The Passing of Mato Gi Brown Bear Phil Lane Senior

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Turtle Island Native Network
http://www.turtleisland.org

PHILIP NATHAN LANE, SR.
1/11/15 - 3/29/04

After 89 well-lived winters, Mato Gi (Brown Bear), Philip N. Lane, Sr. passed to the spiritual world on the beautiful spring morning of March 29, 2004. After joking, laughing, and eating a plate of his favorite pancakes made by his daughter Deloria, Brown Bear sat peacefully in his favorite chair and looked out over his beloved Mill Creek and the Blue Mountains. Then in a moment he was gone, his absence only noted by the tilt of his head. He told his good friend, Father Steve Woolley last fall, when he discussed his Dakota-Christian funeral celebration... “I will die in the spring, in March!” In the winter of his life, he left in the new spring, as promised, leaving his relatives to cherish the life he lived so well.

Born to a long lineage of hereditary chiefs and spiritual leaders of the White Swan Band of the Yankton Sioux Tribe, Brown Bear was born on January 11, 1915 on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. His parents were Lyma Deloria and Fred Lane. He was largely raised by his grandfather, Philip Deloria (Tipi Sapa), who was the first American Indian to become an ordained Episcopalian minister. As well, Tipi Sapa retained his chieftainship until his death. Brown Bear never lost his deep connection with his many cherished relatives in the Dakotas and made many visits with his family back to his beloved homeland throughout his lifetime.

He started his education at St. Elizabeth Mission School in Wakpala, SD. He then went on to Haskell Indian School in Lawrence, KS to finish his high school education. In 1994, he was given the Haskell Outstanding Alumni Award.

It was at Haskell where Phil met Lena Rose “Bow” Vale, a 13-year old Chickasaw from Oklahoma who later became his wife. He always liked to tell about their meeting . . . he was 17, she was 13. Ten years after they met, he came to Oklahoma with $2,000 and a marriage proposal . . . coming to “claim what’s mine” he’d say. If you spent any time at all with Phil, you’d know that his life revolved around his family and most especially his sweetheart of 70 years, Bow.

At Haskell Phil learned to box and met his lifelong friend Boots LaCourse from the Umatilla Indian Reservation. Phil accompanied Boots home in 1934 after graduation. He stayed in the Pacific Northwest, largely due to generous and warmhearted hospitality of the Umatilla and Warm Springs people. Coming from a buffalo culture himself, he appreciated the central role he saw the salmon playing in the lives of the Plateau people.

From Pendleton he went to the Warm Springs Indian Reservation, where he was employed with a Bureau of Indian Affairs survey crew. His supervisor Charlie Chester suggested he go to Oregon State where he was a boxer on the varsity team for 4 years. He graduated in 1941 with a Bachelor of Science in Forestry. Phil was honored by Oregon State University (OSU) with the E.B. Lemon Distinguished Alumni Award in 1992, the OSU Alumni Association’s highest award, and the Forestry Alumni Association’s Individual Achievement Award.


During World War II, he was recruited to work on the Third Locks Project in the Panama Canal. He served on active duty from October 30, 1943 to April 23, 1946 with the Naval Air Corps and the SeaBees. In 1948, he transferred with the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers to McNary, Oregon. He worked in structural design on Columbia River dams and retired after 30 years in 1971. His innovative design for fish ladders led to saving migrating salmon and his design of vertical locks merited two Presidential Citations from Lyndon B. Johnson.

Phil raised and trained quarter horses. Phil had “horse medicine.” He had such an amazing understanding with his horses, which enabled him to win Sixth in the world in cow cutting in 1982 on Bold Mount, one of his many championship horses. In 1990 he won the open championship for Area I National Cutting Horse Association with Tivios Hired Hand.

Phil had over 250 amateur and professional fights spanning 18 years. At Oregon State he was the runner-up of the Pacific Coast Intercollegiate Lightweight Boxing Championship. In 1947 he was the All-Service Lightweight Boxing Champion, Panama Canal Division. During the years when money was scarce, he fought professional fights under the names Billy Sunshine, Flash Gordon, Pug Lane, and the Kansas Express.

He always reminded us that we needed to “slow down.” He cherished a real “Indian visit,” telling the story about his grandfather Low Dog, a Custer battle veteran, who came to visit and stayed for 6 months.

