Obituary of Graham Fletcher George
George, Graham Fletcher
It is with great sadness the family of Graham Fletcher George announces his passing on July 14th, 2024 in his 82nd year. Loving Brother to Marcia Simon, Cheryl Stonefish (Darryl), Daniel George Sr.(Kathy), Warren George Sr., Mark “Moon” George Sr. (Nena) and Christina Wakefield (Roy).
Predeceased by his parents Daniel (1990) and Melva (2000) George, sisters Valois Cheyne (2012), Cathryn Mandoka (2023), Glenn George (2024), infant sister Sally (1958), infant brother Kevin (1956), and niece Marjorie Moulden (1986).
Graham is also survived by his Aunt Teresa (Auntie Twee) and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Graham was the eldest of 10 children born to Daniel and Melva George of the Kettle Point First Nation . He attended Kettle Point Indian Day School then went on to attend Forest District High School, then Sarnia Business College.
His first job was with Canadian National Railways. It was through this experience that he developed his love of trains, becoming a lifetime collector of model trains.
In 1971 he attended Althouse College at UWO to become a Social Counsellor working with
native people.
He went on to work at Trent University as a counsellor working with native students. While here he worked in collaboration with Trent University to bring Ojibway language classes to Southwestern Ontario. These classes were attended by both his Mom and Dad of which he was most proud.
For a short time he worked in Toronto in the west wing of City Hall.
His next move was to Ottawa, working with Fitness & Amateur Sport, Recreation Canada during the “Participaction Canada” movement.
In 1978 he moved to California, USA, where he worked at an airforce missile base.
In 1981 he moved back home to Canada and was employed as the Band Administrator for Kettle and Stoney Point reserve.
His next move was to London, Ontario. In 1983 he worked for the City of London. He then joined the London Board of Education in 1984. It was here that he found his home, employed as an Attendance Counsellor working exclusively with Indigenous students. He worked at this position until retirement.
During the course of this employment, Graham became a member of ONECA: “Ontario Native Education Counsellor Association”, and served as a Trustee on the Lambton Kent District School board.
In October of 1990 Graham’s father Daniel George Sr. passed away. It was his dying wish to be buried on his homeland, Aazhoodena or Stoney Point reserve #43.
With one major obstacle, Stoney Point cemetery was located inside Camp Ipperwash, the base the Department of National Defence created after the Federal Government appropriated Stoney Point lands under the War Measures Act. In 1942, all Stoney Point people were forced to relocate to nearby Kettle Point reserve. The cemetery inside Camp Ipperwash was fenced off and unused for 48 years.
Graham was instrumental in arranging his Dad’s burial. Graham met with the base commander at Camp Ipperwash. An agreement was reached and Graham’s Dad Daniel George Sr. was buried at Stoney Point.
This one act has forever changed the course of history for the people and the lands of Stoney Point.
In 2005, Graham coauthored a report with Darryl Stonefish on behalf of the Daniel and Melva George Family Group. This group was granted standing for the Ipperwash Inquiry, and officially named this report “Aazhoodena: The History of Stoney Point First Nation”.
This report is still available on the Ontario government’s website “The Ipperwash Inquiry Report” released May 30, 2007.
Visitation will take place at the Stoney Point Community Centre on Wednesday, July 17th, 2024 beginning at 2:00pm. Visitations will continue on Thursday, July 18th, 2024 from 11:00am until time of funeral service at Hillside Auditorium in Kettle Point at 1:00 p.m. Interment to follow at Stoney Point (Aazhoodena) Cemetery. Online condolences may be made at www.forestfuneralhome.com
