Indigenous language interpreter at Queen’s Park remembered for tireless advocacy

An Anishininiimowin interpreter at Queen’s Park is being remembered for his work as an advocate for land, water and language in northwestern Ontario.

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.

Cutfeet died unexpectedly on June 9 at 65 years old, prompting condolences from First Nation leaders and organizations all over social media.

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. This was the first time a language other than English and French had been allowed by officials in the province’s legislative chamber. 

Just weeks ago, Cutfeet provided interpretation services for Mamakwa again at Queen’s Park, as the MPP made a five-minute speech to mark the start of National Indigenous History Month. 

Mamakwa told CBC News Cutfeet was both an admired colleague and treasured friend, whose loss leaves a big gap.

“It is also a reminder that we need to go back to the language,” Mamakwa said. “All of us that are Oji-Cree, Anisininew, we need to re-learn the language because once we lose the language, where do we go?

Commitments to environment, health care, education

As a former band councillor for KI between 1999 and 2007, Cutfeet was responsible for the community’s lands and environment portfolio.

Mamakwa said he was a tireless advocate for First Nations’ rights to free, prior and informed consent for developments proposed on their traditional territories. 

Cutfeet also played a big role in the region’s health-care sector.

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.

He served on the board of directors for the Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre (SLMHC) between 2007 and 2021, “providing steady guidance and leadership,” the hospital said in a statement Wednesday.

“We are honoured to have John leave a lasting impact at SLMHC with his contributions to strengthening culturally respectful, patient-centred care,” it continued.

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.

“His 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,” SLFNHA said in a statement Thursday.

“He 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.”

As well, Cutfeet was a research fellow with the Yellowhead Institute, an Indigenous-led research and education centre based at Toronto Metropolitan University.

‘His legacy will live on’

One of Cutfeet’s brothers, James Cutfeet, issued a statement on behalf of the family Sunday.

He says Cutfeet had just arrived in Sioux Lookout June 8 to attend the funeral of his late sister, Ruby Morris.

“John’s life is a great loss to family, his knowledge and the important work he was engaged in. John leaves a profound chasm of advocacy in the protection of KI lands, its natural resources and the preservation of the language,” it says.

“Most importantly, his challenge to the suppression for the greater benefit of social justice for all First Nations peoples.”

As the family finalizes Cutfeet’s funeral arrangements, Mamakwa says he hopes others learn from his friend’s commitments to culture and community.

“The impact of John’s contributions to preserving the language and the ways of living will not be forgotten, and his legacy will live on across Ontario,” Mamakwa said in a statement Friday.