Sam George, driving force behind Ipperwash inquiry, dies

Sam George was remembered Wednesday as an ordinary man who fought an extraordinary battle in forcing a public inquiry into the fatal police shooting of his aboriginal activist brother, Dudley George, at Ipperwash Provincial Park.

George, who had been battling lung and pancreatic cancer, died at about 3:15 a.m. at his home on the Kettle and Stony Point First Nation, surrounded by his wife Veronica and other loved ones.

He was 56.

After Dudley George was killed by an officer on Sept. 6, 1995, during an Ontario Provincial Police raid to break up an aboriginal occupation, Sam George began asking questions and simply wouldn't quit, said family lawyer Murray Klippenstein.

"Sam, I think, should be remembered as both an ordinary man and an extraordinary man who fought for truth and justice for his family, and as a result brought more truth and justice to us all," Klippenstein said in an interview.

George's work in pushing the Ontario government for the inquiry and for traditional lands on the shores of Lake Huron to be returned to aboriginal hands was all about respect for other people, he added.

"Sam's brother's death affected him deeply because he was such a family man," Klippenstein said.

"[But] his fight went far beyond any bitterness or any fight in his own small world, and he was very aware of making something good for everybody."

A traditional native get-together and pre-burial ceremony will be held at his home on Saturday.

Peter Edwards, the Toronto Star reporter who wrote a book about Dudley George's death titled "One Dead Indian," and who eventually became Sam George's friend, remembers him as having a great sense of humour and a huge love of life and hockey.

"I can't think of anyone who's ever impressed me more," said Edwards, who was asked by George to be a pallbearer when he last saw him at his home Thursday.

George was only ever motivated by a search for truth, Edwards said, and was never vengeful even going to shake former Premier Mike Harris's hand when they found themselves in the same room during a lawsuit launched against Harris, two of his cabinet ministers, and the police.

When Edwards asked why how he was able to make such a gesture, he recalls George simply answered: "I wanted to show him that I'm not what he thinks I am."

The suit was dropped once Dalton McGuinty's Liberals took power in 2003 and announced an inquiry would be launched.

The push for the inquiry took a toll on George, who smoked heavily during the battle, Edwards said.

"I think he'd still be alive if it wasn't for all that stress."

The Anishinabek Nation, which represents 42 First Nations across Ontario, declared a four-day period of mourning during which sacred fires will burn and Anishinabek flags be set at half mast.

"Sam's leadership role in the Ipperwash inquiry its resultant social and policy changes is a legacy that will resonate forever in the history of Ontario," Grand Council Chief John Beaucage said in a release.

"Today, Dudley and Sam will celebrate a victory dance in the spirit world, surrounded by our ancestors and our mightiest warriors of our nation."

In his 2007 report on the Ipperwash inquiry, Justice Sidney Linden faulted both the federal and provincial governments along with police for the death of the 38-year-old activist.

The inquiry also faulted Harris for giving police 24 hours to remove aboriginal protesters from the park. Harris uttered a racial slur at a meeting hours before an unarmed George was shot by a police sniper, Linden concluded, but the premier did not direct police to enter the park or prompt them to conduct the botched raid.

Last year, Sam George was invested to the Order of Ontario and at the time Lt.-Gov. David Onley said his quest for justice for his brother was an inspiration to all Ontario residents.

On Wednesday, Premier McGuinty said George was "absolutely committed to building a better relationship between First Nation communities and the government of Ontario."

"I'm just happy that he was alive at the time that we were able to transfer ownership of Ipperwash Park back to the First Nations."

Last week, the Ontario government formalized its longstanding promise to transfer the land to aboriginal hands.

Sam George wasn't able to attend because of his declining health, but Klippenstein said the ceremony was videotaped and he and others sat beside his bed while George watched the government express thanks to him.

Ontario's Aboriginal Affairs Minister Brad Duguid, who visited George at his home that day to tell him about the ceremony, praised his tireless work and called him a "modern-day hero."

"He has demonstrated incredible grace in the face of personal tragedy that has led to an unprecedented reconciliation, a historic reconciliation between the government and people of Ontario and First Nation leadership, people and communities," Duguid said.

Ontario cabinet minister Gerry Phillips, who in Opposition worked with Sam George for nearly a decade on Ipperwash, said the activist embarked on a tough journey the night his brother was killed.

"There were some difficult times, a lot of pressure on him, but he always was a totally decent human being," he said.

Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said the "people of Ontario and the First Nations of Ontario have a real debt of gratitude that they owe to Sam."

George is survived by his wife and his children Don, Tammy and Yvonne.