Gordon Sebastian Big Snake

Gordon Sebastian (“Paa'Kii Ahh”) Big Snake

It is with great sadness and tremendous sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved Father, Uncle, Brother, and Grandpa, who passed away peacefully on Monday, September 11, 2023, at Foothills Hospital, Calgary, Alberta. He is the last surviving son of the late Simon and Almena Big Snake. He was greeted into the heavenly gates on September 11, 2023, by the love of his life Christine, his mom and dad, and all his family members who passed on before him.

Gordon was a very private and humble man; he was raised on a ranch and continued to carry on this lifestyle as an avid Rancher, Farmer, and equipment operator, and cherished the hard work of raising cattle and horses all his life. He loved sharing stories about his younger years hunting in the Sandhills, playing hockey, his unbeatable arm-wrestling competitions, his working years as a carpenter, and as a bareback rider in the rodeo circuit. Gordon was a storyteller and was very comical and loved to tell jokes. Sometimes his audience was left guessing if his story was factual or if he was stinging you along.  Gordon was very proud of all his hard-working children and grandchildren as he instilled the importance and value of attaining an education. He always mentioned his relatives in Browning, Montana and loved to visit as often as he could. Gordon was routinely seen sitting at his designated seat at the kitchen table, or sitting in his recliner chair in the living room watching some of his favourite pastime shows which include the daily Soap Operas, nightly news, the Cowboy Channel, NHL games, and the Monday and Friday night wrestling matches. Gordon served on Siksika Nation Chief and Council for seven (7) terms, fourteen (14 years), during the 1970’s.  He was serving on Council, along with his brother Freddie Doore, when Siksika had the reenactment with Prince Charles at the Blackfoot Crossing.

Gordon leaves behind his dear children whom he loved dearly, Ethel Running Rabbit, Pam (Fred) Rabbit Carrier, Curtis (Maria) Big Snake, Jason Spotted Eagle, Jayme (Allison) Red Crow, his brother Bernard St. Goddard, traditionally adopted sons Ron (Joyce) Doore, Harley (Verna) Youngman, Robin Big Snake, Dogie (Lisa) Big Snake, traditionally adopted daughter Kendra Big Snake, traditionally adopted brothers and sisters Joe (Claudia) Patrick, Sidney (Melva) Black, Stanley (Roxy) Black, Rosemary Poor Eagle, Georgina Solway, Eileen and Sheila Black. His grandchildren Christa, Tennie (Carolyn), Andrea, Louise (Callen), Freddie, Meagan (Kyle), Anessa, Braeden (Kash), Racey (Mackenzie), Logan, Kenzie, Ryden, Jamie, Blu, Kristen Wolf Ear (and children) and their cat Poos. Great-grandchildren Destiny, Wyatt, Jonah, Wade, Teagan (Carson), Rhea, Brett, Mina, Saffrin, Angel, Rhegan, Mikko, Lily, Harlow, Zeke, Kalani, Blake, baby Maria TR. Great-Great Grandchildren (5th generation) Cloud, Thomas, and Hayes.  Numerous nieces and nephews (too many to mention) from the Big Snake, Breaker, Doore, Long Time Sleeping and St. Goddard Clans.  His extended relatives from the Good Eagle, Three Suns, Sleigh, Many Fires, Poor Eagle, McHugh, Leather, Crow Chief, Drunken Chief, Crane families and numerous relatives from Browning, Montana, USA.  His in-laws Crowfoot and Spotted Eagle families and his long-time friends Clarence Red Crow Sr., Norbert Bear Chief., and Quinton Broad Scalplock.  The family sincerely apologizes for anyone they may have missed.

He was predeceased by his beloved wife of 74 years Christine Big Snake (nee Crowfoot), parents Simon and Almenia Big Snake, his siblings Walter (Sadie) Long Time Sleeping, Roy (Mildred) Doore, Leslie (Rosa) Doore, Freddie (Ruby) Doore, Melvin Doore, Robert Big Snake, Rosalyn (Robert) Breaker, Kenneth (Alice) Big Snake, Charolette Big Snake, Archie Big Snake, Helen (John) Solway and his traditional brothers and sister Saa’ poo (Verna) St. Goddard, Morris (Mae) St. Goddard, Ralph Calf Child, Doll (Rick) Stone, Audrey Crane, son Keith Stud Horse, and traditional daughters Debbie SO, Terry MH, and Bonnie BS. His in-laws Margaret Soop (Tootsie), Beatrice Pietrobono, Cecile Crowfoot, and Betty Crowfoot.

The family would like to acknowledge and thank Dr. Lori Lobay, Kristen Smith (Siksika Health Services), the Siksika Nation Ambulance and Fire Department Staff, Dr. Liu and the Foothills Unit 32 Nurses in Calgary, Alberta.

Wake services will be held on Friday, September 15, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. at the residence of the late Gordon and Christine Big Snake (Map 7, House 95). A celebration of Gordon’s life will be held on Saturday, September 16, 2023, with a final viewing at 10 a.m. and service at 11:00 a.m. at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Siksika. Burial at Crowfoot Cemetery and a Feast to follow at the Siksika Business Centre (SRDL).

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