FOX, Norbert

FOX

Norbert Angus Fox – Pisstsskia’taa (River Bend), passed away peacefully at the age of 81 years and left to join the ancestors on October 24, 2021. Norbert was born on December 10, 1939 at the Blood Indian Hospital to his parents, the late George and Margaret (nee Many Fingers) Fox. Norbert was a beloved husband, father, brother, uncle, grandfather, great-grandfather and Elder. He grew up in the Fox Lake/BullHorn area on the Blood Reserve with his parents, siblings, and extended family of the Foxes and Many Fingers. At the age of seven he was placed in the St. Mary’s Indian Residential School (IRS). While in IRS, Norbert excelled in his athletic interests of football, basketball, hockey and boxing. When Norbert left St. Mary’s IRS he continued helping his parents on the Fox Ranch and became an exceptional horseman and cattle rancher and pursued his athletic interests of Boxing, Hockey, Horse Racing (jockey, owner/trainer), in the rodeo arena as a steer decorator and steer wrestler, and as an outrider for chuckwagon racing.

Norbert was a gifted athlete and the following are some of the highlights of his athletic career: Norbert was named the “Golden Boy” at the 3rd Annual Edmonton Optimists Club Golden Gloves Tournament and was undefeated in three bouts. He became the first Jr. fighter ever to win a “Golden Boy” award and was coached by the late Rufus Goodstriker Sr. in 1954, Norbert played with the St. Mary’s Warriors High School basketball team who won the southern Alberta championship in Lethbridge and later, the Alberta provincial championship in Red Deer. The Warriors were coached by the late Gerry Dawson. In March 1970, Norbert was an Assistant Captain when he helped the Kainai Chiefs Sr. Men’s Hockey team win the prestigious Alberta Foothills Hockey League Championship alongside three of his brothers, Marvin, Tony and Roy. The Chiefs were coached by the late James Goodstriker and Rev. Tony Duhaime.

Norbert and his wife Mary Louise, joined the Sacred Horn Society – Iitskinayiiksi, in 1990 and they became lifetime members of the I’nakotskina Society and rejoined the Sikapiootasiksi Society. They became the caretakers of the Aihtsiisihtsi Medicine Pipe, which remained in their possession up to his passing. Pisstsskia’ta was an active Elder for the Horn Society and other community organizations including the Kainai Board of Education and the Transition Society Job Ready Program.

Norbert leaves behind his wife Mary Louise Fox; his children Gifford Fox; Elliot (Lani) Fox; Shauna (Joe) Fox; Jason (Deb) Fox; Lionel (Roxanne) Weasel Head; Zana Fox; Charlton Weasel Head; Tami Many Grey Horses; Norbert Many Grey Horses; Vincent Many Grey Horses, Shawn Many Grey Horses, Skye Many Grey Horses; Chevy Many Grey Horses and Raime Many Grey Horses; adopted children: Eldon Weasel Child, Arnold Mountain Horse, Les Wolf Child, Duane Mistaken Chief, and Winston Bruised Head; numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren; his brothers and sisters: Delphine Good Striker, Tony Fox, Leo (David) Fox, Bernard (Barb) Fox, Chief Roy (Genevieve) Fox, Arnold Fox, Genevieve Fox, Jacinta Fox, Wilton Good Striker, and Jack Red Crow; brother-in-law: David (Evelyn) Striped Wolf; and sisters-in-law: Lillian Fox and Christina Fox; Sacred Society brothers and sisters of the I’nakotskina Society and the Sikapioota’siksi Society and all the Ninnaimmsska; uncles and aunts: Charlie Fox, Lambert Fox, Marge Small Face, Gerald Fox, Dan Fox, Anne Fox, and Mike Fox; and numerous nieces and nephews. Also, his former teammates/friends/brothers/sister: Jim Baird, Greg Eagle Plume, Leroy and Harriet Heavy Runner and Lawrence Panther Bone, Ben Red Crow, and May Weasel Fat.

Norbert was predeceased by his daughter Roanna Weasel Head; brother Marvin Fox; children: Shelley Chief Body, Melvin and Travis Many Grey Horses; and his parents George and Margaret Fox, also his long-time teammates and friends: Lawrence Plain Woman, C.M. Tallow, Woodrow Goodstriker, Lyman Tail Feathers, John Red Crow, Gilbert Weasel Fat and Eugene Twigg.

The family wishes to acknowledge and thank Dr. S. Eagle Bear as his family physician & the Chinook Regional Hospital ICU staff including Dr. Spence & Dr. Low and the many nurses who cared for our Dad.

A Wake service will be held at Senator Gladstone Hall, Blood Reserve on Friday, October 29, 2021 from 7:00 – 11:00 pm. The Funeral service will follow at Immaculate Conception (St. Mary’s) Catholic Church, Blood Reserve on Saturday, October 30 at 11:00 am. Father Pawel Andrasz officiating. Interment to follow at Blood Band Cemetery, Blood Reserve, AB.

A Wake service will be held at Gladstone Hall, Blood Reserve on Friday, October 29, 2021 from 7:00 – 11:00 pm. The Funeral service will follow at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Blood Reserve on Saturday, October 30 at 11:00 am. Father Pawel Andrasz officiating. Interment to follow at Blood Band Cemetery, Blood Reserve, AB.

To send a condolence please visit www.legacyfuneralhome.ca