Goodstriker, Jason

JASON GOODSTRIKER [OOTSIMIOHKITOPI (Sorrel Horse Rider), TASUNKA DUTA AKANYANKA (Red Sorrel Horse Rider)] passed away in Slave Lake, AB, on Thursday, January 16, 2020 at the age of 47 years.

Jason Goodstriker, a well-respected Leader, Announcer, Orator, Educator, and Athlete will be greatly missed by the many people who have had the honor to have met him during his short journey on this earth.   He was a Husband, Father, Son, an Uncle, a Nephew, a Relative, and a Great Friend to the many who knew him.  His Kainai, Blackfoot Confederacy, and Dakota/Lakota People have lost a great son.  Jason will always be remembered as a Statesman and Eyapaha for Indian People, of whom he had great knowledge and insight; retelling and sharing his understanding of histories and cultures of the Great Indian Nations of this Continent.

Jason was a proud member of the Blood Tribe and of the L/Dakota People of Standing Buffalo Dakota Nation in the Province of Saskatchewan.   His father, Wilton Goodstriker is a renowned rodeo and powwow announcer who raised Jason to be the man he was.  Both father and son have become famous for their announcing capacities throughout Indian Country. His parents ensured that Jason was immersed in traditional ways, both Blackfoot and L/Dakota. His mother, Evelyn made sure there was love, respect, and sharing taught in their home and activities in his childhood years. His parents enrolled him in the Athol Murray College of Notre Dame for his Grade 10-12 education. It was difficult to let their child go at such a young age, but they knew it was to build inner strength, to achieve a grade 12 diploma, and to pursue his love for hockey.  

He was an avid athlete, in his younger years, he enjoyed many sports, but playing midget hockey with the famed Notre Dame Hounds was his highlight.  He went on to play with Kainai Golden Chiefs Jr B Hockey team as they battled with teams in the Southern Alberta league, the Golden Chiefs were the leaders in scoring and penalty minutes. With Team Coach, Duane Delaney and Jason as Assistant Coach, the team travelled to many hockey tournaments across Canada. Jason loved to play Golf, he brought his clubs whenever he could, with work and powwow. He would join any groups, tee off and make new friends on the course. As a student at the University of Lethbridge he was the first ever First Nation student to be elected to the University of Lethbridge's Students Union.  He also pursued graduate level studies at the University of Saskatoon where he met many new friends which became, his Noon family.

In his final year at the University of Lethbridge he organized the Annual Native Awareness Week Powwow and carried out the announcing duties for that celebration.  Jason soon embarked on a Powwow Announcing Career that brought him to many places such as Washington DC, Honolulu, Hawaii, Toronto, Ontario, Crow Fair in Crow Agency, Montana, Rosebud, South Dakota, and San Ignacio, Colorado just to name a few places.  He was known for his humor and knowledge of tribal histories at the various celebrations he announced.

On the political front, he was the Grand Chief of the Alberta Chiefs Assembly for a term and was instrumental with many national files that were impacting First Nations in Canada.  Prior to being Grand Chief, he sat a term on the Blood Tribe Chief and Council, where he initiated new programs and services for our community.  Jason continued to be involved with issues that impacted Indian Country, as a spokesman and resource person for various organizations and entities throughout the country.

Jason, is survived by his wife, Tiffany Pompana, his children Elle, Jaelyn, Sadie and Mirabel Goodstriker. His adopted children, Shane, Keshia and Mia Pompana and Mireya and Na'tehya Curly Rider. His parents, Wilton and Evelyn Goodstriker, his siblings, Nadine (Garret), Chris and Josh (Rebecca). His nephew Tyler (Kristian) and nieces Keelie (Earl) and Cammie (Dax), Marlee, and Dazzelyn. His grand/nephews and nieces, Jordan, Joey, Lynda and Paisley. Jason had many traditional adopted family that all held special places in his heart. He was pre-deceased by his maternal grandparents, Alex and Stella Goodwill and his paternal grandparents, Rufus Goodstriker and Christine Many Fingers. His uncles Howie Goodwill and Charlie Goodstriker and his aunts, Audrey Goodwill, Joyce Goodstriker, Lorraine Goodstriker, Christine Black Water, and Frances Weasel Head. Jason was born and raised on Blood Reserve, he was from the traditional Mamioyiiksi  - Fish Eater and Ni'taitsskaiksi - Lone Fighter Clans. Jason's early mischief crew, were his brothers Joe, Kenny, Wes, Joe and Vernon. They were always running through the valley, riding horses, or hooking on trucks at the Sundance. Jason attended Standoff and Glenwood schools from Kindergarten to Grade 9. During the summer he would get involved with various activities such as Trail Rides, with Pete Standing Alone, where Jason, Daryl, Scotty, and others would ride in North End area, learning from elders the history of Kainai and teasing his cousins. He loved music, including powwow and dancing. He was an Adventurer and a Dreamer, with his creative spirit he would invent games, a play, and make everyone participate. He spent many summers at the Crossbell camp and later recreated the tipi camps in the mountains, his summer camp was called Night Singer, after his younger brother Chris. Various youth groups arrived from different parts of Alberta, he designed the camp activities, we all enjoyed the fresh mountain air, the trees and animals. Jason was a Youth Ambassador and travelled to meet John Denver in Colorado, they set up a tipi camp and he shared his knowledge of our ways with the attendees. He then travelled to Rio de Janeiro to a conference, it was an experience of a lifetime. One year, Jason teamed up with Dale Auger, a Cree Artist and with a band of local Indian cowboys, they developed a live threatre story in Bragg Creek area. They taught Nathan Arcand how to ride horses!

