[nativestudies-l] Chief Piper, Golden Hill Tribe of the Paugussett Indian Nation

[Alyssa Mt. Pleasant]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

          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.

          In 1959, Big Eagle was named Chief of the Golden Hill Tribe by 
his mother, Chieftess Rising Star.  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 -- 
.the oldest continuous Indian reservation in the United States.

          Chief  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.

          He volunteered much of his time and energy educating people 
about Indian culture.   From 1976 to 1983 he served on the Minority 
Advisory Council of the Department of Aging as well as a volunteer in 
the Bridgeport 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.

          He traveled the world as a representative of the Golden Hill 
Tribe and of Native Americans in general.  More specifically, Chief Big 
Eagle visited Moscow 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.   The De Kivas are a group based in Belgium and 
the Netherlands, which takes Indian rights cases before the 
International Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland.

          Chief Big Eagle was named "Chief of the Century" by the 
Florida chapter of the White Buffalo Society "for his work in furthering 
Native American causes in Connecticut, across the country, and abroad."
 
          Chief Big Eagle served on many boards and commissions 
throughout the State of Connecticut, fighting for the rights of Native 
Americans and other minority groups.  He also served as a spiritual 
liaison to Native Americans in prison.

          Chief Big Eagle proudly served in the United States 
military during World War II, where he participated in the landing of 
North Africa.  He also was the owner/operator of a long distance 
trucking business for 40 years.

          Chief Big Eagle led a long, proud life as a proud family 
patriarch and leader of the Golden Hill Paugussett Indian Tribe.

          He is survived by his wife, Marsha Conte Piper and their 
children Shoran (White Fawn) and Little Eagle Piper.  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.
          A traditional Native American memorial mourning walk will be 
held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, August  6^th beginning at the Nichols 
Farm Cemetery, Shelton Road, Trumbull, CT

CONTACT: Steve Ellwanger, Press Counsel Group: 203-856-8303.

-- 

 

 

	

 

 

Alyssa Mt. Pleasant, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

	

 

American Studies Program

Yale University

P.O. Box 208236
New Haven, CT 06520-8236

 

203-436-8169

 

	

Department of History

Yale University
P.O. Box 208324
New Haven, CT 06520-8324

alyssa.mt.pleasant at yale.edu <mailto:alyssa.mt.pleasant at yale.edu>

 

	

 

*/Neka ne ne hera teh/*

	

 

 

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