The Six Nations community is remembering former Elected Chief Bill Montour who passed away on Sunday at the age of 81.

Montour was born on Six Nations in 1941 as the oldest of nine siblings.

Montour served twice as Elected Chief, first from 1986-1991, and again from 2007-2013. In addition, he sat as a councillor in 1976 during the 40th Elected Council. As chief, he initiated negotiations and construction of the Six Nations elementary schools, the Iroquois Village Plaza and the water treatment plant. Plus, during his first term in office he was instrumental in getting the Six Nations Sport and Cultural Arena constructed.

Montour had also been employed by the Assembly of First Nations and the Department of Indian Affairs in Ottawa between his time serving as Elected Chief. In his spare time, he had served as the president of the Six Nations Minor Hockey Association for many years and as a board member at CKRZ FM radio.

At yesterday's Six Nations Elected General Council meeting, current Elected Chief Mark Hill asked for a moment of silence and passed condolences on to Bill Montour’s family. In a press release, Hill also spoke about how the former chief had been a mentor to him and how this was a significant loss.

“This is a tremendous loss for our community. Chief Bill Montour had such a way of bringing people together and truly embodied hard work and resilience,” Hill said.

“He was always supportive of me in my journey on council, and was a huge influence on me when I was first elected in 2010. I will always be grateful for his mentorship, and I am sending my good thoughts and prayers to his many loved ones as we all grieve his loss together.”

He is resting at the Hyde & Mott Chapel in Hagersville and an all welcome service will be held on Thursday, Jan. 12 at 7 p.m. 

The funeral service will take place in the chapel on Friday, Jan. 13, at 11 a.m. with Interment at St Luke’s Anglican Cemetery.

Listen to the CKRZ report below: