Sam George became a seeker of truth and justice

"We have lost an ambassador," said lawyer and close friend Murray Klippenstein, who spoke at Sam George's funeral on June 6.
Maynard "Sam" George died early in the morning on June 3 with wife Veronica and other loved ones at his side.
He died about one week after the province signed an agreement with Kettle and Stoney Point First Nation to return Ipperwash Provincial Park to the community, located about 55 kilometres north of Sarnia.
It was where Sam's brother Dudley was shot by police during a confrontation on Sept 6, 1995. Dudley and others had been occupying the park, protecting burial grounds there. The park land had been appropriated by the federal government under the War Measures Act in 1942. The death of his brother began Sam's long quest for truth surrounding the incident and justice, not only for Dudley, but for the Kettle and Stoney Point people.
A couple of hundred people attended the funeral for the 56-year-old who touched the lives of many, either through his community work, speaking engagements or the Ipperwash Inquiry.
Gary Allen is the chief of Nigigoonsiminikaaning First Nation near Fort Frances in Northwestern Ontario. He said Sam was like a father to him, taking Allen under his wing when he lived in the community about 18 years ago. Allen was part of the drum group started by Sam shortly after Dudley was shot.
Allen said Sam always wanted to get to the truth, and was never focused on revenge. And even though some people pressed Sam to settle for a large sum of money, "It was never about the money for Sam. It was always about the truth."
"I believe he paid a high price, physically, to get to the truth."
Sam was diagnosed with pancreatic and lung cancer more than a year ago.
Justice Sydney Linden also attended the funeral. Linden headed up the Ipperwash Inquiry, which looked into the events that occurred the night Dudley was shot.
The inquiry was called in October 2003 by Dalton McGuinty, when the Liberals took power. The inquiry recommendations were released in late May 2007.
Recommendations included establishing a separate Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs in Ontario, which has been done, as well as seeing the land returned to the community.
Another recommendation from the inquiry focused on how police handle protests and demonstrations. That's also something Justice Linden is quite proud of. He noticed the recent Tamil demonstrations in Toronto were handled differently by police since the release of the recommendations.
Elder Thomas White from White Fish Bay First Nation officiated at the funeral. He also knew Sam for many years, and was Sam's teacher.
White said Sam would take time out to go to northwestern Ontario for teachings. He also talked about Sam's sense of humor, something, he said, is very Anishnawbe.
In an interview, Klippenstein also noted Sam's unique sense of humor.
"One late night over coffee during the inquiry, Sam was musing how the counter-defendants kept trying to knock him down, but [Sam] always popped back up again because he had big feet, like a clown."
After the inquiry "he later came to my office wearing big red clown shoes," laughed Klippenstein.
Sam was not only a client because of the inquiry, he said, he became a great friend of the lawyer, like a brother.
Last year, Sam received the Order of Ontario, and a few months later, the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs named its resource library after Sam George.
Brad Duguid, Aboriginal Affairs Minister, called Sam, "A true modern-day hero. His courage, grace and perseverance in the face of tragedy stands as a role model to not only First Nations, Metis and Inuit, but to all Ontarians."
Sam was on Kettle and Stoney Point First Nation council, and was a youth worker in the community. In a telephone interview, fellow councillor and friend David Henry tearfully said "Sam had the community and children at heart. He always worked for the kids and the community. Anytime we needed anything from Sam, he was always there for us. We're going to miss him."
"Although not unexpected, Sam's death was still sad and shocking," said John Beaucage, grand council chief of the Anishinabek Nation, which declared a four-day mourning period after Sam's passing. It requested its 42-member nations to fly their flags at half mast.
Beaucage said Sam's life epitomizes the truth, because that's what he fought so hard for.
"In our language, we call that Debwewin. And that's what he was looking for, the truth."