Aurelius H. Piper Sr.

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Aurelius H. Piper Sr. (August 31, 1916 – August 3, 2008), also known as Big Eagle or Chief Big Eagle, was the hereditary chief of the Golden Hill Paugussett Indian Nation of Connecticut from 1959 until 2008.[1]

Early life

Piper served in the United States military during

North African Campaign.[1]

Hereditary chief

Piper was named hereditary chief of the Golden Hill Paugussett Indian Nation by his mother,

reservation in Trumbull, Connecticut.[1]

Piper traveled extensively as a representative of the Golden Hill Paugussett and other Native American groups to campaign for the rights of

foreign correspondent.[1] The De Kivas advocates for Native American rights before the International Human Rights Council in Geneva and is based in Belgium and the Netherlands.[1]

Piper's son, Kenneth, who is also known as Moonface Bear, was involved on a ten-week standoff between Connecticut State Police and the Colchester, Connecticut, branch of the Golden Hill Paugussett.[1] The standoff stemmed from the illegal sale of untaxed cigarettes on the Colchester portion of the reservation. Kenneth Piper died in 1996.[1]

Piper served on the boards of several Connecticut organizations which advocated for Native American and minority rights.[1] He also served as a "spiritual liaison" for Native Americans in prison.[1] He was named chief of the century by the Florida chapter of the White Buffalo Society "for his work in furthering Native American causes in Connecticut, across the country, and abroad."[1]

"It is a sacred obligation", says the Golden Hill Paugussett Chief, Big Eagle. "Indian people must keep their languages alive. If the language is not spoken, it must be made to live again."[2]

Piper was the subject of the book Quarter Acre of Heartache which is attributed to Claude Clayton Smith but is primarily written by Piper. The book details the history of the Paugussett Indian Nation and the fight to save what was left of their tribal land- a quarter acre property in suburban Trumbull, Connecticut.

Death

Aurelius H. Piper Sr. died of natural causes on August 3, 2008, at the Golden Hill reservation in Trumbull, Connecticut, at the age of 92.[1] He was survived by his wife, Marsha Conte Piper; five children; several stepchildren, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.[1]

A spokesman for the Golden Hill Paugussett confirmed that Piper's son, Aurelius H. Piper Jr., who is also known as Chief Quiet Hawk, will assume the title of hereditary chief from his father.[3]

Background

Westchester County, which set off legal challenges against the tribe's recognition attempts.[1] The Golden Hill Paugussett has dropped these far reaching land claims, but could revive them if federal recognition is eventually achieved.[1]

References

  1. ^
    Boston Globe. Associated Press
    . 2008-08-06. Retrieved 2008-08-09.
  2. ^ Libby, Sam (18 October 1998). "Tribes to Revive Language". The New York Times. p. 6.
  3. Norwich Bulletin. 2008-08-05. Archived from the original
    on 2012-09-07. Retrieved 2008-08-09.

External links
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Aurelius_H._Piper_Sr.&oldid=1171045555"