Roderick North Peigan

Roderick (Rod) North Peigan

Poor Bachelor Boy (Kimataapaniikapi ), Three Riders (Niookska Kiitoopii)

Born: March 24, 1942
Passed: December 30, 2024

“He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.”
Born on Piikani Nation of Seldom Lonesome clan (Miaawaapittsiisi) and Hairy Nose clan
(Immoyissksisiiksi).
 Son of Bessie (Big Swan) and Daniel North Peigan
 Grandson of Chief Phillip and Annie (Meat Face) Big Swan and Victor and Norah (One
Owl) North Peigan
 Beloved husband of Faye (Isbister) North Peigan
 Father of Danita, Lorelei, Jonathan, Nathan (Katherine), Rejean, Lisa (Troy)
 Devoted Grandpa of
 Stephanie Escobar, Jeremy North Peigan, Malachai North Peigan
 Nastasha Weasel Head, Neil Weasel Head, Kira North Peigan
 Beau Knowlton, Athena Knowlton, Dante Knowlton
 Kassidy NP, Danton NP, Ainsley NP, Naytalia NP
 Carter NP, Manny NP
 Papa (great-grandpa) of Hendrix Weasel Head, Xavier North Peigan
 Survived by his siblings: Sandra North Peigan, Daniel (Nancy) Northman, Eric North
Peigan, Oveta Kennedy, Pastor Manfred North Peigan, David North Peigan, Herta North
Peigan, Avril Grier, Dorothy (Greg) Bedard
 His adopted family members: Willard (Linda) Yellowface, Rev Mel (Heather) Mullen,
Melissa Falls Down, Mary (Pinky) Bird, Carpenter family (Tommy, Linda, Kathleen),
Lerilee Russell, Lesly Russell, Elizabeth Big Swan, Valerie Big Swan, Amelia and Theresa
George, Victoria Williams
 Numerous nieces, nephews and relatives from North Peigan and Big Swan clans
 Predeceased by his parents, Dan and Bessie North Peigan, his beloved sisters Muriel and
Diane, cherished son Ryan, daughter-in-law Morgan Little Moustache, sister Karen
Lallean, Stanley Grier, niece Karen NP, nephews Gabe NP & Rudy NP ; adopted brothers
Reverends: Larry Gilbert, Jay Swallow, Ben George, Harold (Mary) Carpenter
 North Peigan Aunts and Uncles: Mary Jane Borne; Agnes (Emil) Wolf Tail; Fred (Julianna)
NP; May (Julius) English; Mark NP; John (Catherine) NP; Ruth (Sam) Goodrider; Dorothy
(Edward) Yellowhorn; Ernest (Bridget) NP; Edith (Bud) Van Loon; Nancy (Archie) Big
Swan; Robert (Hazel) NP; James (Rosaline) NP; Rose (Hugh) Knowlton
 Big Swan aunts and uncle: (Lizzie (Jim) Morning Bull; Maggie (Allen) Prairie Chicken;
Nellie (Tom) Yellowhorn; Archie (Nancy); Hilda Big Swan

Pallbearers and Honor Guard: Zentner’s Funeral Home – Church on the Rock:
Jonathan NP, Nathan NP, Rejean NP, Danton NP, Carter NP, Manny Little Moustache,
Hiram Big Swan, Daniel Kennedy, Malachai NP, Jeremy NP, Neil Weaselhead, Joel Bratz
Pallbearers and Honor Guard: Church on the Rock - Gravesite:
Jonathan NP, Roland North Peigan, Marcel North Peigan, Kevin North Peigan, Isaiah
Bedard, Scott Grier, Joey Borne, Zach Big Swan, Beau Knowlton, Dante Knowlton, Craig
Borne
Rod went to school in Piikani St Cyprian’s Residential school and St Paul’s Residential school in
Kainai; and later he attended Matthew Halton High School. He attended SAIT in Calgary in the
Welding program. He apprenticed in Claresholm under Earl Sargeant with Sargeant’s Welding.
He took further welding courses at Lethbridge Community College.
As a young child in Residential school, he was involved in Cub Scouts, 4H, Cadets. He was a
sprinter in school, a very fast runner who won medals. He boxed under Rufus Goodstriker from
Kainai. Rod was known for his right hook. He played hockey, a strong defenseman with a wicked
shot and all-around tough guy. He loved golfing with his sons and competed later in life and
won awards. He helped his uncle Archie Big Swan with his ranch; trained his horses as a jockey
and loved supporting his uncle on the ranch.
Rod was raised by faith believing parents. He became a born-again Christian as a young man
and was very involved supporting the gospel movement in Piikani. He supported various
ministries, and preached as an evangelist with a very strong faith in healing. He traveled with
various ministers from Canada and USA: great uncle, Reverend Hartwell North Peigan; Rev
Manfred North Peigan, Evangelist Harold Carpenter; Rev Larry Gilbert, Rev Joseph Gilbert, Rev
Leroy Villegas, Rev Alex Garcia, Rev Ben George, Rev Jack and Jackie Reed, Rev Larry & Betty
Russell, Rev Fred and Phyllis Bull Calf, Rev Hiram and Yvonne Upham, Rev Chuck Upham, Rev
Jess & Minnie Fuentes, Rev Armando Garcia, Rev Loomis and Mildred Jackson, Rev Sonny and
Becky White.
In 1967, Rod and his father Daniel along with others developed the Peigan Bus Co-operative in
Piikani. Becoming economically stable, he demonstrated humbleness, kindness and true
kimapiiptitsin to community members, never turning anyone away who asked for help. Rod was
part of the Southern Alberta Bus Co-op and participated in strategic contract negotiations with
his friend and colleague Norman Grier for all bus owners in Treaty 7. He was elected to Piikani
Nation Council in 1977. His strong leadership and keen insight into economic development
helped entrepreneurs get started in home-based crafts. He was instrumental in acquiring
Piikani Nation RCMP detachment. His interest in Justice was because of his grandfathers Victor
North Peigan and Chief Phillip Big Swan.
Within Treaty 7, Rod was instrumental in developing Community Futures along with his
colleagues from Siksika and Kainai. Rod served the Piikani Nation as a minor Chief but often was
designated Chief for various political reasons when the existing Chief was unavailable. As a little
child, he was mentored by Chief Phillip Big Swan. According to his late aunt Hilda, he had the

leadership and compassionate character of his grandfather Chief Phillip Big Swan, honorable
words to Rod.
Rod supported his children and grandchildren in any sport they were involved in especially
hockey, baseball, rodeo. He truly engaged with Lorelei and Bree with White Eagle Wellness in
educating children and Youth about self identity and wellness activities. He coached Rejean and
Nathan and his bunch of Peewee boys in Piikani. They were the winning team in a Taber
Tournament. He was a manager in Lethbridge AAA Bantam team with Jonathan (Amikiyii) and
traveled all over Alberta, BC. He really devoted time and energy to Jonathan’s hockey and
baseball endeavours. Recently, he delighted in Danton in his hockey pursuits with the
Claresholm Crush, Malachai playing his third year of Junior A with the Fernie Ghostriders. Rod
was so pleased with Ainsley and Naytalia in their pursuit of hockey, traditional dancing and
especially competing in rodeo.

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