positions at the
Rockford IL Housing Authority....ask its Board,
Rockford's Mayor, Rockford's police chief
and/or top management at the Rockford
HA.....Good luck.
Weiss wrote:
WOW! I must say that I am quite shocked that
some people already want the newly elected
Chief out of office! C'mon people! You voted
him in for a reason! Try putting yourself in HIS
shoes! He has a TOUGH road ahead of him
due to the previous administration! I am sure
its NOT an easy decision for him to make if in
fact its true that there has to be employee
cuts. When our personal budgets require us
to make tough decisions, we do what we have
to in order for us to make ends meet. There
is no reason, in my opinion, to get ourselves
worked up over something that MAY be. Give
our LEADER a chance to get all things sorted
out before we go and get the entire
community in an uproar. We ALL need to be
realistic.
wizard wrote:
I would like to know how we can build a 6
million clinic and can not afford to buy a
$60.00 pair of glass's.
Aunt Sue wrote:
Thank you for giving us the info on the Res. It does tug
at my heart at times. I often wonder what our
Grandfathers would say of the last ten years. Thanks
again.
away friend wrote:
who the hell is runing housing?do you know
that shed was 19.00 dollars a square foot. too
much ,money burnt.I sure hope they went
down 4 foot then they thawned the ground.sit
look and ask each other,not sit look and
accuse.too late money gone again...people
get lazy,once a oldtimer said...a little skin off
your ass don,t hurt by working and maybe it
needs it too.
I drink the water from big round wrote:
There is a hurt. Power for powers sake is
hurts us. Power for money hurts us more.
Mike W. desires neither. His heart is in a good
way.
Weiss wrote:
I just need a voice here as I am sad, but
remain strong because of my aunt, a Bad
River Member. She is slowly losing her
battle with life. Although I know she is going
to be gone soon, it doesn't take away the pain
of knowing her 'being' will no longer be with
us on Earth.
Diabetes is her enemy, but her desire for life
and her inspiration to be passionate about all
things has taught me so much when I wasnt
allowed to talk about my heritage growing up.
You taught me that I can make a difference
and have a voice! I am so proud of being
Native American because of YOU! There is
NO more shame!
You have touched so many. We THANK YOU
for giving us the gifts of knowledge and
courage and strength.
She has been through so much in her life's
journey. She has never gotten over the loss
of her own child, brothers and other close
family members, but, she remained STRONG
by being there for others! It takes STRENGTH
to do what you have done. You are a
FIGHTER indeed, but, inspirational to ME!
I will take care of my mother, your sister, and
make sure that I do good things in life in your
honor!
It's so hard mentally and emotionally for us
ALL as we have lost too many too soon! I
promised you that I will make a difference,
because you were the ONLY one there to
ACCEPT me with NO judgment. I will honor you
by making a DIFFERENCE whenever possible.
wesconn media wrote:
This is just a note of information that
everyone should be aware of. At one time a
few years ago, i had found in the Lapointe
Agency record, by accident, a copy of the the
1929 Cencus that was done in Bad River.
Approxiamately 1500 were counted. The
Census was not done through the U.S.
Census Dept, but through the Lapointe
Agency now known as Great Lakes BIA. I
went to our Enrollment department and
asked if our records went back as far as that
year, they said no they didnt. I burned a copy
of the disc and enrollment has a copy now.
Recently i went back in there to ask for a
copy of it, and somehow it doesnt seem to
exist in the database. Not to worry though, i
hide things everywhere. I do have a copy of
the the 1929 Census should anyone ever
need it. Wes