Anthony Mazawasicuna Jr.
Anthony Aaron Mazawasicuna Jr., 30, of Poplar died Oct. 7, 2021, at Poplar Community Hospital. He was born on Friday, Dec. 14, 1990, in Sidney to Anthony Carlos Mazawasicuna and Ninette Christie Hamilton. He is a direct descendant seventh generation of “Mato Wakan” Chief Medicine Bear. “Hoksida Hopa (Pretty Boy)” is his Dakota name. His later “Unka” (grandfather) Aaron McKay of Sioux Valley performed his naming ceremony. He lived the first years of his life in “Wipazoka Wakpa” Sioux Valley Dakota Nation Reserve in Manitoba, Canada. He spent most of his life in Poplar, but his heart was always in Sioux Valley. He was proud to claim his Canadian status and was planning to move back there eventually.
He attended schools in Poplar. In high school, he played football. He graduated from Poplar High School in 2010. While in middle school, he enjoyed music class and excelled at the keyboard. He was quiet, mild mannered and very observant. He was a respectful, well-behaved child. He carried those traits into adulthood. He was shy at first and wouldn’t dance at the Wacipi unless his parents were both holding his hands.
He was the “Little Chief” both years of HeadStart. He was still shy in the dance circle, though he would dance his heart out at home. He recently came back into the dancing circle after losing his grandfather in 2004 and danced in his memory.
He learned to bead with his mother’s “bead soup” when he was 11 years old. He beaded a medicine wheel medallion. His grandmother beaded his dancing regalia and, eventually, he beaded his own full regalia.
He loved to travel west and south to Waci, Fort Belknap, Browning, Arlee, Rocky Boy, Lame Deer, Fort Washakie, Ethete and all the Montana University “Wacipis” were his favorite comfort zones. He was selected the honor of being a “whistle carrier,” one of the highest esteems given to any man.
He met his children’s mother, Jourdon Hoops-Lovan, in 2010 at the New Year’s dance in Lodge Pole. From this union came Kohloni Helen Rae and Anthony Jerimi III. They later split up but remained close friends and co-parented their children together.
He attended Fort Peck Community College after high school, taking general studies classes. He worked as a TERO laborer in 20092010. He repaired the roof of the Poplar Cultural Center. He went back to his general studies at the Fort Peck Community College in 2015. He later became a maintenance worker for the Fort Peck Tribes in 2019-2020 with his work station being the Poplar Cultural Center.
He is survived by his children, Kahloni Helen Rae and Anthony Jerimi “AJ” Mazawasicuna of Poplar; father, Anthony Mazawasicuna Sr. of Sioux Valley, Manitoba, Canada; mother, Ninette Hamilton of Poplar; sisters, Aariann Evelyn and Adrianna Leigh Mazawasicuna of Poplar; brothers, Dylan and Nolan Deegan-Mazawasicuna of Standing Buffalo; and grandparents, Vermae Taylor of Wolf Point, Esther Hapa of Fort Kipp, Janice White Eagle of Fort Kipp, Laureen Paddy of Saskatchewan, Betsy Mazawasicuna, Angeline Mazawasicuna, Flora Hapa of Siuoz Valley, Hank Hotain, Raymond Hapa, Carl Mazawasicuna of Sioux Valley, Manitoba, Canada, Curtis McKay of Cannonball, N.D.
Funeral services were held Monday, Oct. 18, at the Poplar Cultural Center. Interment was at Fort Kipp Cemetery. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel was in charge of the arrangements.
