Lawrence FRANCIS

OBITUARY LAWRENCE FRANCIS At the Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal on Thursday, December 15, 2005. Lawrence Francis (Tekanerahten:sere) of Akwesasne and Kahnawake; age sixty-three years. Beloved husband of the late Carmen Cole. Dear father of Bonnie Burby (Brian) of Orem, Utah, Lawrence Francis Jr. (Brenda) of Springville, Utah, Clyda Simmons (Scott) of Akwesasne and Tabetha Cook (Bret) of Springville, Utah. Cherished grandfather of Brittany, Bryce, Breanne, Brock, Christian, Morgan, Cassidy, Ilona, Taryn, Kyle, Paige, Walker and Jake and great-grandfather of Payton, Quinton and McKenzie. Loving companion of Christine Zachary Shackleton Deom and her children Alexis (Roger) (Ieweiehente and Ieterenhawi) and Laure (Wishe). Dear son of the late Jake Francis and the late Harriet Jacobs. Dear brother of William Francis, Percy Francis (Ann Shirley) and Mary Ella Stehlin all of Akwesasne. Predeceased by one brother, Thomas Francis. Also survived by his uncle, Phillip Francis, many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. Resting at his residence, Kahnawake from 7 p.m. Saturday until 12 Noon on Sunday thence to the Community Centre, Cornwall Island from 7 p.m. Sunday. Funeral Tuesday, December 20, 2005 for Mass of Christian Burial in St. Regis Church, St. Regis at 2 p.m. Interment Parish Cemetery. Funeral arrangements under the care and direction of the Lahaie & Sullivan Cornwall Funeral Homes, West Branch, 20 Seventh Street W., Cornwall (1-613-932-8482). Lawrence Francis acted in the capacity of Head Chief of the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne throughout most of his 20 year political life. His political life spanned 1974 to 1994 and he has been credited with some of the most memorable court actions and demonstrations of civil disobedience. Some of the most progressive social development initiatives for his community were realized during his tenure. He was known to be a dominant and forceful negotiator for the rights of his community. He became an accredited Mohawk translator for the Ontario Court system and a Mohawk language teacher for Kanien'kehaka Onkwawen:na Raotitiohkwa at Kahnawake from 1994 to 2005. He will be greatly missed for the major role he played in the revitalization of the Mohawk language at Kahnawake. Published in the Montreal Gazette on 12/17/2005 Published in the Ottawa Citizen on 12/17/2005