Jason transferred into the Kanattsoomitaiks, Brave Horse Society at the age of 18 years. From this Society, one transfer he received, was the traditional way of announcing, a  Eyapaha (Dakota) or Aasastoo (Blackfoot) "the one who earned the right to make announcements to the people, or camp crier" Jason received this transfer from Makoyipokaa, Bruce Wolf Child just shortly after being transferred into Kanattsoomitaiks. Jason took his responsibilities of keeping people informed seriously and announced many many special events for families that asked.

My Brother Jason Goodstriker,…

I met Jason many years ago, I think we were only 13 - 14 years old, as my parents used to bring us to Waterton Lakes for the Kainai Classic; a well-known golf tournament the Blood Tribe hosted for many years.  He'd be there, often caddying for some of his buddies. Then in the summer of '87 I was to attend Athol Murray College of Notre Dame, Wilcox Saskatchewan in the fall and that's where it really began.  I once again was in golf tournament in Ponoka and this time Jason was entered and we were paired in our group.  He was decked out in Notre Dame Gear hat, shirt, sweat pants.  I asked what was up with the gear he said he was going to attend as well. The next three years at Notre Dame were blood, sweat and tears but to our parents' surprise, we graduated in 1990.  Our time there was fun, hard and challenging. We learned, not only in the classroom, but important life lessons, growing up to be men was the best thing for us. The School Motto is "Struggle and Emerge", Ahkamamok, Iiyika'kimaat !  We lived by this creed.  We are now part of something that is really big, the Notre Dame Alumni.  Our Alumni has grown from a small mafia to a huge syndicate because of Distinguished Gentlemen like Jason!  His attendance at Notre Dame set the stage for the rest of his life by incorporating the Schools values and mission.

I could be up here for days telling you the fun and crazy times Jason had with not only me, but many of our Hounds brothers and sisters. A quote from his graduation picture he tells us "You can go where you want to go, do what you want to do, and be what you want to be."  From all of us who know him, he was a True Ambassador.

Throughout Jason's academic years, graduating from the University of Lethbridge with a Bachelor of Arts, Sociology degree, and moving on to pursue his Masters of Arts at University of Saskatchewan, his infectious spirit grabbed a lot of people. He has many friends throughout the years which I know all have a funny story from hanging around him.

Spiritually, Jason had gone through many traditional transfers.  This was important to him. Blackfoot, Sioux and Cree, he embraced all and respected all of the traditional ways. We can clearly see, he understood the meaning of being on this earth, and living life to the fullest.

Politically, Jason was up to the challenges that faced our people.  The positions he took were not easy.  Trying find a way for all of our people was his key agenda.  Seeing the good and bad about politics was hard on him, however, he loved the challenge and was so ready to take it all on. He continued to carry these values throughout his work, to Struggle and Emerge.

With his recent appointment to the Fair Deal Panel, from the Alberta Provincial Government, he travelled to many town halls, listening to people in our province, our Premier saw and felt Jason's spirit. Premier Kenney knew Jason would be willing to help our fellow Albertans.  Thank you, Premier Kenney for believing in him.

My brother is surely known throughout Canada and United States in Powwow Country.  From a Grass Dancer, the Founder of the Fine Distinguished Gentlemen drum group to the Best Powwow Announcer in Indian Country.  Tepwestamakew!

This gym we are in today, he organized a powwow here while he was finishing his final year of University.  He just did it.  Again, having the spirit to do something and having the vision of accomplishing a dream, we all can learn from him to step out of our comfort zone and just go for it. He travelled across North America announcing powwows learning other songs, and traditional customs of other tribes, which he shared with everyone; teaching us.

Again, the powwow trail stories are many, all of us in his powwow family have lots of memories that were funny, crazy and maybe a bit off side. I think if we wrote a book about those stories, that book would be on the top seller list. And no doubt, it would have the same level of high anticipation of Tiger Wood's book! When he was up on that announcer stand, no one was safe from a bit of ribbing, especially if he had a funny story about you! He would "tell it like it is" often saying what people were thinking, but were too scared to say it,…..

