Thomas Leo Battiste

Battiste, Thomas L., 64, May 26, 2009.
    Thomas Leo Battiste, 64, son of the late John and Annie Battiste of Potlo’tek First Nations, passed to the spirit world in the loving presence of his wife Susan (Heritage) and family members on May 26, 2009, at the Strait Richmond Hospital. Born in Antigonish, NS, on June 27, 1944, Tom started his early years in Chapel Island Reserve, but as a result of Centralization of Mi’kmaq to Eskasoni, the family moved to Linneus, Maine, to work in the potato picking industry and to pursue educational and economic opportunities. From an early age and throughout his life, he traveled back to Chapel Island every summer to live with his relatives Isabel and James Bernard, and later to attend the annual St. Ann mission as a part of his commitment to the Mi’kmaq traditions.
    He was the first Mi’kmaq to graduate from Houlton High School and Ricker College where he received a B.A. in business administration in 1970 from which he developed a life long quest to further knowledge in a way that would be beneficial to Indigenous peoples and other minority groups through education, outreach, and advocacy. He was a member of the Sigma Delta Pi fraternity from which he sustained a life-long relationship with his fraternity brothers.
    He served two years in the U.S. Army and was a Vietnam veteran, a member of the American Legion, and Veterans of Foreign Wars.
    His life as a leader in community development, advocacy and outreach was to bring positive transformations to Indigenous people’s social and economic life and in particular for the Mi’kmaq Nation. He pursued recognition of Micmac and Maliseet through the development of the Association of Aroostook Indians in Houlton, Maine, which under the treaty of 1776 with the United States would eventually become federally recognized in the United States as the Aroostook Band of Micmacs. He was a catalyst for the development of the Coalition of Eastern Native Americans, the first national advocacy group of its kind created to assist non-federally recognized Eastern Indian tribes and nations in their pursuit of federal and state recognition. He was chairperson of the first New England Indian Conference that gathered all New England tribes to discuss strategies for recognition of their treaty rights and border crossing rights. He was a member of the Federal Regional Council’s Indian Task Force whose purpose was to formulate a plan to better coordinate federal and state programs for the different tribes and Indian organizations. He was a board member of the Indian Services of the Bureau of Human Relations in Bangor and of the Pine Tree Legal Assistance, Inc.
    He was among the first Mi’kmaq to receive a master’s degree from Harvard University Graduate School of Education in 1975, and the first Mi’kmaq to receive a Ford Foundation Leadership Development Program award in 1973-74. He developed the University of New Brunswick Native Counseling Program and was the Native Student Counselor to over 100 Micmac and Maliseet students attending St. Thomas University and University of New Brunswick. Tom continued to be a catalyst and spokesperson for Indigenous people in education as a member of the Board of Directors for Harvard Native American Alumni Association, Association of Affirmative Action Professionals, and Harvard Club of Boston.
    He worked as Program Specialist for Native Americans with the Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C., that would ensure maximum assistance to the administration for Native Americans to promote their own economic and social self-sufficiency. He worked as Tribal Administrator for Wampanoag Tribe of Aquinnah, Executive Director of the North American Indian Center of Boston, Inc., and Economic Development Specialist for the Rhode Island Indian Council Inc, in Providence Rhode Island. Tom was a member of Cursillo Movement of the Catholic Church.
    Tom and Sue retired to Potlo’tek First Nations with aspirations to inspire youth through education. He leaves an inspiring legacy and role model for many. He is survived by his loving wife, Susan; sisters, Eleanor Mitchell, Gerry Cantwell (Randy), Marie Battiste (Sakej Henderson); his aunt, Harriet Doyle of Potlo’tek and Mary Rose Gould of Membertou; many nieces and nephews; and godchildren, Matthew Cantwell, Jimmy Mitchell and Maryann Eastling.
    The wake began at 7 p.m. for the public on Thursday, May 28, 2009, at his residence on 129 Mountain Road, Potlo’tek First Nations. A Catholic mass was celebrated for his life at Immaculate Conception Church at Salmon River on Saturday, May 30, at 9:30 a.m.
The family requests in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made at any branch of the East Coast Credit Union throughout Cape Breton (902) 535-3456 or fax (902) 535-2295 for the Thomas Battiste Education Trust Fund for students of Potlo’tek First Nations or Bank of America.