Jean Mary Georgina (Francis) Oakes

Mary Georgina Jean Oakes

piyêsiw ka-pêhtawêtak iskwêw

Mary Georgina Jean Oakes (nee Francis) piyêsiw ka-pêhtawêtak iskwêw (The Loud Leading Thunderbird Woman) was born on October 30, 1937, and passed away September 4, 2024, at the age of 86.  She was born and raised on the Nekaneet First Nation in southwest Saskatchewan.  Jean and her late husband, Gordon Oakes from the Nekaneet First Nation had five children together and one adopted son they raised as their own.  Jean spent her life dedicated to her family and her community.  She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, niece and friend.

She spent her life dedicated to the Cree way of life by and her ceremonial ways. She always encouraged and was a cheerleader to everyone she met and came to know really well.  She was a teacher to all.  Jean was also a very gifted beader, artist and an author.  She loved to sew moccasins and regalia for her family & friends and always made sure that all her children and grandchildren and family wore the best moccasins. She made moccasins for many many people, including Prince (King) Charles and other dignitaries.  

Jean enjoyed spending time with her family and community members. She spent her younger years working with horses and always helped with “starting” colts with her brothers Frank and Gordon. In latter years, she still rode horses while helping with the Nekaneet Horse Program and the Okimaw Ohci Healing Lodge (Dale Mosquito) where she was a resident Elder. She was known as a horsewoman as was shown by a local rancher, Bill Caton, who named a horse after her (Cree name). She also drove bus for 20+ years, cleaned house for several Maple Creek educators.  She was a well-respected Elder known for the love and kindness she showed others.   She was very proud of her children, grand children and great grand children.  If you knew her, you knew she was always telling people how proud she was of her family. She stressed the importance of education and hard work to all of them.

Jean was predeceased by her husband Gordon Oakes, parents Mary and Joe Francis, her daughter Valerie Gina and son Eugene. Her bothers Harry, Gordon, Frank, Johnny, and Harvey Francis and sister Irene Anderson.

Jean is survived by her daughter Irene Oakes of Whitecap, SK.; sons Larry (Lisa) Oakes, Maple Creek; Alvin (Vonnie) Francis (Saskatoon), and Colin Oakes (Nekaneet). Her grandchildren Terrance Goodwill (Nekaneet), Christy (Mack) Kingbird (Bemidji, Minnesota), Mallary Oakes of Bemidji, MN., Laryn (Samatt Topsky) Oakes of Whitecap, Leander (Angel) Oakes, Maple Creek; Logan (Shanaiah) Oakes, Regina; Larisa Rainville, Regina; Dusty (Candace) Francis, Calgary; and Cherish (Tyson) Francis (Saskatoon).  Her great grandchildren Bradley (Cree) Goodwill, Nekaneet; Jalin (Kenya) Goodwill, Oklahoma; Serene Goodwill, Chloe Goodwill, Ty and Sylas Oakes, McKinley (Kaylee) Kingbird, Kolton Kingbird and Kelson Kingbird, Bemidji; Mika, Gemma, Harley, Kaydence, Marlow, Lily, and Noah Oakes, (Maple Creek); and Jace, Luca, Peyton and Wynn Francis (Calgary).   Her brothers Roy (Elouise) Francis, Nekaneet; Harry (Charley) Francis, Piapot First Nation; Art (Tanya) Francis, Piapot First Nation; Dwayne (Louise) Francis, Golden Prairie; Keith Francis, Piapot FN; Terry (Laura) Francis, Nekaneet; Jerry (Jacqueline) Francis, Piapot; and Irvin (Shauna) Waskewitch (Nekaneet). Her adopted children, Judy Mosquito (her daughters Jade and Jessica), Nekaneet; Marie (Dale Mosquito) Stanley, Nekaneet: Doreen Oakes, Regina; Nekaneet; Winston (Ann) Bear, Chacachas; Perry (Val) Bellegarde, Calgary; Jackie (Steve) Thompson-Osceola, Hollywood, Florida; Alana (Sidrick) Baker, New Town, ND; Warren Pewapasconias, Little Pine; Blaine Favel, Poundmaker; Noel Moosuk (Nehiyaw), Red Pheasant; Sharon Buffalo, Maskwacis; Tammy Dixon, Eden Valley; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends. Our apologies if we may have forgotten anyone.

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