REMEMBERING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF SIMON OTTO
Storyteller, Author, Historian and Artist Simon Otto walked on May 5, 2016 at the age of 89.
Otto, a member of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe and a member of the LTBB Community, was born and raised in Petoskey, MI, with seven sisters and two brothers.
His writings and stories came from the stories he heard from elders who visited his home. His father, Foster Otto, was active in the Michigan Indian Defense Association, and many people came to meetings at his home. Simon listened to them conduct business and share stories.
His grandfather was an influential role model in Simon’s life, sharing many stories with him.
Simon authored more than five books and wrote a column titled, “Talking Leaves,” which appeared in the Petoskey News-Review for many years. His column also appeared in the Traverse City Record-Eagle and Cheboygan Daily Tribune.
As an artist, Simon drew, painted in oils and watercolors and made carvings, handmade porcupine roaches and hand drums.
Simon taught Indian oral history at North Central Michigan College (NCMC) in Petoskey, MI, for 11 years.
He retired as the LTBB Executive Coordinator in March 1992 and worked as an Indian counselor, a substance abuse counselor and a state job interviewer. He opened a halfway house in Petoskey, MI, and helped start a tribal substance abuse program for the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe.
By Annette VanDeCar, Communications Coordinator
____________
Married Evelyn Kewandway, September 30, 1947 and divorced October 1974
____________
Emmet County, Michigan, Marriage Index, 1857-2012
Name: Simon G. Otto
Gender: Male
Spouse Name: Elizabeth Johnson
Spouse Gender: Female
Marriage Date: 15 Dec 1974
Marriage Place: Emmet County, Michigan, USA
Emmet County, Michigan, Marriage Index, 1857-2012
Name: Simon George Otto
Gender: Male
Spouse Name: Andrea Marie Kern
Spouse Gender: Female
Marriage Date: 13 Sep 2003
Marriage Place: Emmet County, Michigan, USA
Storyteller, Author, Historian and Artist Simon Otto walked on May 5, 2016 at the age of 89.
Otto, a member of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe and a member of the LTBB Community, was born and raised in Petoskey, MI, with seven sisters and two brothers.
His writings and stories came from the stories he heard from elders who visited his home. His father, Foster Otto, was active in the Michigan Indian Defense Association, and many people came to meetings at his home. Simon listened to them conduct business and share stories.
His grandfather was an influential role model in Simon’s life, sharing many stories with him.
Simon authored more than five books and wrote a column titled, “Talking Leaves,” which appeared in the Petoskey News-Review for many years. His column also appeared in the Traverse City Record-Eagle and Cheboygan Daily Tribune.
As an artist, Simon drew, painted in oils and watercolors and made carvings, handmade porcupine roaches and hand drums.
Simon taught Indian oral history at North Central Michigan College (NCMC) in Petoskey, MI, for 11 years.
He retired as the LTBB Executive Coordinator in March 1992 and worked as an Indian counselor, a substance abuse counselor and a state job interviewer. He opened a halfway house in Petoskey, MI, and helped start a tribal substance abuse program for the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe.
By Annette VanDeCar, Communications Coordinator
____________
Married Evelyn Kewandway, September 30, 1947 and divorced October 1974
____________
Emmet County, Michigan, Marriage Index, 1857-2012
Name: Simon G. Otto
Gender: Male
Spouse Name: Elizabeth Johnson
Spouse Gender: Female
Marriage Date: 15 Dec 1974
Marriage Place: Emmet County, Michigan, USA
Emmet County, Michigan, Marriage Index, 1857-2012
Name: Simon George Otto
Gender: Male
Spouse Name: Andrea Marie Kern
Spouse Gender: Female
Marriage Date: 13 Sep 2003
Marriage Place: Emmet County, Michigan, USA
REMEMBERING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF SIMON OTTO
Storyteller, Author, Historian and Artist Simon Otto walked on May 5, 2016 at the age of 89.
Otto, a member of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe and a member of the LTBB Community, was born and raised in Petoskey, MI, with seven sisters and two brothers.
His writings and stories came from the stories he heard from elders who visited his home. His father, Foster Otto, was active in the Michigan Indian Defense Association, and many people came to meetings at his home. Simon listened to them conduct business and share stories.
His grandfather was an influential role model in Simon’s life, sharing many stories with him.
Simon authored more than five books and wrote a column titled, “Talking Leaves,” which appeared in the Petoskey News-Review for many years. His column also appeared in the Traverse City Record-Eagle and Cheboygan Daily Tribune.
As an artist, Simon drew, painted in oils and watercolors and made carvings, handmade porcupine roaches and hand drums.
Simon taught Indian oral history at North Central Michigan College (NCMC) in Petoskey, MI, for 11 years.
He retired as the LTBB Executive Coordinator in March 1992 and worked as an Indian counselor, a substance abuse counselor and a state job interviewer. He opened a halfway house in Petoskey, MI, and helped start a tribal substance abuse program for the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe.
By Annette VanDeCar, Communications Coordinator
____________
Married Evelyn Kewandway, September 30, 1947 and divorced October 1974
____________
Emmet County, Michigan, Marriage Index, 1857-2012
Name: Simon G. Otto
Gender: Male
Spouse Name: Elizabeth Johnson
Spouse Gender: Female
Marriage Date: 15 Dec 1974
Marriage Place: Emmet County, Michigan, USA
Emmet County, Michigan, Marriage Index, 1857-2012
Name: Simon George Otto
Gender: Male
Spouse Name: Andrea Marie Kern
Spouse Gender: Female
Marriage Date: 13 Sep 2003
Marriage Place: Emmet County, Michigan, USA
Storyteller, Author, Historian and Artist Simon Otto walked on May 5, 2016 at the age of 89.
Otto, a member of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe and a member of the LTBB Community, was born and raised in Petoskey, MI, with seven sisters and two brothers.
His writings and stories came from the stories he heard from elders who visited his home. His father, Foster Otto, was active in the Michigan Indian Defense Association, and many people came to meetings at his home. Simon listened to them conduct business and share stories.
His grandfather was an influential role model in Simon’s life, sharing many stories with him.
Simon authored more than five books and wrote a column titled, “Talking Leaves,” which appeared in the Petoskey News-Review for many years. His column also appeared in the Traverse City Record-Eagle and Cheboygan Daily Tribune.
As an artist, Simon drew, painted in oils and watercolors and made carvings, handmade porcupine roaches and hand drums.
Simon taught Indian oral history at North Central Michigan College (NCMC) in Petoskey, MI, for 11 years.
He retired as the LTBB Executive Coordinator in March 1992 and worked as an Indian counselor, a substance abuse counselor and a state job interviewer. He opened a halfway house in Petoskey, MI, and helped start a tribal substance abuse program for the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe.
By Annette VanDeCar, Communications Coordinator
____________
Married Evelyn Kewandway, September 30, 1947 and divorced October 1974
____________
Emmet County, Michigan, Marriage Index, 1857-2012
Name: Simon G. Otto
Gender: Male
Spouse Name: Elizabeth Johnson
Spouse Gender: Female
Marriage Date: 15 Dec 1974
Marriage Place: Emmet County, Michigan, USA
Emmet County, Michigan, Marriage Index, 1857-2012
Name: Simon George Otto
Gender: Male
Spouse Name: Andrea Marie Kern
Spouse Gender: Female
Marriage Date: 13 Sep 2003
Marriage Place: Emmet County, Michigan, USA
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