In Memorium ... Sterling Big Bear Jr.

RedShield · 01-31-2007, 11:56 AM

I hate having to post this... Sterling was a very good friend, teacher, mentor and surrogate father in a lot of ways...

Sterling Big Bear Jr., Lead Singer of the White Hawk Singers from Chicago passed away in his sleep this morning, following a hard fight with cancer... May your journey home be good my friend.

My deepest sympathies and condolences go out to the Big Bear family and extended family...

I know there are many singers out there that have had the opportunity to know or learn from him over the years.

Perhaps the greatest tribute to him I can think of, is that he touched many of us very deeply, and because of the gifts he gave to us, his songs and his teachings, through those drums and singers that he touched and taught, he will be remembered for generations to come... As a singer, when my time comes, I can only hope to be remembered the same way.

The family is still making arrangements at this time, I will let you know more when I find out.

Paselo Ne-theetha...

StandnWolf · 01-31-2007, 12:53 PM

Today is a sad day for all of us. Our prayers go out to his family, friends, his Drum and students. We'll see you when our time comes. May your journey be good, and your name always honored.

Mato Winyan · 01-31-2007, 01:03 PM

This is truly sad news. He will be sadly missed by the native community.

Rest in peace.

**Eagle Plumes** · 01-31-2007, 01:08 PM

Our prayers are with him and his family,while he makes his journey.

Pheji Wanbli · 01-31-2007, 01:46 PM

our prayers our with the family.

Thunder Nation · 01-31-2007, 01:56 PM

Our prayers go out to the BigBear family and all of Sterling's extended family. May their hearts heal quickly. We wish him a good journey and many blessings. Thank you for the good lessons and the beautiful songs.
Aho.

southernx_hunnie08 · 01-31-2007, 02:07 PM

i will really miss uncle sterling....he was so funny and he was the best when ever i needen nething he was always there....
i just foun out that the services will be feb 3-4 at the american indian center of chicago... i am not sure of the times but when i find out i will repost it....

R.I.P
UNCLE STERLING...we love u....

southernstyle1110 · 01-31-2007, 02:29 PM

Definetly will be greatly missed, taught a lot of what I know as a good singer. AHo dad!

-tega-

littleredblanket · 01-31-2007, 03:51 PM

My heart goes out to all of the family and I hope you know that no matter what Sterling will never be forgotten. He was a great man with a huge heart and wonderful capacity to love. All the laughs and jokes will be greatly missed as well as all the hugs, songs, and teachings you have given me and my family. We will miss you Sterling and we will always love you.

All my love and Prayers to you for a good journey to your family on the other side and to your family left behind to wait.

Lem-lemch
"Littleredblanket"
Velma

apacheheart · 01-31-2007, 06:47 PM

Man....Heard White Hawk sing at a powwow in Ohio like 3 years ago.I thougfht they were x-cellent!!....so sad.
My condolences to his family from mine.(won't use my usual ending this time).

lil_powwow_honey · 01-31-2007, 07:27 PM

My condolences to Sterling's family. He was a great guy. He will truly be missed.

Ol'Girl · 02-01-2007, 09:42 AM

Sad news. Condolences to the family.

Scissortail · 02-02-2007, 10:46 AM

As a dancer, our prayers and thoughts go out to Sterlings family. He will be missed by many a dancer as well. The circle has lost a great singer as well as a great man.

travelingmocs · 02-03-2007, 03:22 PM

Sterling was a good friend, I got to sing and joke around with him many times over the years. I had lots of fun hanging out with him, Pat and the rest of his family. I will miss his friendship. But he will love on in that drum.

TMS

TKMJ Productions · 02-04-2007, 01:13 AM

Gonna miss Sterling a lot. His humor, His warm smile, His scowl when things didn't go right, and most of all his help and kind way.

01-31-2007, 11:56 AM	#1 (permalink)
RedShield Singer/ Dancer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 15,474	In Memorium ... Sterling Big Bear Jr. I hate having to post this... Sterling was a very good friend, teacher, mentor and surrogate father in a lot of ways... Sterling Big Bear Jr., Lead Singer of the White Hawk Singers from Chicago passed away in his sleep this morning, following a hard fight with cancer... May your journey home be good my friend. My deepest sympathies and condolences go out to the Big Bear family and extended family... I know there are many singers out there that have had the opportunity to know or learn from him over the years. Perhaps the greatest tribute to him I can think of, is that he touched many of us very deeply, and because of the gifts he gave to us, his songs and his teachings, through those drums and singers that he touched and taught, he will be remembered for generations to come... As a singer, when my time comes, I can only hope to be remembered the same way. The family is still making arrangements at this time, I will let you know more when I find out. Paselo Ne-theetha... __________________ I became a singer because I love to sing... and to feed my addiction to cough drops!

01-31-2007, 12:53 PM	#2 (permalink)
StandnWolf Murphy Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Ohio, farr from home, behind a LARGE German Shepard, my body guard...lol! Posts: 301	Sterling Big Bear Jr. Today is a sad day for all of us. Our prayers go out to his family, friends, his Drum and students. We'll see you when our time comes. May your journey be good, and your name always honored. __________________ You know what they say about "Murphy's Law" lol!

