Sharon (Boswell) Enjady-Mitchell Anwaachigekwe

Sharon (Boswell) Enjady-Mitchell Anwaachigekwe

Born: Thu., Jul. 18, 1946

Died: Tue., Dec. 1, 2015

Visitation

7:00 PM Fri., Dec. 04, 2015

Location: Veterans Memorial Building

Traditional Native Service

10:00 AM Sun., Dec. 06, 2015

Location: Old Pine Point School

Visitation

7:00 PM Sun., Dec. 06, 2015

Location: Old Pine Point School

.Sharon "Sherry Pie" (Boswell) Enjady-Mitchell, "Anwaachigekwe" was born at the White Earth Hospital on July 18, 1946 to her parents Melvin "Ole" Bosswell and Gail Trotterchaud-Greig and was raised in Pine Point by her Grand Parents and Great Grand Parents with assistance from her dear friend "Dummy Trout". Sharon spent her childhood "helping the old people" by snaring rabbits, cutting wood, hauling water and sometimes just visiting.

After her last grandmother passed Sharon begrudgingly left Pine Point to pursue a career in Nursing. She lived and worked as an LPN in Alamogordo, NM assisting in the running of a 17 bed hospital with the Apache people. She remained there until returning to Minnesota in 1968 to live in Minneapolis. This was when she met her "other parents", Amos & Ion Owen of Prairie Island. And that's when her life as a Renaissance Woman came to life as she became an advocate for anything and anyone that needed something better in their life.

Upon landing in Minneapolis she immediately reconnected with family. She was as an active member and supporter of AIM, The AIM Survival School, Little Earth of United Tribes and as with anything in Sharon's life "one thing lead to another". Soon she was involved with the Family Health Program and the initial health needs survey with Indian people which lead to the creation of Indian Health Board, the first urban Indian health clinic in the country. She then consulted on the Indian Healthcare Improvement Act to better serve urban areas with a large Native population. Soon more similar clinics formed throughout the country. Sharon's employment kept her busy as she worked with Hennepin County as a Culture Advocate which led to her creating "Reunification Specialists". This was her passion, to assist in the returning of Native children that were adopted out to the biological families, homes and community.

She continued her advocacy as a contributing author to the Indian Child Welfare Act and the Indian Religious Freedom Act. And then there was "the boys" that she met as an advocate for the Native prisoners re-entry into the community, Domestic Violence at the MIWRC, the Indian Neighborhood Club, the Cass Lake Family Center director, White Earth Constitutional Reform Delegate, Wellness In the Woods, Mankato Powwow, Sahkahtay Culture Camps, PACER, MPLN...and that was all "just because it needed to be done", the list could go on and on for her volunteer work.

In 1996 she returned to the north when, after he waited 20 years, she married Kenn Mitchell and they made their home on East End Cass Lake.

Through all of Sharon's adventures and accomplishments she remained humble and preferred to sit in the back of the room pretending "she didn't know anything" and there was very few things she was outwardly proud of....her family, being from Pine Point, her degree in Caucasianology and, as she said "Of all things I've done in my life son, the one thing that is my pride and joy is that I got bit by a rattle snake and the fuckin snake died!!"

She is survived by her husband Kenn Mitchell, daughters Susan Moffett, Joni Tapio, Marilyn Westbrook, Dalene Skinaway, Dana Skinaway-Sam, and Gail Boswell. Sons Charles Stone and Jesse Tapio. Sisters Joanne Stately, Nancy Boswell, and Terri Boswell. One brother Kenneth "spaghetti" Basswood. Step-mother Madeline Boswell. Sixteen grandchildren, Seven Great grandchildren, including those she is raising - Curtis , Warrior, Jorgie, and Kearra Boswell. She lived for the day she would cook deer meat, rice, and frybread for her Grandson George upon his return to his home. Special grandson, confidant and co-conspirator Michael Dahl.

She is also survived by a large ceremonial and adopted family. They include: Cola and Ovie, Bimo and Brad, Liv and Terry, Lois and Mike, Lisa and Corn, Betsy May, Yvonne, Sparrow, Dick Fisher, Art and Carrie, Linda, Ray, Toni, Duff, Mike, and Cliff. Special we'eh Bewaush. Deceased Muriel, Amos and Ione, Ted, Ernestine, and "Dummy".

Waiting for her "over there" will be: her parents, grandparents, great- grandparents, sister Dora Boswell, daughter Charlene Boswell, son Trevor Bernard.