HENRY CREIGHTON – ISSTSIIPSSKINNIINA “KING was born on May 22, 1950 at the Blood Indian Hospital to Mary (nee Coal) White Quills and John “Jiggs” Creighton; Henry passed away on Tuesday, October 13, 2020, in Lethbridge, Alberta at the age of 70 years, survived by his beloved Girlfriend Carol Bird, son Chad (Katie) Creighton, granddaughter Spencer, his siblings: Verna (Ivan) Many Fingers, Natalie “Ophelia” Creighton, Cary (Candace) White Quills, Charlene (Tim), Dikki, and Billy (Raeann), Jessie “Cookie” and Juanita “Ritzie” (Ivan) Creighton, brother-in-law Robert Wells and adopted siblings: Rod (Lavern) First Rider, Eleanor “Kim” Black Water and Mark (Trudy) North Peigan, step-children and step-grandchildren, also his Creighton relatives Rosabell Yellow Wings, Winold (Benita) Creighton, Eugene (Lorna) Creighton, Frances “Frisco” Little Light, and the children of Olive “Pa’kaki” White Quills.
In 1984 while Henry was attending the University of Lethbridge, he met his girlfriend, Carol Bird, a year later they welcomed his only child, Chad Trevor; Henry was papa and playmate to his granddaughters, Spencer Maddison and Ladaya Grier, he also took the role as father to, Edna, Michelle, Alanna, Luann, and gained numerous grandchildren. Together Henry and Carol raised grandchildren Phobe and Brennon, as well as a lot of Chad’s friends, and always encouraged them to finish school. Henry was employed with Blood Tribe in various entities and departments, such as: Kainai Industries, Emergency Services, Moses Lake Foot Patrol, and Blood Tribe Administration Maintenance.
Isstsiipsskinniina enjoyed creating pow-wow regalia for family and friends; he made his own outfits for the various categories he danced, fancy, chicken, and traditional. At a young age he started dancing and travelled North America to different Pow-wows. When he travelled with the family, the pow-wow trail would start at Arlee, Montana, and led him to win two championships in the Men’s Traditional and Men’s Fancy at Heart Butte, Montanta; One time the family went to Wellpinit, Washington, there were no Blackfoot folks there, some of the family members got lonesome not seeing our people, suddenly the M.C announced for everyone to come to the arbor the happy dance was going to start, so we all went to join the happy dance after the dance was over, we were all happy even the girls, Verna, Sharon, Jennifer and Tammy, all got up to dance, it was a real happy moment that put the smile back on our faces. While Henry was a member in the Standoff Pow-wow club, he taught various dance categories and creation of regalia to the youth and those who wanted to learn the art of Pow-wow.
Henry was very fortunate to have been brought up with the Blackfoot Traditional way of life, and was mentored by his Grandmother Sootaki (Cecile “nee Bear Shin Bone” Striped Wolf), Great Aunt/Grandmother Mia’nistsikamo’saki (Emma “nee Bear Shin Bone” Riding At The Door), Naatoyípokaa (Henry Riding At The Door) and Aunt Naamitapiaki (Priscilla “nee Creighton” Bruised Head); After the passing of our parents’, Mary and Arthur White Quills’, Horn’s partner passed away, Henry was asked by our parents to help them at the Sundance, he danced out with the Horns for the next few years until he began his spiritual journey to start with piercing Sundance with Buster Yellow Kidney, it was difficult for Henry to inform his parents he was unable to dance with Iito’naniikii, due to gramma Sootaki’s teachings he was not allowed to dance as he had pierced his body. He completed his four years vow to Sundance and continued taking part at Lodges and sweats with Buster, whom he had utmost respect for.
The late Olive Pakaakii White Quills and Sonny Melvin Creighton were kipitaipokaiksi, raised by their paternal grandparents Percy and Jessie (nee Tail Feathers) Creighton after the death of their father Sam Creighton. As the eldest grandchildren they were fortunate to be raised in an extended family environment that included all the relatives on the Creighton and Tail Feathers side. Henry was considered the little brother who loved to talk about politics, to share his adventures and teasing his younger cousins, his mustache was his trademark and his cousins teasingly referred to him as a Mexican.
Predeceased by Parents: Mrs. Mary “nee Coal” (Arthur) White Quills and John “Jiggs” (Arabella) Creighton, Maternal Grandparents: Cecile “nee Bear Shin Bone” and Charles Coal, Paternal Grandparents: Jessie “nee Tail Feathers” and Percy Creighton, Siblings: Brian, Alroy, Sharon, Cynthia “Tammy”, Barbara “Tiny” Creighton, Joanne “Girlie” Creighton-Wells, Mathew Wells and nephew Niven Wells, Children: Shannon, Marvin and Dusty Bird.
A Wake Service will be held at Cary & Candace White Quills residence, Blood Reserve on Thursday, October 22 from 7:00 - 11:00 pm. A Viewing will be held on Friday, October 23 at Legacy Funeral Home, starting at 10:00 am with a Funeral Service to follow at 11:00 am. (Due to COVID-19 restrictions a limited number will be allowed into the service at a time.) To WATCH the service Online or to send condolences please visit www.legacyfuneralhome.ca
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