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Buckley Petawabano, a trailblazing Cree actor, radio pioneer, and cinematographer who opened doors for Indigenous representation in Canadian media, passed away on Oct. 19 at the age of 77. Widely regarded as a visionary for Cree storytelling and communications, Petawabano helped shape the foundation for Indigenous broadcasting in Canada. His work spanned film, television, theatre, and radio, inspiring generations of Cree artists and media professionals to share their stories in their own voices. “He was more than an actor. He's also a leader, a filmmaker and a storyteller,” said Dale Cooper, director of the Cree Native Arts and Crafts Association. “One of the biggest things that he did was he presented a proposal to CRTC so as to encourage Indigenous broadcasting,” Cooper added. That proposal eventually inspired the creation of the Cree Radio Network, now named the James Bay Cree Communications Society (JBCCS), a Cree-led radio broadcaster that has served Eeyou Istchee in northern Quebec since 1981. “Telecommunications and radio is still [an] important part of Cree communication to this day,” said Cooper. Petawabano was among the first Eenou (the traditional name for James Bay Cree) actors to appear on Canadian television, starring in Adventures in Rainbow Country that broadcast in the early 70's and Cold Journey in the late 1970s. His on-screen work brought Cree voices and perspectives to audiences across the country. “His legacy lives on for all his hard work that he's done. Especially when it comes to bringing Cree to a national audience. It is very important to have Cree representation in the media,” said Cooper. His achievements resonated across Cree Nation and among Cree leaders as well. Former Grand Chief Matthew Coon Come reflected on Petawabano’s work in Grand Council of the Crees news release. “He broke ground as an actor in Rainbow Country, at a time when Indigenous faces were almost never seen on TV. He didn’t do it for fame — he did it because he knew representation mattered,” said Coon Come. Coon Come added that Petawabano wasn’t just someone they saw on screen, but also a valued community member, friend, father, uncle, and husband who carried himself with quiet strength, humility, and purpose. “He opened doors for so many others by simply being himself, by showing that we can be ourselves and believe we can achieve anything we want,” added Coon Come. Petawabano was a residential school survivor of Bishop Horden Memorial School and Shingwauk Indian Residential School. He turned his experiences into fuel for cultural storytelling and advocacy, said Cooper. His experiences inspired the film Cold’s Journey, in which Petawabano portrayed Buckley Potawabano — a Cree boy navigating the residential school system, losing his sense of identity and culture, and ultimately reclaiming it. “He's made a lot of contributions to the Cree creative industries and his impact will always be remembered,” Cooper said. To honour his lifelong contributions, the Cree Native Arts and Crafts Association presented Petawabano with the Cree Legend Award back in 2013, the organization’s highest honour, and later established the Buckley Petawabano Award in his name. The honour ensured that Petawabano’s influence would continue to inspire future generations of Cree storytellers and media creators. “It recognizes Cree people's contribution, influence and excellence in the media field,” said Cooper. The recognition was more than symbolic — it was a testament to how Petawabano’s work opened doors for countless others to follow, said Cooper. “I want people to remember when Buckley was doing these strides and media, for us, [he paved] a way forward. He's definitely a legend,” said Cooper.