01-31-2007, 01:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
Mato Winyan Gangster of Love Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Indiana Posts: 5,497 Blog Entries: 4	This is truly sad news. He will be sadly missed by the native community. Rest in peace. __________________ "We see it as a desecration not only of a mountain but of our way of life. This is a genocidal issue to us. If they kill this mountain, they kill our way of life." ~Debra White Plume

01-31-2007, 01:08 PM	#4 (permalink)
Eagle Plumes Just Bead it! Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: MId-West Posts: 11,497	Our prayers are with him and his family,while he makes his journey. __________________ I got a fevah! And the only cure is more cowbell!!!

01-31-2007, 01:46 PM	#5 (permalink)
Pheji Wanbli Ta' Shunke Witko Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: goes ahead Posts: 256	just gave him a big ole hug new-years our prayers our with the family. __________________ MITAKUYE OYASIN... "then I was standing on the highest mountain of them all , and round about beneath me was the whole hoop of the world . and while i stood there I saw more than I can tell . and I Under Stood more then I saw . for I Was Seeing in a Sacred manner the Shapes of All . Hehaka Sapa. dec 1863-aug 17 or 19 , 1950.. Last edited by Pheji Wanbli; 02-09-2007 at 09:44 PM.

01-31-2007, 01:56 PM	#6 (permalink)
Thunder Nation Pow Wow Visitor Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 21	Our prayers go out to the BigBear family and all of Sterling's extended family. May their hearts heal quickly. We wish him a good journey and many blessings. Thank you for the good lessons and the beautiful songs. Aho. __________________ Southern... with a twist Last edited by Thunder Nation; 01-31-2007 at 05:11 PM.

01-31-2007, 02:07 PM	#7 (permalink)
southernx_hunnie08 >>+<<YESENIA HILL>>+<< Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: wish`n i was in az Posts: 538	i will really miss uncle sterling....he was so funny and he was the best when ever i needen nething he was always there.... i just foun out that the services will be feb 3-4 at the american indian center of chicago... i am not sure of the times but when i find out i will repost it.... R.I.P UNCLE STERLING...we love u.... __________________ www.myspace.com/southernx_hunnie2k5 ~~~~~~~^^<<+>>^^~~~~~~~ Roses are Red Violets der really blue Southern Xtreme ur much sweeter than mutton stew You asked me whose life was more important- yours or mine and I answered "mine" ; you walked away angry not knowing that you are my life I MY STONEY CREEK BOYZ

01-31-2007, 02:29 PM	#8 (permalink)
southernstyle1110 CHITOWN Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 2	Definetly will be greatly missed, taught a lot of what I know as a good singer. AHo dad! -tega-

01-31-2007, 03:51 PM	#9 (permalink)
littleredblanket Body By Commodities Baby! Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ohio- But originally from WA state Posts: 175	My heart goes out to all of the family and I hope you know that no matter what Sterling will never be forgotten. He was a great man with a huge heart and wonderful capacity to love. All the laughs and jokes will be greatly missed as well as all the hugs, songs, and teachings you have given me and my family. We will miss you Sterling and we will always love you. All my love and Prayers to you for a good journey to your family on the other side and to your family left behind to wait. Lem-lemch "Littleredblanket" Velma __________________ Abs of Frybread and Buns of Commodity Cheese

01-31-2007, 06:47 PM	#10 (permalink)
apacheheart Teen Dancer Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Peekskill,NY. Posts: 261	Man....Heard White Hawk sing at a powwow in Ohio like 3 years ago.I thougfht they were x-cellent!!....so sad. My condolences to his family from mine.(won't use my usual ending this time).

01-31-2007, 07:27 PM	#11 (permalink)
lil_powwow_honey lil_powwow_honey Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Indiana Posts: 13	My condolences to Sterling's family. He was a great guy. He will truly be missed.

02-01-2007, 09:42 AM	#12 (permalink)
Ol'Girl Teen Dancer Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Chicago, MAN! Posts: 398	Sad news. Condolences to the family.

02-02-2007, 10:46 AM	#13 (permalink)
Scissortail Pow Wow Visitor Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 5	As a dancer, our prayers and thoughts go out to Sterlings family. He will be missed by many a dancer as well. The circle has lost a great singer as well as a great man.

02-03-2007, 03:22 PM	#14 (permalink)
travelingmocs Teen Dancer Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: HogPit, U.S.A. and raised in hell Posts: 293	Sterling was a good friend, I got to sing and joke around with him many times over the years. I had lots of fun hanging out with him, Pat and the rest of his family. I will miss his friendship. But he will love on in that drum. TMS __________________ If I do not know the answer someone else will!!!! Also forgive me, this system does not have a spell check so forgive the bad spelling

02-04-2007, 01:13 AM	#15 (permalink)
TKMJ Productions Powwow Sound 4 U Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ohio, Oregon. Two locations, No waiting Posts: 938	Gonna miss Sterling a lot. His humor, His warm smile, His scowl when things didn't go right, and most of all his help and kind way. __________________ Don't ask me what I think about something unless you want a truthful anwser. It may not be the anwser you are looking for. It's better to fly with the eagles then drive with the turkeys.

03-05-2007, 06:21 PM	#16 (permalink)
hobbs49 Holy Indian Taco Batman! Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Triangle Area, NC Posts: 1,175