With sad hearts we say farewell to Millie Ketcheschawno, filmmaker, organizer and activist for Native American rights, a long time Bay Area resident. Millie, our dear mother, sister and friend, left us on December 11, 2000, at the age of 63, after suffering an accident in her home in Shawnee, Oklahoma, where she recently retired after residing in the Bay Area for many years.

Mildred E. "Millie" Ketcheshawno, a member of the Muskogee Creek Nation, was born in Shell Creek Community west of Eufaula, Oklahoma, on Feb. 9, 1937, to Daniel Phillips Sr. and Amanda (Hill) Phillips. She received her secondary education at Haskell Institute, an Indian boarding school in Lawrence, Kansas, and went on to receive a BA at U.C. Berkeley.

In the late 1950's, Millie enlisted in the Federal Relocation program and moved to Oakland, where she married Angelo Barichello and had two children - Leslie and Gino.

She became very active in Native rights issues locally and nationally, participating in the Indians of All Tribes occupation of Alcatraz Island 1969-1971, which touched off the modern revival of Native American activism. The early 70's saw an end to Millie's first marriage. She became even more active in the Indian Community, serving as secretary for BANIC (Bay Area Native American Council), and becoming the first woman board president of the Intertribal Friendship House in Oakland, a major hub for the Indian Community.

With her second husband Vernon Ketcheshawno, of the Kickapoo Nation, Millie helped initiate the Annual Unthanksgiving Sunrise Gathering on Alcatraz. Millie and Vernon lived for a time Los Angeles, where she became involved in Native American theatre and film, working with Charlie Hill and Hanay Geigohmah. Millie, Vernon and her children also lived in Oklahoma during this period.

After Vernon passed away in 1986, Millie rebounded by pursuing a college education. In 1990 she enrolled at the University of California at Berkeley, where she pursued a double major in Native American studies and film.

In 1991 she became one of the founders of "Resistance 500." This group brought out the truth about Columbus' invasion and helped to stop the Quincentennial Jubilee plan to sail replicas of Columbus' armada into San Francisco Bay. In 1992 the Berkeley Resistance 500 Task Force, endorsed by the Berkeley City Council, brought about the end of the Columbus Day celebration in Berkeley, replacing it with Indigenous Peoples Day.

The next year Ms. Ketcheschawno helped organize the first Berkeley Indigenous Peoples Day Pow Wow. Millie was coordinator of the pow wow from 1995 to 1999, helping to make it one of the most popular in the Bay Area.

In 1993, she was named "Student of the Year" by the National Indian Education Association. That same year Millie was assistant producer for the feature film "Follow Me Home."

In 1994, Millie was named "Outstanding Woman of the Year" by the City of Berkeley.

That same year Millie began work on an ambitious project as Associate Producer/Consultant of the production of the Golden Gate National Parks Association's exhibit video "We Hold the Rock," commemorating the 1969-71 occupation of Alcatraz Island. Today, millions of visitors pass through the permanent Alcatraz occupation exhibit every year to see and hear firsthand accounts of the occupation and the "Red Power" Indian activism it inspired. Millie went on to produce the Alcatraz Occupation 30th Anniversary Celebration held on the island in October of 1999, reuniting all the original veterans.

In May, 1995, Millie graduated from UC Berkeley with honors.

Millie continued to work with her film partners as Executive Producer of the two hour documentary feature "Alcatraz Is Not an Island," which received the Best Documentary award at the 1999 American Indian Film festival. In January, 2001, the film will debut at the internationally recognized Sundance Film Festival in Provo, Utah. For Millie, the film was a labor of love, her final gift to the Native American Community as well as an educational tool for the entire world to enjoy.

She leaves behind her loving children, Gino Barichello of Albany, CA; Leslie and Mike Deer of Holdenville, OK; Jeff Ketcheshawno of Los Angeles, CA; Jay Ketcheshawno of Zuni, N.M; her two grandsons and great-grandson; her brothers Bird Creek Phillips and Franklin Phillips; and many other relations.

A wake was held at Gregg Funeral Chapel, Eufaula, OK, and funeral service at the Missionary Baptist Church. Simultaneously a wake was held at the Intertribal Friendship House in Oakland. Millie was buried at Greenwood Cemetery, Eufaula.

A fund has been set up by the family for contributions. Please make checks payable to "Memorial Fund for Millie Ketcheschawno." Deposits may be made directly to Account #0028 680 28523, Bank of America, Norman, Oklahoma. Inquiries should be directed to Tiffany Newman 405-230-3560.

Millie's loss is felt by many, many people from California to Oklahoma. Sadly, for all of us, Millie left this world far too soon.