At least among the Cree, Stan Louttit was recognized as a historian.
Born on his family's traditional lands 64 years ago, Louttit lived most of his life at Moose Factory and latterly was grand chief of the Mushkegowuk Cree along the James Bay lowlands. He was a grandchild of one of the signatories of Treaty 9, and became an expert on the Cree understanding of that agreement. He often spoke to his people and to others about "The Real Treaty as Orally Agreed to," and he worked over many years with John Long, the author of Treaty 9: Making The Agreement to Share The Land. Stan Louttit died of cancer yesterday.
Stan Louttit was among the interviewees on my Ideas program about Treaty 9 and the nature of treaties, called "George MacMartin's Big Canoe Trip." You can hear not only his views, but also his mellifluous speaking voice at the beginning of the program. I won't soon forget it.