 "Hey you chicken dancers, its Prairie Chicken,…… not barnyard chicken."

"Hey you singers, this is a powwow, its supposed to be fun and we are here to have a good time… save them slow songs for the ceremonies."

"I don't know your name, but buckskin in blue, come forward I guess."   

Today we are here to celebrate Jason's life.  I want people to remember him for the life he lived and his infectious and irresistible Spirit he had and how it grabbed you -  like you have a long-lasting friend for life.  Pere Athol Murray said and I quote "Do you think you're going to change the whole world with a little college? I DO! I've been turning out some wonderful men; what they can do with their potential, their spiritual potential; I'm not saying religion I'm saying spiritual and there is no greater force in the world!" and Jason had it; that spiritual force.

If you knew Jason for 2 minutes you felt that spirit, and his spirit will never leave us! You look at this room today and see how many people his spirit has touched and I am sure there are many whom could not be here today. As we move forward, we must remember our teachings and do our best to be strong as our elders have said, tears will hold his spirit back. And we have to remember that there is life after death and him not being in this world is sad, but we must celebrate that he is now in a place where we all want to be. And we must not forget, that Jason was a very generous man, who would help anyone. Our elders tell us, now that he is there, he can help us all from that side.

As mentioned before, there are too many stories that just make you laugh. I will share just one story about Jason which happened a couple of years ago.

We had a Notre Dame Alumni game between Edmonton Alumni and Calgary Alumni.  Our brother Shane Peacock, former Lethbridge Hurricane had set up the game in Enoch at River Cree.

Shane put together Edmonton's team which included Ryan Smyth! Our Calgary team had an old oiler too, Gord Sherven. Jason had announced to our team, "Ok boys, my wife is here so I need to score a goal. None of my wives ever seen me score, so I gotta do it cause she's here sitting in the stands." Gordie Sherven piped up and said "Striker, get to the front of the net and have your stick on the ice, we'll make it happen!" Sure enough, Jason got a shift with Gordie and by the Power of Pere Athol Murray, just like how Gordie told him, Jason had a tap in goal.  Our bench went crazy like we won the Stanley Cup as we were happy for our brother!!!

Jason went to look for Tiffany in the stands, but I think she went for some popcorn and she missed it all.

After the game, all Jason could do is laugh about it, but he was very happy his name was on the game sheet and not just for a penalty.  So for the record Tiffany, Jason picked up the puck behind his own net, came flying up the ice, deeked out Ryan Smyth, deeked out on Shane Peacock, entered the zone and ripped a Clap bomb from the top of circle passed Jaoquin Gage's glove hand for a bar down goal.  You missed the goal of the century!

In the words of Pere Athol Murray, "Everyone is insignificant, until he himself makes himself great."

When we look back, all of the accomplishments and honors that Jason had achieved in his lifetime, Jason was just that, he was more than Great!

An all night Wake will be held at SENATOR GLADSTONE HALL, Blood Reserve, AB, on Friday, January 24, 2020, beginning at 7:00 P.M.

An Honouring Service will be held at UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE GYMNASIUM (1ST CHOICE SAVINGS CENTRE FOR SPORT AND WELLNESS), 4401 University Drive West, Lethbridge, AB, on Saturday, January 25, 2020 at 10:00 A.M.

As Jason's favourite colour was blue, please feel free to honour Jason by wearing something blue.

In memory of Jason, donations to assist with funeral costs may be made through Cornerstone Funeral Home.

For Hotel Accommodations, please see the information below.

Holiday Inn - 2375 Mayor Magrath Dr S, Lethbridge, AB - (403) 380-5050

    Two Queen Beds/ No Breakfast/ Large Swimming Pool
    Use CODE: JGF
    $119 + Tax

Holiday Inn Express - 217 - 41 St. S, Lethbridge, AB - (403) 942-5856

    Two Queen Beds/ Breakfast/ Pool
    One Queen, One Pull-Out Couch/ Breakfast/ Pool
    Use CODE: JGS
    $109.99 + Tax

Best Western - 209 - 41 St. S, Lethbridge, AB - (403) 329-6844

    Two Queen Beds/ Breakfast/ Pool
    One Queen, One Pull-Out Couch/ Breakfast/ Pool
    Use CODE: JGS
    $109.99 + Tax

Motel 6 - 1142 Mayor Magrath Dr S, Lethbridge, AB - (403) 328-4436

    1 Queen/ Cold Breakfast
    $80.04
    2 Queen Beds/ Cold Breakfast
    $94.49
    Use CODE: Jason Goodstriker

South Country - 404 Main Street, Cardston, AB - (403) 653-8000

    Rooms May Vary
    $115
    Use CODE: Jason Goodstriker