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An Anishininiimowin interpreter at Queen\u2019s Park is being remembered for his work as an advocate for land, water and language in northwestern Ontario.<\/p>\n
John Cutfeet was a member of Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI), a remote Oji-Cree First Nation also known as Big Trout Lake located about 580 kilometres north of Thunder Bay.<\/p>\n
Cutfeet died unexpectedly on June 9 at 65 years old, prompting condolences from First Nation leaders and organizations all over social media.<\/p>\n
In May 2024, Cutfeet helped make history in the Ontario legislature by providing interpretation services for Kiiwetinoong NDP MPP Sol Mamakwa, who addressed Queen’s Park in Anishininiimowin.<\/a> This was the first time a language other than English and French had been allowed by officials in the province\u2019s legislative chamber.\u00a0<\/p>\n LISTEN | Kiiwetinoong MPP Sol Mamakwa: John Cutfeet Obituary:<\/p>\n Superior Morning4:38Kiiwetinoong MPP Sol Mamakwa: John Cutfeet Obituary<\/p>\n Kiiwetinoong MPP Sol Mamakwa shares some of his memories of John Cutfeet, a former band councillor for KI First Nation and a trailblazing Indigenous language interpreter at Queen’s Park.\u00a0<\/p>\n Just weeks ago, Cutfeet provided interpretation services for Mamakwa again at Queen\u2019s Park, as the MPP made a five-minute speech to mark the start of National Indigenous History Month.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n Mamakwa told CBC News Cutfeet was both an admired colleague and treasured friend, whose loss leaves a big gap.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is also a reminder that we need to go back to the language,\u201d Mamakwa said. \u201cAll of us that are Oji-Cree, Anisininew, we need to re-learn the language because once we lose the language, where do we go?<\/p>\n Commitments to environment, health care, education<\/p>\n As a former band councillor for KI between 1999 and 2007, Cutfeet was responsible for the community\u2019s lands and environment portfolio.<\/p>\n Mamakwa said he was a tireless advocate for First Nations\u2019 rights to free, prior and informed consent for developments proposed on their traditional territories.\u00a0<\/p>\n Cutfeet also played a big role in the region\u2019s health-care sector.<\/p>\n During the COVID-19 pandemic, he helped provide support to neighbouring Bearskin Lake First Nation, braving frigid temperatures and uneven terrain to deliver food, medicine and essential supplies via Ski-Doo.<\/a><\/p>\n He served on the board of directors for the Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre (SLMHC) between 2007 and 2021, \u201cproviding steady guidance and leadership,\u201d the hospital said in a statement Wednesday.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cWe are honoured to have John leave a lasting impact at SLMHC with his contributions to strengthening culturally respectful, patient-centred care,\u201d it continued.<\/p>\n Cutfeet also sat on the board of directors for the Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority (SLFNHA) from 2009 to 2022, spending most of those years as board chair.<\/p>\n \u201cHis unwavering commitment to improving the health and well-being of First Nations people across Kiiwetinoong helped shape the organization through a period of significant growth and transformation,\u201d SLFNHA said in a statement Thursday.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cHe was instrumental in SLFNHA’s strategic planning and health transformation efforts, always ensuring the voices and priorities of First Nations communities remained at the forefront.\u201d<\/p>\n As well, Cutfeet was a research fellow with the Yellowhead Institute, an Indigenous-led research and education centre based at Toronto Metropolitan University.<\/p>\n \u2018His legacy will live on\u2019<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781641932_855_default.jpg\")
John Cutfeet is silhouetted in this 2007 picture taken outside the provincial legislature. He was asking the province to halt mining exploration on Indigenous land. (CP PHOTO\/Adrian Wyld)<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781641933_744_default.jpg\")
Members of Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug are seen transporting essential supplies via Ski-Doo to neighbouring Bearskin Lake First Nation at the height of the community’s COVID-19 outbreak. (Submitted by John Cutfeet)<\/p>\n
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John Cutfeet, Ramon Kataquapit, Kerrie Blaise, Kiiwetinoong NDP MPP Sol Mamakwa and Jeronimo Kataquapit (left to right) are seen June 1 following Mamakwa\u2019s statement in Anishininiimowin for National Indigenous History Month, for which Cutfeet provided live interpretation. (Office of MPP Mamakwa)<\/p>\n