Samuel Pashe

Wambdi Wakontuya Kinye

“High Flying Eagle”

With great sadness that we announce the passing of Samuel Pashe on Saturday, January 8, 2022 in Brandon, MB at the age of 45 years.

Samuel leaves behind to mourn, his two sons Cecil Avery and Gabriel Xavier; father Cecil Pashe; brothers Fred Pashe, John Pashe, and Brian Caribou; many nieces and nephews; grand-nieces and grand-nephews; his forever loving ex-wife Celia Cerulli Johnson; and the many relatives and friends throughout this world.

In the Spirit World, Samuel is re-united once again with his mother Eileen Pashe (Smoke); sisters Cheryl Pashe, Amy Pashe, and Sheri Elton; brothers Carl Smoke and Darryle Caribou; grandmother Edith Smoke; grandfather Walter Myran; grandmother Christina Pashe; grandfather James Daniels; and many relatives and friends.

Samuel was born with a tremendous spirit of adventure and flare for Life. His mother Eileen always enjoyed sharing the story that Samuel began to run well before he learned to walk. He was like a form of energy that could not be contained. At an early age Samuel had become a well-developed artist. He could always be found at the kitchen table drawing whatever his heart and mind imagined. At the age of 12, Samuel moved to Dakota Tipi First Nation where he was able to learn pow-wow drumming and singing, Fancy Dance, and Hoop Dance, and began his travels as a young teenager down the pow-wow trail. At the age of 16 years, Samuel had competed in a Hoop Dance World Championship in Denver, Colorado where he not only placed fifth, but was scouted out by the vice president of talent & production of Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey combined shows, and at the start of Summer that year, Samuel, his brother John, and their cousin Murray were given the unique opportunity to, "run away with the circus," as the old saying goes. They were taken to Vermont, where they were shown what it'd be like to work, train, and travel with a travelling circus, and instantly Samuel fell in love with the circus stage. Samuel began learning new skills as a performer and enjoyed putting them on display for the audience to watch with anticipation and excitement. After touring each summer for four years, Samuel moved on to learn how to perform with various artists throughout Vermont. Samuel had fun everywhere he had travelled. And in 1997, during a Hoop Dance performance to help heal a young woman, Samuel not only danced for her, but fell in love with her as well. A year later, on Father's Day, June 21st, 1998 Samuel married that young woman, Celia Cerulli Johnson, and on October 3rd of that same year, Celia gave birth to their first child, whom they gave the honor of bestowing on him the names of their fathers, Cecil and Avery. Young Cecil Avery was joined two years later with a little brother, Gabriel Xavier. These two boys became and remained Samuel's pride and joy. As a husband and father, Samuel began to stretch his artistic skills into airbrushing and tattoo artistry. He enjoyed the many games and stories he and his sons would create. He looked forward to the days where they'd be old enough to learn how to dance pow-wow, whether it be Fancy Dance or Hoop Dance. Though Samuel and Celia separated and divorced, he continued to love his sons and ex-wife, and wanted nothing but good things for them. Samuel fell ill and developed diabetes during his late twenties, where slowly he began to lose the feeling in his feet, fingers, and hands, but Samuel was not deterred from his love to express himself through his art. Samuel began painting once again, on small canvas at first, making his way to larger ones, but before he could go further into honing his skills once again, tragedy struck as he was caught in a house fire trying to make sure his brother got out safely. Samuel was rushed to the hospital as he had taken in so much toxic smoke, and was placed in an induced coma for several weeks as his body and lungs tried to heal and repair itself. Many things may have tried to hinder Samuel and his ability to make others smile, laugh, and feel excited and inspired through his many talents and skills, but Samuel was a true fighter and would not give up. It was Samuel's dream to one day travel back to Vermont when he would be fit and able, just so he could spend lost time with his sons and teach them the many things he had learned throughout his life. Samuel wanted to visit with old friends and reminisce about the "old days" of when being young and foolish was the best road to take on becoming old and wise.

If there is one word that best describes Samuel, it would be the word uttered as of late by old friends who knew Samuel well, and that word is Legend. Wherever Samuel went, whomever he met, and whatever he did, he was and always will be looked at as a Legend. As a very dear friend and brother said, "He knew how to extract every drop out of a good time and morph it into a great time." That he did. Samuel took a regular life of growing up on a small Manitoba reservation, and changed it to where he travelled with circuses of all sorts across the US, swam in both Atlantic and Pacific Oceans as well as the Gulf of Mexico, was invited by many festivals across this world to portray his Hoop Dance to many nations, had jumped out of airplanes and skydived with friends, and so much more.

Samuel truly had an adventurous spirit. Now, once again his spirit is called for another adventure, an adventure into the Spirit World where we all have no doubts that he is amazing angels and probably chasing comets along the way.

Samuel will always be in our hearts and minds and we continue with our very own adventures, and we all wish him Love, Wonder, Joy in The Lord, and Forever Peace.

Fly High my Eagle Brother.

Traditional Wake will take place at Long Plain Spirit Lodge on Friday, January 28, 2022 at 4:00 pm.  Traditional Feast and Service will be held at Long Plain Spirit Lodge on Saturday, January 29, 2022 beginning at noon.  Burial will take place at Brandon Cemetery.

A tree will be planted in memory and cared for by McKenzies Portage Funeral Chapel.  www.mckenziesportagefuneralchapel.com