Warrior chief leaves legacy of love
Native evangelist brought hope to many
By
Doug Koop
ChristianWeek staff
 COURTESY OF SPIRIT ALIVE "To have credibility in your talk, you must have consistency in your walk": Andrew Maracle. |
TYENDINAGA,
ON–A prominent Mohawk Christian and
outspoken advocate for Native rights and culture
died peacefully on the platform of the Melrose
Township Hall on February 8, just minutes after
delivering a stirring address which evoked a
standing ovation. At his funeral Andrew Clifford Maracle, 86, was remembered as a mighty warrior, a teacher, a peace chief, a carrier of the song of the people, a poet, philanthropist, advocate, evangelist and friend. "My dad chose the time of his departure," says Ross Maracle, himself an evangelist, activist and host of the Spirit Alive television program. With stirring rhetoric Ross paid tribute to his father as a warrior chief. "Many gifts he left behind: his faith to emulate, his strength to desire, his vision to admire, his words to follow, his name to carry. Where did it all come from? His God!" The elder Maracle, whose Mohawk name Ka ron hiak tatie means "along the heavens," was a member of the Six Nations Iroquois Confederacy and a resident of Tyendinaga Territory. |
He traveled extensively as a teacher, evangelist and historian, inspiring both secular and sacred audiences. Back in 1944 he became one of the first native ministers ordained by the Assemblies of God, and one of the first appointed home missionaries.
His final day, according to Ross, was not untypical. He rose early for an extended time of prayer and devotion. At the breakfast table he remarked to his wife, Lillian, that he was "homesick for heaven." As the day progressed he visited the hospital to pray with a former chief, gave a spiritual challenge to the staff at Spirit Alive, took his driver’s test (he passed) and took Lillian out to lunch. Later he took a care package to a needy person and purchased airplane tickets for an upcoming ministry trip.
Maracle concluded his day with a fiery speech at the Melrose Township Hall, taking the town to task for allowing seepage to contaminate water on the neighboring reserve. And as was often the case, he turned even this venue into an opportunity for evangelism, challenging his listeners to heed his God. "After sitting down, full of life, without pain or sickness, he bowed his head with a smile on his face, and went to be with the Lord," says Ross.
Fired up
People came from across North American to attend the funeral, which lasted more than four hours. "Attending the service was like attending a fired up revival service," says Larry Gilbert of the Walpole Island Evangelistic Centre. "The cross-section of people of all ethnic groups as well as religious and spiritual backgrounds was a testament of Andrew’s impact on those he came in contact with."
According to Ross, Canadian native politicians such as Matthew Coon Come and Elijah Harper came to pay their respects, as did David Mainse of Crossroads Christian Television and Rudy Pohl of Peacemakers Canada.
Tributes poured in. "The Cree Indians of Waskaganish feel very privileged and honored to have known Andrew Maracle," wrote Chief Billy Diamond. "He will never be forgotten, nor his words or lessons of wisdom that he loved to share with us."
Writing on behalf of the National American Metis Association governing board, Mary Harper-Ellis said that Andrew was a peaceful warrior whose "weapons were kindness and compassion. He fought for justice and for the people."
Kahn-Tineta Horn of the Kahnawake Mohawk Territory in Quebec recalls that back in the 1960s Andrew was instrumental in gaining a public hearing for "the long history of Iroquois rights and grievances."
The president of the Canadian Alliance in Solidarity with the Native Peoples remembers Andrew Maracle fighting against conscription of native men into the U.S. army, taking an active role in the 1990 Mohawk Oka crisis, and driving to Ipperwash when Dudley George was gunned down by the OPP.
"His advocacy and vision was for all indigenous people worldwide," writes Horn.
Among the many tributes from within the Christian community is a comment from Roland Peretti and Mike Curtis of the Alaska District Council of the Assemblies of God. They commend "Brother Andrew" with the assurance that "he left a faithful witness and well-worn path of righteousness for his people to follow."
Andrew Maracle is survived by his wife of nearly 60 years, Lillian, six sons, 17 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.