George Poitras facts for kids

George Lawrence Poitras, also known as Paskwaw-Mostos-Kapimotet (Walking Buffalo), was an important leader. He was born in 1937 and passed away in 2005. He worked as a teacher and later became the Chief of the Peepeekisis Cree Nation.

Early Life and School

George Poitras was born on April 1, 1937. His parents were Enoch and Martha (Brass) Poitras. He was born at the Fort Qu'Appelle Indian Hospital. George was a member of the Peepeekisis Band, located on the File Hills Reserve.

He attended the Lebret Industrial School for 12 years. This school is also known as Qu'Appelle Indian Residential School. It was near Lebret, Saskatchewan. In 1948, the school also opened as St. Paul's High School. George earned his high school diploma in June 1957.

George Poitras later shared about difficult experiences at the school. In 2004, he received support for the challenges he faced there.

Sports and Teamwork

Sports were a big part of life at residential schools. The Lebret school was known for its great sports programs. George Poitras was a talented athlete there.

In 1957, he received the Tom Longboat Award. This award honors Indigenous athletes. It was created by Indian Affairs and the Amateur Athletic Union of Canada. Other students from his school who won this award were Arthur Obey, Gerald Starr, and Herbert Strongeagle. Sports helped students cope with their time at the school.

Poitras attended Qu'Appelle Indian Residential School from about 1945 to 1957. He played many sports, including hockey, baseball, rugby, and basketball.

The school's sports teams were very successful:

• In 1952, their hockey team won the Qu'Appelle Valley Intermediate Hockey League. They were known as the Q.V.H.A. Champions.
• The hockey team also won the Junior "B" Athol Murray Trophy multiple times. They won in 1954–55, 1955–56, 1956–57, 1957–58, and 1958–59. George Poitras played defense on these winning teams.

George Poitras was a hockey defenseman for many years. He played for teams like the Q.I.R.S., Yorkton Terriers, and Balcarres Broncs. He also played basketball, baseball, fastball, curling, football, and soccer.

Career and Leadership

After high school, George Poitras attended Teachers College in Moose Jaw. He taught for 13 years at different Indigenous schools in Saskatchewan. During this time, he also coached many sports teams.

After teaching, George entered politics. He served as a Councillor and then as Chief for the Peepeekisis Cree Nation.

As Chief, he started important programs. One program helped train teachers in the community. It was called the Peepeekisis Indian Teachers Education Program. He also helped create a business that produced ethanol.

In 1981, Chief George Poitras became a member of the Board for the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College. He also spoke to a special committee in 1983. This committee was working on a report about Indigenous self-government in Canada.

His family and friends said that George "dedicated his lifetime to the development of Indian people on Peepeekisis and in Saskatchewan."

Personal Life and Passing

George Poitras was married to Marie Alma Quinney for 43 years. They had six children together.

George Poitras passed away on November 7, 2005. He was 68 years old. He died at the Fort Qu'Appelle All Nations Healing Hospital.

Lasting Impact

George Poitras's family created the George Poitras Memorial Foundation, Inc. They have held hockey tournaments in his honor.

A special school was also created to honor him. The Treaty Law School started in 2015. It uses George Poitras's experiences to help teach about Treaty Advocacy.

His daughter, Evelyn Poitras, created a project called "Buffalo: A Memorial." It shares her father's experiences at the Qu'Appelle Indian Residential School. It also includes other stories of healing and reconciliation.

Awards and Recognition

In 1957, George Poitras was the first person from Saskatchewan's File Hills Reserve to win the National Tom Longboat Award. He won it for his skills in hockey, baseball, rugby, and basketball. He received the trophy on November 22, 1957.

He was also a member of two hockey teams that were inducted into the Indian Head Sports Hall of Fame. These teams were the Standing Buffalo Sioux Indians and the Balcarres Broncs.