The way Phil demonstrated the respect principle he inherited from his beloved old people was through the way he cared for and took care of everything in his life. The way he groomed his horses, kept up his machinery, tended his relationships, oiled his tack, and even swept his driveway was evidence of his respect for all living things. He was completely enamored of children of all sizes and shapes. He insisted they all call him Lala (grandpa). He could play “make-believe” with the best of them. If you knew him, you heard him exclaim, “My friend,” each time he ran into someone he knew.

One of Phil’s very favorite sayings was “Aren’t we all the Children of One Father (the Creator) and one mother (the Earth)?” That sacred teaching guided him during a long career of volunteering. In 1946 he served on the Umatilla School Board and was Chairman from 1953-54. In 1969 Phil Sr. and Phil Jr. established the first ever Native American prison group in North America with the brothers at the Washington State Penitentiary. Phil cherished this service and still continued to be in close contact with the many brothers he worked with, who are now enjoying their freedom due to Phil’s loving and wise influence. For this effort, in 1984 he received the Governor’s Distinguished Volunteer Award and the State of Washington Certificate of Appreciation.



In 1975 Phil received the Baha’i Human Rights Award. In 1982 he was a founding member of the Four Worlds International Elders Council. He received the Eli S. Parker Award from the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) in 1987 and served on its Council of Elders until going to the spiritual world. Every year he looked forward with great anticipation to attending the annual conference so he could share all his energy with students and old friends. Each one received a full measure of his love, attention, and encouragement.

Phil is lovingly remembered by his wife, Bow, at home, son Philip N. Lane, Jr. (Suthida), of Lethbridge, AB, daughter Deloria Bighorn (Jacob), of Duncan, BC, and son Michael Finnegan (Denise) of Snohomish, WA, Sister Jean Wallace (Norman), grandchildren Shannon Lane Seaver (Rick), Gina Hensley (Joey), Joslynn Santa Cruz (Kris), Deloria Lane-Many Grey Horses, Philip N. Lane, III, Dale Henderson (Nicole), Jordan Bighorn, Jelana Bighorn, Kai Bighorn, Tahirih Varner, Bahie Rassekh, Margo Hill (Tim), Regan Vaughn, Mikala Finnegan, Perry Tonasket, Lyda Nicholai, Brett Parker, and Amber Parker, 9 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews and their familes. At the other side camp Phil joins his sister Elizabeth and his brother Wilfred. Also his adopted brothers Ben Pease Sr., Lionel Kinunwa, Bill Minthorn, and Winnie Loves War.

Pallbearers: Jordan Bighorn, Kai Bighorn, Dale Henderson, Kris Santa Cruz, Rick Seaver, Vic Johns, Michael Finnegan, Randy Scott, Steve Old Coyote, Darrell Wallace, Rob Wallace, Jacob Bighorn, Greg Mulhair, and Phil Lane, Jr..

Honorary Pallbearers: Vine Deloria Jr., Sam Deloria, Jiggs Johnson, Hap Johnson, Bob Barker, Bob Sherwood, Oliver Eagleman, Vernon Iron Cloud, Norm Wallace, Harold Belmont, Lee Brown, Ben Pease III, Bill Burke, Jim Roanhorse, James Vale, John Vale, Jack Hansen, Leon Kinunwa, Phil Lucas, Louis Parker, Antone Minthorn, Douglas Minthorn, Coop Cooper, Burt Hoare, Gary Zukov, Norbert Hill, Bob Whitman, Vince Two Eagles, Norman Conner, Bill Klein, J.C. Penny, Chuck Keeler, Dick Livingston, Phil LaCourse, Ken McCann. We are truly unable to list all of Phil’s beloved friends and relatives-please know you are forever appreciated and remembered in his heart.




MITAKUYEPI - WOPILA
“In our old Lakota viewpoint on life, with all of its aspects of the human heart, our old old elders could see that everything that has life tries to be round, with a very holy center. The center wherein resided our beautiful old grandmothers and grandfathers. Together, they extended out to all who could hear their voices, their love, their encouragement, their gratitude, their understanding, their compassion always softened by their actions and words of their forgiveness.”

