Regarded as a ‘strong political activist,’ Willard Pine was known as one of the last fluent speakers of Anishinaabemowin in his community

A former chief of Mississauga First Nation is being remembered as a man immersed in traditional Anishinaabe knowledge and a historian of his community.

Willard Pine began his journey to the spirit world at Sault Area Hospital with family by his side on July 15, according to an obituary published this week. 

He was 87 years old. 

Mississauga First Nation Chief Brent Niganobe remembers his uncle as someone who was deeply invested in both his culture and his community.

“He’s one of our last speakers of our dialect in the community that we’re losing, and he definitely carried a lot of stories and history,” Niganobe told SooToday.

Pine was also described in his obituary as a “very spiritual man and a pipe carrier who conducted ceremonies.”

“He was a known medicine carrier and a caretaker of the land who knew the sacred traditional ceremonial sites,” his obituary said. 

Highly regarded for his political activism, Pine was involved with both the Anishnaabek Nation and the TEK (Traditional Ecological Knowledge) Elders group.

“He was a strong political activist, a known medicine carrier, a fluent speaker of our beautiful language and a caretaker of the land,” the Anishinabek Nation said in a social media post. “He was a humble, trusted advisor who provided political guidance to the younger generations and his peers who sought his counsel.

“His knowledge will live through all those who learned from him and live through those teachings. We send our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and community. Baa maa pii.”

Niganobe said it “feels like we’re losing some of that knowledge” following his uncle’s death.

“I feel like we’re losing more of those people in our community — that connection, especially to our traditional territory, where we’ve had such a presence since time immemorial,” Niganobe said.

Pine leaves behind a large family, including siblings, children and numerous grandchildren.

A private ceremony for Pine will be held at a later date.