Rose M. Main
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Rose M. Main, 60, passed away on Saturday, April 21, 2018, at Northern Montana Care Center due to natural causes. Wake services will begin at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 24, 2018, and will continue until her funeral service, which will be at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 25, 2018, all at the St. Paul Mission Rec Center in Hays. Burial will follow in Big Warm at the Main Family Cemetery. Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements. Please visit Sugie's online memorial page and leave a message of condolence for her family at http://www.hollandbonine.com.
Sugie, Naah Stake Lisis Iithaa, Morning Sun Woman was born Rose Marie Main on May 11, 1957 to Vernie Brisbo Main (A'aninin) and James Main Sr. (A'aninin) at St. James Hospital in Butte, Mt. She was named after her two paternal Aunts Rosie and Marie. She was an enrolled member of the A'aninin (White Clay People) tribe. Her dad, Jimmy, used to say that he had a basketball team and one cheerleader, Sugie.
Sugie spent her younger years in Butte where her father worked in the mines. Sugie spent a lot of time with her Grandma Annie Whitecow Brisbo and Grandma Mae Filesteel Main, where she gained traditional knowledge and history. The family moved to Hays in the early 70's where she attended the St. Paul's Mission School and was in the first graduating class of the Hays/Lodgepole High School in 1975. After graduation, Rose attended Haskell Indian Nations University and graduated with an Associate's degree in Business Administration. She then attended Northern Montana College in Havre and Montana State University in Bozeman where she received a Masters' degree in Public Administration.
Sugie returned to Fort Belknap where she served as the Tribal Health Director, Fort Belknap Housing Director, and Fort Belknap Environmental Program Director. Rose also served as the Executive Director of the Housing Program on the Chemehuevi Reservation.
Sugie served on the International Indian Treaty Council (IITC) after her father became too ill to fulfill his position on the council. Rose traveled to Geneva, Switzerland on a few occasions to witness and speak on behalf of issues related to human rights and Indigenous People. She attended many meetings, conferences, events, and activities in support of the IITC and the IEN (Indigenous Environmental Network) throughout the years.
Sugie supported and continued her father's work toward Native American religious freedom for incarcerated Natives throughout Indian Country. She was well known for her compassion towards others and always took up for the underdog. During her last few weeks, many, many friends and relatives called, visited and offered what support they could. Her care, love, and generosity was evident in the many individuals who came forward to show her the love she showed for them.
Rose was preceded in death by her son Michael, her brothers Michael and Oliver, her mother Vernie and father Jimmy Main. She is survived by her brothers Harold "Jiggs" (Rosie) Main, Douglas "Tiny" Main, William "Snuffy" (Diane) Main, James Main Jr .; Grandchildren Kelyssa, David, Mikkel, and Kate; great granddaughters Erionna, Jessie and Rayel; maternal Aunt Bunny, paternal Uncles, Gerald and Jerome Main, adopted son Raheem, and numerous nephews she helped raise, and many, many beloved relatives from the Main and Brisbo and extended families.
The family of Sugie would like to express our sincere thanks for the many kindnesses evidenced in thought, word, and deed, and for your attendance at this service.
Aht na ha ban our dear niece, sister, grandma, aunt, cousin, and friend.
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