Henry Smith Jr, age 90, beloved elder of the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Ojibwe passed away July 21, 2022, in Tarzana, CA.

Henry was born into the Bear Clan at dawn on June 10, 1932, the son of Henry and Agnes (Barber) Smith. Henry weighed 4 lbs. at birth, Agnes put him in a shoe box by a wood stove to keep warm. The Tribal Elders named him “Waa-say-gii-zhig”, meaning “Bright Sky Man”. He grew up on the reservation in New Post, WI and became a skilled hunting and fishing guide, and was a vital part of his family maple syrup business. At a young age, Henry lived with his blind grandmother apart from his own family to help her on Little Round Lake. She taught him how to trap small animals. He caught his first rabbit at four years old. He loved boxing and baseball and played on several local teams.

He joined the Navy in 1951. As a Navy airplane mechanic, he travelled throughout the United States. He frequently donated blood, earning him extra days off which he spent accompanying pilots into the skies. He received the National Defense Service Medal. After his honorable discharge in 1955, he returned to the reservation for a year. At that time, the Indian Relocation Program was actively recruiting on Indian Reservations for candidates with high tech skills. Since opportunities were limited on the reservation, Henry took the offer of employment in the aerospace industry in California at the Rocketdyne Canoga Park facility. He rode a bike to work and shared an apartment until he answered an ad for a “country cottage” for rent. That’s how he met Mimi and her three children. It was love at first sight. He eventually married Mimi and was a devoted husband and stepfather to her children.

His life with Mimi was an adventure every day. He learned to ride horses and they competed in the Tevis Cup endurance equestrian rides in the High Sierras. They travelled the world and the country. Henry worked in the motion picture industry with the stage name Henry Medicine Horse, and with such notable actors as Dennis Hopper. They were passionate about Native American Justice issues and were actively involved in the American Indian Movement (AIM). During that time, they knew such dignitaries as Russell Means and Leonard Pellitier. They demonstrated at Wounded Knee and Alcatraz. They visited reservations throughout Indian Country promoting fishing rights, land restoration and justice.

Their hillside home in Topanga Canyon was a gathering place for artists, musicians, actors and activists. Henry and Mimi were legends in Topanga, serving one year as Grand Marshalls in the Topanga Days Parade. When Mimi passed away twelve years ago, the music died. Henry comforted himself by creating a wild animal sanctuary on his property. Wild foxes and birds of every kind appeared on his deck every morning and his countless photographs document a unique and fragile ecosystem. He joined the Canyon Sages, a social club for Topanga seniors, attending every monthly dinner and holiday celebrations

His stepdaughter, Wendy Skolfield, and her husband John, live close by and Henry was a weekly visitor in their home, and in the final months of Henry’s life Wendy and John were a vital and devoted part of his care.

Henry was loved and respected by every single person he met. His gentle manner and delightful sense of humor made every room glow. Henry was deeply loved respected by his children and numerous grandchildren. His stories of growing up on the reservation enthralled every generation.

He is survived by his brothers Donny, Lawrence, Tom and John Smith, as well as three stepchildren, Catherine Grainger and Stephen Winterer of Spokane, WA, Wendy Skolfield, of Topanga Canyon, CA and Michele Stork of Miranda, CA, informally adopted daughter, and numerous grandchildren.

Henry was preceded in death by his parents Henry and Agnes Smith; his sisters, Selma, Doris and Myrtle; and his brothers, Teddy, Bobby, Eddie and Bill.

Tribal Funeral Rites will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, August 5, 2022, at New Post Community Center, while those unable to attend will mourn deeply.

Jerry Smith will officiate. Burial will be in New Post Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 5:00 p.m., Thursday, August 4th at New Post Community Center.

Honorary casket bearers will be Andy Bennet, James Gadicke, Jim Smith Sr., Jim Smith Jr. Lawrence Smith, Robert Smith & Robert Trepania.

Casket bearers will be Jim Garvey, Josh Kingfisher, Donald Morrow, Dusin Morrow, Mark Thayer & Tony Thayer.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Canyon Sages at Canyonsages.com.

Last Update: Aug 01, 2022 5:26 am CDT