HO, MATO GI, HE MIYELO,
Philip Lane, Sr., Nov. 2001

ONLY WORDS
“The heart is always in search of happiness. Nothing makes one feel lonelier nor more helpless than no one to appreciate one’s being and efforts to make the home a haven from life’s daily problems. I charge you to hold one another gently but firmly. The strength, courage and love united in one union can withstand the bitter storms that may be faced in one’s journey.

There is nothing so satisfying as to toil for someone you love or someone by whom you are loved.

Press on mitakuyepi, there is no time to waste!”

Phil Lane, Sr.

TRIBUTE TO INDIAN HONOR
“Our people love to honor people. We are a race of people who believes in honor. We know honor stimulates people. The man honored his wife and the wife honored her husband. And they lived in such beauty. They had a devotion which individually and collectively we all need if we’re going to make this a better world to live in.”

TRIBUTE TO THE OLD PEOPLE
“There were prophecies I remember, as a boy, saying we’re going to go through some bitter, bitter times. We’re going to shed some tears. But the time would come when we begin to see the light again. When spring would start coming again. Think of all the potential that you have. Think of the contributions you all can make. Think of the love in your hearts that you can share with other people. Be quick to forgive people (if they can hurt you in some way). Be like the old people…”
Phil Lane, Sr.
Winds of Change
Winter 1992

[info@4worlds.org]

May 5, 2004

Dear Beloved Friends and Relatives,

Our hearts are overwhelmed with the outpouring of loving kindness that we received from so many who responed to the passing of our beloved husband, father and grandfather Mato Gi (Brown Bear) Phil Lane Sr.

On the morning of March 29 he arose and entertained us with his customary humor and love. Later, after Deloria had gone to lunch and Mom was downstairs straightening up, Mato Gi gently slipped away from this world and began his journey along the Milky Way to the “Other Side Camp”.

The process of laying away his earthly remains unfolded with dignity and honor with so many of his relatives and friends present. In addition, we felth the love and prayers of all those who could only be with us in spirit. His final resting place at the foot of the Blue Mountains near Walla Walla is so peaceful and beautiful. He will be able to receive his visitors with pleasure.

The loving cards and messages, the loving inspiring e-mails, the concerned phone calls, the generous gifts and donations, the beautiful flowers, the delicious food, the welcomed visits …. Each was gratefully received and appreciated and your extreme kindness will never be forgotten.

It is said by our Dakota people that the number of ones’ relatives and friends is the measure of true wealth. That would make our father and grandfather richer than a zillionaire, thanks to all of you!

We cherish everything you all did to honor Mato Gi.

With the deepest love and gratitude,

The family of Phil Lane, Sr.

Dear Phil,

Here are some notes I made of the last talk I had with Leksi, which was on October 26, 03. I jotted these notes while he spoke. They are only bits and pieces of what he said. There was so much I couldn’t write so I relaxed and let those parts sink into my heart.

*********

He told me about a dream he had, and it was a dream about a story that he had told me often:


I had a dream. There were two little boys about twelve. One looked like my friend Winnie Loves War. The other looked like me. They were riding way off to the breaks above the Missouri river to cut wood for an old woman who lived there, to lay her wood in for the winter. We liked to be with her because she was so dear and so loving. We tried to get her to move, but she would say, “No, the spirit of my husband is here. I can’t leave him.”

*************

He also told me:

It’s a dawn. We’re at a dawn. You can see it if you have the spiritual strength.

The world is waking up. We are near the end of the seventh generation. Give it some thought, Tonska.

What we see is the handiwork of something that is bigger and more powerful than we can see or feel or touch. But the thing is, we can sense it somewhere inside us.

***********

After our call, Leksi called me back – he had not done that before – and told me:

I have the need to weep. I never had it before. It has to do with the chante (heart) part of me, the soul. The old men sometimes do this late at night. Sometimes late at night I feel the need to weep when I am alone – to cleanse what I have left of me and if I resist it I can’t sleep. When I don’t resist it, then I can sleep.

It’s a part of us. I’ll weep in the silence of the little place I sleep and I’ll hear things. I’ll hear a drum beating someplace, like way down in the coolies where the prairie grass grows high and I can hear the wind blowing and whistling through that buffalo grass.

We have to cleanse our emotions. They get a little dirty or worn and need to be renewed, or fed in a sense. Maybe it’s a spiritual need to heal something.

*******************

I am looking forward to seeing you again.

Love,

Gary