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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="">
</span>TRUMBULL,
CT, August 4, 2008—Chief Big Eagle (Aurelius H. Piper, Sr.), Hereditary
Chief
of the Golden Hill Tribe of the Paugussett Indian Nation, died Sunday
morning
of natural causes on the tribe’s reservation here at the age of 92.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="">
</span>In
1959, Big Eagle was named Chief of the Golden Hill Tribe by his mother,
Chieftess Rising Star.<span style=""> </span>In 1974 his
chieftainship was reaffirmed; and, upon the death of his uncle, Chief
Black
Hawk, he took over residence and care of the tribe’s one-quarter acre
reservation -- .<span style="color: black;">the oldest continuous
Indian reservation
in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">United States</st1:country-region></st1:place></span>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: black;"><span
style=""> </span>Chief
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Big Eagle
dedicated a great part of his life to not only keeping the
name of the Golden Hill Tribe alive throughout the nation, but to
preserving
Indian culture worldwide.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="">
</span>He
volunteered much of his time and energy educating people about Indian
culture.<span style=""> </span>From 1976 to 1983 he served on
the Minority Advisory Council of the Department of Aging as well as a
volunteer
in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Bridgeport</st1:City></st1:place>
elementary schools. In that capacity he served in an Indian education
program,
where he not only initiated the program but served as a consultant and
instructor.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: black;"><span
style=""> </span>He
traveled the world as a representative of the Golden Hill Tribe and of
Native
Americans in general.<span style=""> </span>More specifically,
Chief Big Eagle visited <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Moscow</st1:City></st1:place>
as part of a delegation of Native American leaders and was also the
foreign
correspondent for eastern North American tribes to the De Kiva
Journal. <span style=""> </span>The De Kivas are a group
based in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Belgium</st1:country-region>
and the <st1:country-region w:st="on">Netherlands</st1:country-region>,
which takes Indian rights cases
before the International Human Rights Council in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Geneva</st1:City>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Switzerland</st1:country-region></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: black;"> <span
style=""> </span>Chief
Big Eagle was named "Chief of the Century" by the <st1:State w:st="on">Florida</st1:State>
chapter of the White Buffalo Society "for his work in furthering Native
American causes in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Connecticut</st1:State></st1:place>,
across the country, and abroad.”<br>
<br>
<span style=""> </span>Chief Big Eagle served on many
boards and commissions throughout the State of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State
w:st="on">Connecticut</st1:State></st1:place>, fighting for the rights
of
Native Americans and other minority groups.<span style="">
</span>He also served as a spiritual liaison to Native Americans in
prison.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: black;"> <span
style=""> </span></span><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Chief Big Eagle proudly
served in
the <st1:country-region w:st="on">United States</st1:country-region>
military</span><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: black;"> during
World War II, where he participated in the landing of
<st1:place w:st="on">North Africa</st1:place>. He also was the
owner/operator of a long distance trucking business for 40 years.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: black;"> <span
style=""> </span>Chief
Big Eagle led a long, proud life as a proud family patriarch and leader
of the
Golden Hill Paugussett Indian Tribe.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: black;"><span
style=""> </span>He
is survived by his wife</span><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">, Marsha Conte Piper
and their children Shoran
(White Fawn) and Little Eagle Piper.<span style="">
</span>Also left to cherish his memory are his children Aurelius H.
Piper, Jr.
(Chief Quiet Hawk), Julia Piper, and Aureliuse Piper; two special
“adopted”
daughters, Irina Piper and Sue Baldwin; several stepchildren,
grandchildren,
great-grandchildren, in-laws, cousins, nieces, nephews, tribal family,
and a host
of friends and loved ones, worldwide.<br>
<span style=""> </span>A traditional Native American
memorial mourning walk will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, August<span
style=""> </span>6<sup>th</sup> beginning at the <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Nichols</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Farm</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Cemetery</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>,
<st1:address w:st="on"><st1:Street w:st="on">Shelton Road</st1:Street>,
<st1:City w:st="on">Trumbull</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">CT</st1:State></st1:address>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">CONTACT: Steve
Ellwanger, Press Counsel Group:
203-856-8303.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><st2:PersonName w:st="on"><st1:GivenName
w:st="on">Alyssa</st1:GivenName> <st1:middlename w:st="on">Mt.</st1:middlename></st2:PersonName>
Pleasant, Ph.D.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Assistant Professor</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">American Studies Program</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><st2:place w:st="on"><st2:PlaceName w:st="on">Yale</st2:PlaceName>
<st2:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st2:PlaceType></st2:place></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">P.O. Box 208236<br>
New Haven, CT 06520-8236</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">203-436-8169</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Department of History</p>
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<st2:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st2:PlaceType></st2:place><br>
P.O. Box 208324<br>
New Haven, CT 06520-8324</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:alyssa.mt.pleasant@yale.edu">alyssa.mt.pleasant@yale.edu</a></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>Neka ne ne <st1:Sn w:st="on">hera</st1:Sn>
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