Obituary of Winston 'Zippo' McKay

    Winston ‘Zippo’ was born in Pine Bluff in November 1942 to Philipsis and Elizabeth McKay.  Winston and his three sisters Marie Alma, Virginia & Sharon were rooted in a traditional way of life.  They grew up with strong Cree-Metis roots, connected to the Red River through his maternal grandfather, William Fosseneuve.  Winston regained his First Nation status through his paternal grandmother Katie Greenleaf later in life. 

   As a young man, Winston was a trapper, fisherman, miner and construction worker.  Later in life he was a business person and public servant as Mayor of Cumberland House for a number of years. 

While in public service, he was instrumental in the lawsuit settlement with SaskPower and Saskatchewan Government in taking them to task on the environmental destruction it caused to the community and the delta.

   As a trustee with a Northern Lights School Division for more than 10 years he helped to establish NORTEP in La Ronge. He was also the President of the Metis Addictions Council of Saskatchewan, in Prince Albert where he established the Detox and Rehabilitation Center.  In addition, Winston was Area Director for Métis Nation of Saskatchewan. He later moved to Saskatoon, where he returned to university and completed his degree.  While in university he was a strong voice for the Cree language as a fluent speaker.  He was also an avid volunteer on the Race Relations Committee in Saskatoon and advocated and established one of the first detox center in the city. 

   In addition, to being a lady’s man, everyone knew he also loved hockey and canoeing.  He coached kids in both sports.  He coordinated the Saskatchewan Canoe Team for the North American Indigenous Games, before handing it over to Lori and her family to take over.   He was so proud of his gold medals as a competitive paddler.  He has paddled coast to coast and down the Columbia River in BC into the United States.  He loved to visit and support family and friends when they were in the hospital in Saskatoon, Prince Albert and Nipawin, brought comfort and humor to a difficult time.  In his retirement years he enjoyed spending time in Arizona with his loving partner Marion. 

   Winston was predeceased by his father Philipsis McKay; mother Elizabeth McKay (nee Fosseneuve); sister Marie Elma & Brother-in-Law Ernest Chaboyer; partners Marion Zamonsy, Dr. Grace McKay-Jolly, Hermaline Fagnan (nee McDermott); and grandson John Baptiste

   He is survived by his sisters, Virginia and Sharon; children Lori (Dale) McAuley,  Josephine (Bill) McKay, Dan McKay, Myrna (Jim) Ewing, Angus (Jolene) McKay, Wendy (Richard) McKay, Rusty (Sharise) McKay, Derek (Deanna) Crane, Bella (Kelly) Stevenson, Richard Budd, Joey Dunn; grandchildren Christina, Philip (Justine), Freya, Zoe, Tyson, Keith, Jesse James (Brodie), Tcee, Amber (Shay), Kyra, Avery (Aiden), Jace, Sierge, Mitch, Kasity, Gary Jr., Devon, Jersey, Henley, Gracie, Bentley, Misty, Kao, Wolf, Ocean, Sarah, Rain, Chloe, Hunter, Elisha, Summer, Anna, Bryce; and great-grandchildren, too numerous to list.