Lynette Kay Chandler
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Dr. Lynette Kay Chandler, 41, of Harlem, MT began her journey to the Sand Hills on August 13, 2017, surrounded by family and friends. Lynette, an enrolled member of the Aaniinen (Gros Ventre Nation), answered to the ceremonial name, Bitathaa (Dancing Woman) because of her love and abilities in jingle dress dancing category of powwow.
Lynette was born on November 7, 1975 to Wayne and Colleen Long Fox Stein in Helena, MT. She attended schools at Fort Yates, ND, Pullman, WA, and Bozeman, MT. She graduated from Butte High School in 1994. Inspired by her father's education, Lynette acquired a Bachelor of Letters and Science in English Literature in 2000, a Master of Arts in Native American Studies in 2003, both from Montana State University-Bozeman. In 2010 she attained a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of Montana.
In 2003, Dr. Chandler founded the White Clay Language School to revitalize the Aaniiih Language, thus, changing the course of Aaniiih History. Well known throughout the country and internationally through her American Indian language efforts, Lynette received many awards including: Unsung Hero Award in 2011, Montana Indian Educator of the Year in 2012 and from The University of Montana, the Educational Leadership Excellence Award in 2013. The Ft. Belknap Indian Community also recognized her achievements by declaring May 7, 2012, Dr. Lynette Chandler Day.
While in Bozeman she met and married the love of her life, Dr. Sean Chandler on August 16, 1996. They welcomed and raised two lovely daughters, Wozek in 1997 and Serena in 2003. Lynette and Sean were also part of the first graduates of the Native American Studies master's degree program in 2003. The couple decided to move from Bozeman to Harlem, MT in 2001 to help in the education of their people at Aaniiih Nakoda College on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation. At the time of her death, Lynette was about to welcome a new cohort of first graders to her White Clay Language School.
Lynette had many hobbies including: playing stick game, beading, sewing, riding horses and Indian dancing. She loved spending time with her children, nephews and nieces, going to rodeos and Indian dances and football games.
She was preceded in death by her maternal great-grandmother Florence Skinner-Stiffarm, maternal grandfather Charles Long Fox, paternal grandmother Darlene Brunelle-Unger, godfather Moke Cliff and adopted father Joe Ironman Sr.
Lynette is survived by her husband Sean, daughters Wozek and Serena, maternal grandmother Naomi Longfox of Ft. Belknap, parents Wayne and Colleen (Longfox) Stein of Bozeman, MT, sisters Danelle (John) Stein of Anchorage, AK, and Camille (Neal) Stein of Fort Belknap Agency, Angela (Kevin) Longfox of Butte, MT, and uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews and many relatives and friends too numerous to mention.
Wake was held Wednesday, August 16, 2017 at 6 pm in the Red Whip Gymnasium and funeral services took place on Thursday, August 17, 2017 at 10 am in the Red Whip Gymnasium. Burial will take place at Eagle Child, 6 miles south of Hays on Highway 66.
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