Gary E. Mitchell, 1951-2015. Photo from Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation

Gary E. "Shaw-Nosh" Mitchell, a former chairman of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation of Kansas, died on Friday. He was 63.

Throughout the years, Mitchell held numerous titles on the reservation: chairman, vice chairman, treasurer, historian and, at the the time of his death, he was the chairman of the gaming commission. In total, he spent 28 years in service to his people.

"“He was a good man and a well respected member of the community," Chairwoman Liana Onnen said in a press release. "He understood the importance of preserving the culture, traditions and history of the Prairie Band Potawatomi people in a deeply profound way. He also took an active role in that preservation through not only his writings, but the way he lived his life."

Mitchell, who was fluent in the Potawatomi language, was a drum chief as part of the drum religion on the reservation. A drum service is being held tonight, with the burial to take place on Tuesday.

Get the Story:
Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation tribal leader dies (The Lawrence Journal-World 1/24)
Potawatomi tribal leader Gary Mitchell dies (The Topeka Capital-Journal 1/24)