DAY CHIEF, DOLORES

October 7, 1950 - December 26, 2011

It is with heavy hearts that our family announces the passing of Councillor Dolores Day Chief (nee Many Fingers), wife, daughter, mother, grandmother, sister and Tribal Leader for the Blood Nation. She belonged to the Fish Eater and Many Children Clans of the Blood Nation and was the granddaughter of Morris and Annie Many Fingers and Stephen and Cecilia Fox. Her Blackfoot name was Naatoyipommowa (Sacred Transfer).

Born on October 7, 1950 in Cardston, Alberta, Dolores (PeeWee) was the daughter of the late Wallace Many Fingers Sr. and Dr. Helen Many Fingers. She married the love of her life Evans Day Chief in 1974 and together they raised five children: Chantelle (Blake Tail Feathers), Neal (Shaneen), Shane (Melissa), Jonathan Robert (J.R.) and Ty Day Chief. She was a grandmother to twelve grandchildren: Shelise, Torin, Marcus, Ryder, Jayden, Kyson, Carly, Haily, Kaylyn, Shace, Kiowa, and Neala. She is survived by her sisters: Dorine Rabbit, Crystal Many Fingers, Lois (Harley) Frank and Mary Ann (Alfred Standing Alone Jr.) Fox Tail Feathers. Her brothers include: Wallace Jr., Tony, Morris (Kelly Jo) Many Fingers and Wilfred Soop. Her uncles: Floyd, Charlie, Lambert, Gerald, Danny and Mike Fox and Floyd Many Fingers. Her aunts: Carolla, Martha, Bernadette, Marge, and Anne. She was predeceased by her father Wallace Sr. and her sister Pauline.

Dolores served 11 years as a Blood Tribe Councillor until her death; she was also a dedicated and concerned Tribal Leader who advocated for all tribal members. Her passions included advocacy for Blood Tribe Women and Children, and Environmental Protection and Harmony in the Workplace. She was a founding member for the Kainaikiiksi Women's Group (2001) and the Kainai Art Association (2011) and was instrumental in the establishment of the Kainai Earth Watch Environmental Association in 2010. She worked for the Blood Tribe Administration for 25 years in Lands, Credit, and as Band Secretary and Commissioner of Oaths for the Chief and Council.

She was an honorary president and representative for the Kainai Chieftainship. She actively served and supported the Kainai Chieftainship during her tenure on Blood Tribe Council. She was responsible for many Inductions over the past ten years following in the footsteps of her late uncle Stephen Fox Jr. She was given a special Blackfoot Women's Warbonnet head dress from the late Leo Day Chief and Pete and Hilda Standing Alone in 2008.

She attended St. Mary's School and later Mount Royal College. She graduated with her husband Evans, from the BESS Management program from the University of Lethbridge, and later the University of Calgary Social Work program. She awarded many scholarships to Blood Tribe students over the years who wished to pursue their education. She was especially proud of her mother Helen's accomplishments and accompanied her to Ottawa to receive the Order of Canada Medal.

Dolores was a gifted athlete and excelled in basketball, softball and was an accomplished barrel racer. She won many IRCA rodeos and qualified for numerous INFR rodeos in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She competed and was a member of the Blood Reserve Rodeo Club and the Chinook Rodeo Association. Dolores and daughter Chantelle were the first Mother-Daughter qualifiers at the INFR in 1987 in New Mexico. Dolores would always support her husband and all her sons in their rodeo careers. It brought great joy to her heart to watch Evans, Chantelle and Shane compete in numerous INFR Championships. Dolores was a long-time hockey mom and grandmother. She was so proud to cheer for three of her sons (JR, Shane and Ty) as they played for the Kainai Chief Hockey Club. Dolores was also a great supporter of her nephew Ken Frank (One Tough Indian) in his boxing career.

She was a devout Catholic who served on the Blood Tribe Parish Council for many years and was instrumental in renovating the Standoff and St. Mary's churches. She belonged to many community prayer groups and Cursillos. Dolores attended numerous pilgrimages to places including: Lourdes, Marmorra, Medjugorie, and Guadaloupe. She loved going to Lac Ste. Anne every year with her family and mother Helen. Dolores always enjoyed celebrating Sunday mass with her husband and sons weekly in Standoff with Father Pawel Andraz. She was especially proud of her son Ty who attended the Catholic World Youth Conference in Spain this year. She loved Gospel music, playing guitar and singing for prayer groups. He also loved the music of Loretta Lynn, Elvis and Merle Haggard. She had many friends and spiritual advisors including Agna Bergant and Lorna Keras. The family would like to thank Dr. Clark and Dr. Esther Tail Feathers as well as the staff of the Cardston Hospital for their excellent care of Dolores during her illness.

She belonged to the Fish Eater and Many Children Clan and married into her husbands, the Running Antelope Clan. Dolores came from a huge extended family including the following families: Fox; Many Fingers; English from Brocket; Young Pine; Heavy Shields; Standing Alone; Crop Eared Wolf; Shot Both Sides; Eagle Plume; Plain Women and her in-laws the Day Chiefs.

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A Family Service will be held at 6:00 pm on Friday, December 30, 2011 at MARTIN BROTHERS RIVERVIEW CHAPEL, 610 4th Street South, Lethbridge, with Teresa Grice, officiating, followed by a Celebration of Dolores's Life at the SENATOR GLADSTONE HALL, Blood Reserve, Alberta from 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am, on Saturday, December 31, 2011 at ST. MARY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, Standoff, Alberta, with Father Pawel Andrasz, OMI, celebrant. Interment will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery.