WEASEL HEAD, Keon

Posted: October 22nd, 2020

Ottskoyiiso’kasimm

KEON WEASEL HEAD

January 8, 1960 – October 16, 2020

KEITH “KEON” FRANKLIN GODFREY WEASEL HEAD, beloved husband of Linda Weasel Head, was born at the Blood Indian Hospital on January 8, 1960 and the Creator sent his father, Miiksskim, to bring his spirit home in the early morning hours of Friday, October 16, 2020 at the age of 60 years.

We will miss the laughter, crazy jokes, knowledge, songs and his love for us. He lives in our hearts now. We have already seen him flying with the eagles, no longer suffering with pain.

Keon loved the adventures of life, the challenges of mathematics, and his Blackfoot language and culture, and teaching grade two & three at Aahsaophi Elementary School. He was a member of the Crazy Dogs from the Blackfeet reservation in Montana. He was a part of numerous drum groups throughout his life. He spent a lot of his early years at the Sundance and attended various ceremonies on the Blood reserve. He made many friends on the handgame trail in Canada and the USA. Many considered him a formidable opponent. He and Linda were fortunate to have traveled to Hawaii, Australia, and New Zealand where he made many friends with the grassroots Indigenous peoples. The Australians wanted him to come teach and learn with them. The Maori of New Zealand exchanged languages, phrases, and gifts, even inviting him to their traditional lands and giving him free taxi rides while we were at the WIPCE conference.

He was never one to forget his own people and was especially kind-hearted and generous to those less fortunate as he knew through experience how hard life can be at times. He made many donations to the shelter in Moses Lake. His niece stated “On a tight budget, Keon and Linda would go all out to give the kids a better than ever Christmas never leaving out their nieces and nephews.” He loved to do last minute shopping.

He was encouraged to pursue a degree in education, when people saw that he was a natural teacher. These skills were recognized by Kainai Board of Education and he was named teacher of the year in 2007, just two years after he received his BEd from the University of Lethbridge in 2005. Keon was also a forest fire fighter and was part of an elite crew out of Missoula, Montana.

He was most proud of his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, always encouraging them to do their best, to finish school, and pursue their talents. He wanted his children and grandchildren to know their roots. When his granddaughter asked for information on her ancestors he wrote, “On my mother’s side, you are from the Short People’s Clan and from my Father’s side Mikskiman (Iron) Clan. On my grandfather’s side there are two clans: Owns Many Different Colored Horses and Akaksiman/Old Agency.”

Keon loved the land. During the spring season he would take time to pick sage, in summer season he would spend countless hours picking Saskatoon and Bull Berries, becoming famous for his “berry surprise”. He loved fishing in the streams of Montana for rainbow trout, where we would often go camping taking a whole carload of kids with us. He loved to fish for Pike, and then cook it up with his secret recipe. All these foods would be shared with others throughout the fall and winter. In turn he would ask for berry soup and fry bread.

Keon took pride in his collection of Matchbox cars. He displayed his favourites and kept a box of cars to give to the little ones, who looked forward to this gift from Papa or “Ampa. He also loved to make model cars, which he painted with just the right colors. He loved challenging puzzle books, gadgets, drones, and to his delight, discovered online shopping.

Keon is survived by his loving wife of 39 years, Linda Weasel Head; mother Diana Plume (nee Bull Shields); auntie-mom, Pauline Whitegrass (nee Bullshields), siblings: Roland Weasel Head, Paula Weasel Head; adopted siblings: Carrie Fox (nee Weasel Head), children: Lisa (Curtis) Big Swallow, Tatonkaska Howard, Amber (Jamie John-Kehewin) Weasel Head, Christopher Weasel Head (Shannon Goodstriker); shared children: Darcie (RJ Heavy Shields) Weasel Head, Lacey Scout, Desmond (Jean) Panther Bone, Franklin Panther Bone, Alvin First Rider; god daughters: Jessica Bullshields, Mia Scott. His sister also survives him in-laws across the line: Diana Cote, Roberta Steele (Jim), Dawn Wahl (Travis), Rasena Christopher, and brothers-in-law, Vernon Christopher and Guy Morrison. He was especially fond of his aunts-in-law: Frances Vanderburg and the late Marie Fyant. He had many aunts and uncles on the Bull Shield and Weasel Head families, too numerous to name with relatives from the Small Eyes, Russell’s, First Riders, Smith, McDougall’s’, Many Bears, Heavy Runners, Big Throats, Shoutings, Okas and many more.

