Bebaamajiwegaabo (Bay-bah-mah-jih-way-gaw-bow) – Wazhashkwan odoodeman

March 24, 1962 – December 16, 2024

It is with great sadness that the family of Vernon Allan Atatise, of Gakijiwanong Anishinaabe Nation, announces his passing in Thunder Bay, Ontario, at the age of 62.

Vernon was born to William “Billy” Atatise and Leona Labott-Atatise on March 24, 1962, at the La Verendrye Hospital in Fort Frances, Ontario. Raised in Gakijiwanong, Vernon loved to go hunting and fishing, was a natural athlete and excelled in sports, showed a talent in playing guitar and had a natural charisma to him. He shined in anything he applied himself to, albeit baseball, hockey, boxing, hunting, fishing, canoeing and portaging, and playing the music he loved. He had a passion for skating and playing hockey. He shone as the right winger for the Lac La Croix Warriors and brought a strong physical presence as he didn’t mind the roughness that came with the game. He had one of the best wrist shots and powerful slap shots that anyone has ever seen. He was very physically strong and loved to work out. He enjoyed boxing and was a big Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard fan. He was a natural at baseball. He could throw a rock across the river in Gakijiwanong, not an easy feat as many tried and would be lucky to throw one ¾ of the way. He impressed his dad’s best friend, Howard White, so much with his talent that he wanted to take Vernon to go try out for professional baseball in Indiana. He realized that Vernon could be a professional level athlete with his skill level as a teen.

Growing up, he loved his rock music such as Kiss, the Rolling Stones and many other rock and heavy metal bands. He could play guitar and sing very well. Later in life, he would love to play Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and more, for his family as they would visit with him. As the eldest of his eight siblings, he was a protective big brother and loved all of his younger siblings immensely. He enjoyed camping at Table Rock with his whole family, and cherished the times out on the land with his parents and younger siblings. He would often go paddling and canoeing with his cousins, his best friends and his siblings, teaching them how to hunt for partridges, and also helping them develop a love for the outdoors. He often accompanied his dad and uncles on their hunting and fishing trips, providing them with great company and a lot of help with their successful trips. Later in life, Vernon came under the care of Franklin Manor and lived there for most of his life. He loved skating, drumming, and attended lots of outings such as pow-wows and outdoor excursions. He was very well taken care of and became close to the workers who treated him like family.

Vernon is now lovingly reunited with his father William Atatise; his mother Leona Labott-Atatise; his older sister Lorrain; his youngest brother Preston; his nephews Donovan and William; his aunts and uncles, his cousins, his grandparents and many beloved family members who have journeyed home before him. Left to cherish his memory are his younger siblings and their spouses, all of who he loved dearly, Ted (Loretta), Curtis (Dorothy), Annette (Bruce), Sandra, Patrick, Tanya (Clint). He also leaves his nephews and nieces Miranda, Sheena, Jessica, Raymond, Cassandra, Kenneth, Meagan, Natasha, Kelsey, Travis, Samantha, Mark, Ashley, Kyle, Kaley, Jocelyn, Lance, Jadon, and Taison; his great-nephews and nieces Nico, Talon, Kiara, Sequoia, Brayden, Jayla, Colton, Kelaina, Kariya, Cavynn, Passion, Cameron, Chance, Tristan, Kayleelah, Tyren, Lena, Addy, Johnny, Animki, Caius, Evander, Lyannah, Nolan, Ivah, Ayana, and Curtis. He also leaves behind many cherished cousins, aunts, uncles, and relatives from Gakijiwanong, all of who he loves very much.

His honorary pallbearers were family and friends. The traditional wake was held at Gakijiwanong Anishinaabe Nation Gym on Thursday, December 19, 2024, beginning at 4:00 p.m. The traditional funeral was on Friday, December 20, 2024, beginning at 10:00 a.m. Elder Gilbert Smith officiated the wake services as well as the traditional send off and burial procedures. Arrangements entrusted to Northridge Funeral Home Ltd., Emo, Ontario.