MCKAY: It is with great sadness and sorrow, for the family of Donald James, born February 11, 1941 at Kahkewistahaw First Nation, Broadview, SK to announce his sudden and tragic passing on Monday, November 27, 2006 at 65 years of age. He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Lorraine (Pompana), sons Trevor and Curtis of Brandon, daughter Corinne (Daryn Leas) of Whitehorse, YT. He will be sadly missed by his beloved Grandchildren: Krystle, Dwayne, Charlene, Jonas, Zoe, Sophia and his dog, Dusty. He was predeceased by his father Frederick McKay on July 10, 1997, daughter
Colleen on April 20, 2000, his beloved mother Patricia, on January 25, 2006, and brother-in-law Joe Morgan on August 16, 2006. He is also survived by sisters Cindy (Tom) Smith of Brandon; Maureen Morgan of Brandon; Beulah (Donald) Langford of Edmonton and their families. Also surviving are sisters, Charlotte, Geraldine, Marilyn, Valerie and brother Stanford, all of the Kahkewistahaw First Nation. He will be missed by his Auntie Doris (Albert) Bear of Ochapowace First Nation and numerous friends and relatives of Kahkewistahaw, Cowessess and Ochapowace First Nations. Through his wife Lorraine, he had many friends and relatives on the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation, specifically the Pompana family. Dad's volunteer experience in baseball and hockey was extensive. He was player/coach in Senior Men's Fastball in the Brandon Commercial Fastball League. In support of his son Curtis, Dad coached Bantam A and Midget A baseball for Brandon Minor Baseball. He coached for the Brandon Youth Hockey Association for several years. Dad believed strongly in education. His early experiences in education was in the residential schools at Round Lake, SK, Brandon, Portage La Prairie and Birtle. He attended Brandon University in the Bachelor of Arts program. He attained a Counselling specialization at Assiniboine Community College and trained as a Life Skills Coach. Some of Dad's work experience included: Executive Director of the Brandon Friendship Centre, Adult Basic Education Instructor with the Saskatchewan Indian Cultural Centre and Assiniboine Community College. He was an Education Coordinator for the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations and Executive Director of the Marieval Community Education Centre. Lastly, he was employed with Assiniboine Community College as a Counsellor for fifteen years, retiring in 1996, where he made some everlasting friendships with staff and students. Former students continue to view him as a mentor. Honorary pallbearers are his close friends: Chief Louis Taypotat, of Kahkewistahaw First Nation, William Thomas of Peguis First Nation, Cecil Pashe of Long Plain First Nation Hector Bunn, Calvin Pompana and Carl Mazawasicuna, all from Sioux Valley Dakota Nation. Active pallbearers are Dwayne McKay, Chris Neeposh, Braydon Whitecloud, Cecil Roulette, and Luc Lebel. Traditional ceremony will be conducted by Hector Bunn and Calvin Pompana at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday December 2, 2006 at Knox United Church, 451 18th Street, Brandon. Funeral service will continue at 2:00 p.m. with burial to follow at Brandon Cemetery. Memories Funeral Chapel, 727-0330 in care of arrangements.