He always made sure to include his grandchildren in our family events on both sides of the border. His grandchildren include: Kathy, Robert (Suset), Matt-Matt, Jeremiah, Kailene and LiliAnna Howard who all reside in Montana. Cassondra, Samantha (Trevor), Cynthia (Buddy), Jessica (Horace), Desiree (Harvey), Brittany, and Kobe (Joley) Big Swallow; Sekoya, Kimowan, and Kihiw Weasel Head – Kehewin; Ethan, Draven, and Athena Weasel Head; Kenden White Quills and Derek Scout. A special place was always in his heart for his great-grandchildren who called him Papa or ‘Ampa: Robert Jr., Denzel, Liam, Clara-Jane, Arrianna, and Emberly Howard; Doyle, Devin, and Little Man Shouting; Jalisa Healy; Valen, and Hartley Sweet Grass.

The huge family of handgame brothers and sisters and his adopted moms who always doted on him: the late Veronica Scott, Louise English, and Hilda Standing Alone. From the north, he was a brother to the Cardinal families.

Keon is being met on his journey home by his father Frank/Miiksskim Weasel Head; brothers: Francis and Adlarde (Smiley) Weasel Head, Floyd “Tiny Man” Heavy Runner; sisters: Wendy Bullshields, Delores Standing Alone, aunts: Lillian and Beatrice Bull Shields; children: Matthew Howard, shared children Galena Brave Rock, Mamie First Rider; grandchildren Stephen and Joshua Howard. great-grandchild, Jeriah Howard. paternal Grandparents Pat/ Mokakin Sr. and Paula (nee Iron) Ponah Weasel Head; maternal grandparents: Charlie/ A’waohkitopi and Irene (nee Prairie Chicken)/ Anattsipistohkmi Bullshields: great-grandparents: I’pitsohkomi (Calling from the Water), George Prairie Chicken, Rosie/ Kastsikomikosaki Small Eyes (nee Wolf Plume), Christopher/ A’pii’maan Bullshields, Jim Owns Many Different Colored Horses, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Weasel Head, Tatsi ki’poyi or Miikksima (Iron), Clan Chief of the Lone Fighters.

Our families are huge and he had many, many friends, we apologize if we have overlooked anyone. When the Covid-19 has settled, we will have a memorial feast/handgame tournament.

A Wake Service will be held AT CORNERSTONE FUNERAL HOME, 2825 – 32 Street South, Lethbridge, AB, on Friday, October 23, 2020 from 3:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M.

A Funeral Service will be held at CORNERSTONE FUNERAL HOME on Saturday, October 24, 2020 at 11:00 A.M. with Father Pawel Andrasz O.M.I. celebrating. Burial to follow.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, kindly RSVP your attendance to Cornerstone at 403-381-7777 or care@cornerstonefh.ca. Seating will be limited to 90 guests. Facemasks are mandatory and will be available upon entry.

To send a condolence, please visit www.cornerstonefuneralhome.com

2 Condolences for “WEASEL HEAD, Keon”

  1. Denise Getz says:

    I was very sorry to hear about Keon Today. The world will be a less interesting place without him here. It was always very educational working with him. All the best to Linda, his kids and family.

  2. Terri Petersen says:

    Oh, Linda, I’m at such a loss at what to say. Read The Stone Woman again yesterday as I wanted to share with two young women in our family who are struggling as single parents. It reminded of the time Keon showed Daniel, no more than 6yo, his $100 bill. You remember how in awe he was of Keon? Actually asked Daniel this morning and he still recalls. So sorry the years and distance have separated us. Realize we live in a digital world so really there’s no reason to have lost touch with you. Please accept my condolences on behalf of my family to yours. He truly touched so many.

Leave a Condolence for Terri Petersen