Native Activist and Warrior Society Leader, Milton Born With A Tooth, Dies at 61

Milton Born With A Tooth, Peigan Lonefighter’s Society

Milton Born With A Tooth, a respected Native activist and leader of the Ni’taiitsskaiks (Lonefighter Society) has passed away at the age of  61.

Born With A Tooth, of the Peigan Nation in Alberta, died peacefully on Saturday, while surrounded by family at Chinook Care hospice in Calgary, after a brief battle with Stage 4 bowel cancer.

According to APTN News, his niece, Nicole Eshkakogan said a celebration of his life will be held during his birthday June 9 -11 at the community hall in Brocket, AB.

Born With A Tooth gained widespread notoriety in 1990 when the Alberta government sought to dam the Oldman River, which would have flooded Peigan burial grounds on the northern Great Plains.

Born With A Tooth led the Blackfoot Warrior Society in opposing the Oldman River Dam.

When the RCMP moved in to enforce a court injunction forbidding the attempt by the Peigan Lonefighters Society to divert the Oldman River, with a bulldozer, Born With A Tooth fired two warning shots into the air forcing police to retreat.

Following the 33-hour standoff with 80 RCMP officers, Born With A Tooth was arrested in Calgary and charged with weapons offenses. He was sentenced to 16 months in jail for the incident.

His use of a firearm helped stimulate a very active debate, especially among First Nations activists, about whether or not armed resistance was justifiable in any circumstances.

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Native Activist and Warrior Society Leader, Milton Born With A Tooth, Dies at 61 via Northern Plains Freelancer