Wakinyan Waste Hoksida was born August 31, 1983 in Grass Valley, California. He was known as Hoke or Hokie to family and friends, he left on his spiritual journey April 3, 2014. He is the son of April Nation of Poplar and Russell Forrest of the Six Nations Reserve, Ontario, Canada, wolf Clan of the Mohawk Nation. Wakinyans education took place in Minneapolis, Minnesota at the Heat of the EarthSurvivalSchool and Four Winds Elementary. During his Jr. High and High School years he attended ChiefLeschiSchool in Tacoma, Washington.
He met Regina John of the Tulalip Tribe there and together they had a daughter, Birdie Anne Nation and a very sweet and special step-daughter, Amelia John. Wakinyan was a gifted artist which would lead him to become a tattoo artist. He was also a talented singer of traditional Northern Plains Style and Pacific North West coastal songs and participated in the annual canoe journeys of the Pacific North West. At an early age he had a love for football and would often have his brothers get off their video games and round up the neighborhood boys for a game of football. He was a Sea Hawks fan.
He is preceded in death by his favorite uncle, Lowell “Stinker” Nation, cousin, James White Shield, grandparents, Jack Yellow Hawk, Adele Iron Leggings; uncles, Sonny Iron Leggings, Jay Kirk, Elmer Yellow Hawk Sr. & Jr, and Gordon Jr.; grandparents, Russell Forrest Sr., and Helen Brant Forrest of New York State, cousins, Amanda Nation, Gene McGrath; and auntie Lee Abbott.
Survivors include his mother, April Nation, brothers, Jiskoko Macu Sha, Wambde Howaste, and Isanti Nation; grandmothers, Pearl Nation, Vivian Lindahl, Faye McGrath; and his namesake, Anthony Wakinyan Brazelle, and many, many cousins, relatives and friends.
A wake will be held 7 p.m. Friday, April 11 at the Activity Center in Poplar. A funeral service will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, April 12 at the Activity Center in Poplar. Interment will follow at the Poplar City Cemetery in Poplar.
Condolences for the family may be left at www.claytonstevensonchapel.com. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Wolf Point has been entrusted with arrangements.