Gordon Tootoosis, an actor and politician from the Poundmaker Cree First Nation in Saskatchewan, died on Tuesday. He was 69.

Tootoosis was a former chief of his tribe and former vice president of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, which was founded by his father. His first acting role came in 1973 and he went on to start in dozens of television, movie and stage productions in Canada and the U.S.

"Gordon will be remembered as a talented, dedicated and multi-faceted individual. He was truly extraordinary. He survived the tragedy of the residential schools and used that experience in a positive way to help his people, serving as a social worker for youth and young offenders," Assembly of First Nations Chief Shawn Atleo said in a press release.

Tootoosis is due to be buried on his reserve on Friday.

Get the Story:
Actor Gordon Tootoosis dies (CBC 7/5)
Canadian actor and First Nations leader Gordon Tootoosis has died (PostMedia News 7/6)
Gordon Tootoosis remembered for arts, spirituality and public service (The Saskatoon StarPhoenix 7/6)