Leo LaFernier, Red Cliff Chippewa Elder, Dies At 80

Red Cliff Chippewa Band elder Leo LaFernier passed away this week. A quiet man who made his voice heard on civil rights and natural resources questions is being mourned across Wisconsin.

The issue could be storing nuclear waste in northern Wisconsin, recovering mystery military barrels from Lake Superior, mining the Penokee Hills or treaty rights, LaFernier was on it. Theresa Peacock said her father believed in protecting the land and water for all people.

“If that’s taken away — our resources — how do we expect our generation and generations after that, to survive without that?” she said.

Son-in-law — or “son,” as he prefers — Joe Peacock said LaFernier inspired him to get into the Airborne Rangers by his example of service to people.

“Whether it be (to) the community or the country or the world at large, he inspired me to reach new heights,” he said.

LaFernier was with The Rev. Jesse Jackson pushing for civil rights while he lived in Chicago and was a tribal ambassador to Germany. Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission director Jim Zorn said he quietly but determinedly fought for treaty rights.

“In a much bigger way, to help understand that, ‘What good are those rights if either the fish are too contaminated to eat or the habitat is so destroyed that the natural resources are not there for you in the future?’” Zorn said.

Zorn said he considered LaFernier the commission’s fire keeper.

“Whenever I see a fire, a campfire or otherwise, Leo will be there with me,” he said.

To the Red Cliff community, he was “Uncle Leo.” Granddaughter Denise Carlson said he called his family his babies, “and when he would tell you that, he would snuggle with you and hug you as he was saying it. And of course, all of his babies were the babies of the house.”

LaFernier leaves behind 10 children, 21 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren. He was 80 years old.