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In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
POMPANA, Calvin Aubrey (Wakinya Hoksida (Thunder Boy) / Glitchee Ginew (Eagle Man) - Peacefully, at Riverview Health Centre, with the notes of a Sundance song echoing in the air and two of his daughters at his side, our beloved Calvin breathed out his last and began his travels to the other side.
Calvin was honoured as a Dakota Sundance Chief, Elder, Storyteller, Sweat Lodge leader, and friend. To his family, he was cherished as Dad, Unka (Grandpa), and Uncle. Calvin was predeceased by his parents Thomas and Susan (Hall) Pompana; sisters Delores, Lucy, and Muriel, and brothers Barry, Mervin, Reginald, Roderick, Alden, Arnold, and Walter; and his partner Suzanne Winberg. He is survived by his daughter Daphne Dawn Pompana, grand-daughter Anissa, great-grandsons Wakiya, Owe, and Hoksidatokc’a, and Daphne’s mom Barbara McKay; and by his daughters Lila Dakota Sundance Pompana, Lucy Helen Fowler (Benito Delgado), grandson Azmar, and Lila and Lucy’s mom Laura Cowie; sister-in-law Elsie; dear cousins; and many cherished nieces and nephews, especially Yvonne and Bobbi.
Calvin was born in Rivers, MB, and lived between Rivers and Sioux Valley through his younger days. Like his older siblings, Calvin attended the Indian Day School on the reserve, and Brandon, then Portage Residential Schools. He joined the Royal Canadian Navy after school, loving the demanding physical challenges, especially when he trained new recruits in Cornwallis. However, those hard, lonely years left Calvin with a longing to know his identity as a native man, and to stand up for native people against a society that devalued them. In the seventies, he worked at many organizations promoting healthy native communities, like Friendship Centres in Portage and Brandon. But Calvin’s true healing journey began January 1, 1976 when he became alcohol and drug-free. He found teachers in Elder Martin Brokenleg, Solomon Hall, his father Thomas, and began to discover the deep spiritual practices of the Red Road and Dakota Tradition. In 1980 he attended a Sundance for the first time, and happily served the Sundance any way he could. He went on 13 Vision Quests in the Black Hills; he began to lead sweat lodges. When his brother Alden began to offer an Eagle Sundance in British Columbia, Calvin dove in to help, beginning a family tradition of gathering for Pompana Sundances in BC and in Birds Hill Park from 1993 -2007. Calvin was able to share the teachings he gathered from this journey with people and communities all over Turtle Island. He worked as an Elder at Headingley Correctional Centre, leading hundreds of inmates in sweat lodges, connecting many to their identity as Indigenous men for the first time in their lives. He loved returning to University later in life and sharing teachings with students and reflecting on his own healing journey.
Through his foundation, the White Buffalo Spiritual Society, he sought to create employment opportunities for Indigenous people and to showcase rich cultural traditions to larger Canadian society. He advocated for his people across Canada and all the way to the United Nations in New York and Geneva. Calvin also loved his family, wanting each one of us to thrive and bring our light to the world. We will miss him dearly. We are grateful for the love and support Calvin received from family, friends, ceremony family, and the wonderful staff at Riverview Health Centre, especially Carly and Dawn.
Calvin was honoured by family, community members and friends at the Sioux Valley Veterans Hall on February 16 and laid to rest with his family in the cemetery there. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Brandon Friendship Centre Elders Group, 836 Lorne Avenue,Brandon, MB R7A0T8, or to an Indigenous charity of your choice. (Korban Funeral Chapel, 18 Feb 2023)
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