NAN spiritual leader passes on

Nishnawbe Aski Nation Elder Josias Fiddler has moved on to a better place.
“He passed with great dignity,” said Teri Fiddler, Josias’s wife. “He would smile and be really happy when he mentioned people who had passed on ahead of him. He died with great dignity as the great man he was.”
Teri offered thanks to all the people who helped while Josias was sick over the past two months. He was suffering from diabetes complications, including heart problems, pneumonia and water in the lungs.
“There are too many to thank, actually, but the ones I really want to mention are Alvin Fiddler and Norma Kejick,” Teri said. “I thank everybody for their prayers and their support during his illness. We’re just going to miss him a lot.”
A viewing is scheduled for May 31 in Thunder Bay, from 6-9 p.m. at Dennis Franklin Cromarty First Nations High School.
Josias’s body will be transported to his home community of Sandy Lake on June 1 and his funeral is scheduled for June 2 at the Thomas Fiddler Memorial High School.
“We’re handling it good,” said Sandy Lake Chief Bart Meekis. “The people here usually come together, as a whole family. The community is pulling together — they realize he was a former chief, a former leader of Sandy Lake. Also, Teri is a former leader, as a councillor, for many years.”
During the last NAN Chiefs Assembly in Timmins, Meekis said many chiefs told him how Josias had helped them over the years.
“It is with heavy hearts that we say goodbye to our friend, Elder, father and teacher,” said Grand Chief Stan Beardy. “He was involved with his community and NAN from the very start and has had a lasting legacy on everything he was involved with. There are many that will mourn his passing.”
In addition to being a leader of his community, Josias was chair of a founding tribal council, a driving force behind the creation of the Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre and an advisor at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. He also was a spiritual leader for the NAN Executive Council and was active on the NAN Elders Council.
“He never let go of that original vision the founders had of Grand Council Treaty 9 and NAN,” Beardy said. “He picked up on what those original leaders envisioned and kept it strong to this very day. This shows how deep his involvement and commitment was to the betterment of our communities.”
Josias was also an inspiration to many youth, encouraging them to explore traditional beliefs and sacred ceremonies and teaching traditional drum songs at DFC.