Sydney “Syd” Marie (Harper) Martin, Ogemaquay (Boss/Chief/Leader Woman), Wolf Clan, died Wednesday, Feb. 18,at Faith Hospice at Trillium Woods in Byron Center.
Sydney was born on Sept. 14, 1943, in Grand Rapids. She attended Hopkins Public Schools and lived along the Rabbit River in the Salem Indian Settlement with her Anishinaabe-way adoptive mother Gladys (Pigeon) Sands (Kesoquay – Full Moon Woman), a full-blood Potawatomi and Mt. Pleasant Indian Industrial Boarding School survivor, whom Syd lovingly called Nana.
Having been taught to weave black ash baskets, to sew and gather sacred medicines and foods, Syd learned early how to make a living from her Anishinaabe work. Syd and Nana supported themselves through selling their black ash baskets, seasonal fieldwork, and sharing cultural knowledge with museums, schools, pageants and trading posts. They traveled throughout Michigan selling their wares and offerings, living a life rooted in skill, movement, and relationship.
These early teachings shaped how Syd moved through the world—carrying knowledge from practice, protecting cultural ways of living, honoring her ancestors, caring for the land and water, and holding responsibility to those who would come after her.
Sydney met George Martin (Odawa – A Quiet, Peaceful Place), one night in 1959 after she performed in an ‘Indian pageant’ at Chapel Lake, near Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda. Air Policeman George saw her on stage and fell in love at first sight. The next night he showed up in his sparkling car, spit-shined shoes, and in his military dress uniform to attempt to meet Sydney.
A love story for The Anishinaabe Ages began, and over the years they became cultural icons. Sydney and George eventually made their home of 56 years near the same place that Sydney grew up along the Rabbit River in the Salem Indian Settlement and raised their four children.
A First Degree Midewiwin, Sydney was the Three Fires Lodge Chief for the State of Michigan, Midewaunaquay (Water Line Chief), and served on the Three Fires Midewiwin Grandmothers’ Council. As a spiritual leader, Syd was open to sharing teachings and lifeways and never judged or limited those with a sincere desire to learn.
Syd’s contributions to Anishinaabek culture and the world extended beyond ceremonies, pow wows and intercultural education. Among her accomplishments:
• Served on the Board of Directors for the Grand Rapids Inter-Tribal Council and Board of Directors for the West Michigan Environmental Action Council where she contributed to the establishment of Michigan’s Adopt-a-Highway program.
• Appointed as the NAGPRA Representative for her Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi (2008-2019) – attended every quarterly meeting for the Michigan Anishinaabek Cultural Preservation and Repatriation Alliance – worked to bring home thousands of ancestors and over 10,000 funerary belongings.
• Presented at the World Indigenous Peoples’ Conference on Education in Aotearoa (Hamilton, New Zealand) in 2005.
• Initiated the Seed Rematriation movement in 2015 (University of Michigan).
• Assisted authoring Journeys to Complete the Work, a graphic novel launched in 2017 at Indigenous Comic Con hosted by Isleta Pueblo. Sydney was a featured character in the comic (www.nagpracomics.weebly.com) which tells the story of her work to repatriate Anishinaabe ancestors from the University of Michigan and Harvard University.
• Featured in two documentaries: “Black Ash Basketry: A Story of Cultural Resilience” (2010) and “Aanikoobijigan [ancestor/great-grandparent/great-grandchild]” (2026) – Aanikoobijigan was recognized with an Audience Choice Award at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival
Sydney led her family, her tribe, and the Anishinaabek people in community and cultural representation with a spirit of resilience that is her legacy. She truly lived her Spirit Name, as a fearless Ogemaquay of the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi, especially in her advocacy for the return of our ancestors and their funerary belongings.
During NAGPRA consultations, Sydney would always tell the institutions, “It’s simple. Just follow the law. Give them back to us.”
She loved to speak irreverently (shockingly so, at times), travel (especially to Bay Mills and Red Cliff), bird watch, write poetry, play cards, complete daily crosswords, read books, listen to music, throw horseshoes, support environmental and wildlife protection organizations, and watch sports of any kind – baseball, basketball, curling, football, golf, tennis, etc.
Above all, she loved caring for and watching her wild birds and feral cats.
Sydney is survived by her devoted husband of 64 years, George Martin; cherished daughters Punkin Shananaquet (David-baa), Natalie (Amos) Pond, Shannon (Lisa “Tiger”) Martin; and son, Jeff Martin. Sydney’s grandchildren who shared in her life include Paul, Carly, Crystal, Boots, and Wakody; and great-grandchildren Cryssa, Mzhakwod, Lily, Cadence, Cena, and Maizie. She loved her siblings David “DK” Sprague, Dr. Valorie Johnson, Joann Sebastian Morris, and Judy and Joseph “Buddy” Raphael; and her daughters Dr. Sonya Atalay (Ted) and Cyndee Fox-Starr; and sons Isadore Toulouse, Frank Sprague, and Joe Reilly. Also surviving are countless extended and special, nieces, nephews, and dear friends and colleagues.
She was preceded in death by her mother Gladys “Nana” (Pigeon) Sands; grandsons Jamesteller Pond and George Martin III; Anishinaabe-way taken siblings Patricia “Butchie” Weiss, Mooz Pamp and Kathy Genereaux, Paul Johnson, Robert Van Alstine, and Dan “Bee” Spears.
In honor of Sydney’s wishes, the preparations and ceremony for her journey are private.
Memorials in honor of Sydney’s legacy may be mailed to: Michigan Anishinaabek Cultural Preservation and Repatriation Alliance (MACPRA), C/O Gun Lake Tribe, Attn: Rebecca Rupe, MACPRA Treasurer, 2872 Mission Dr., Shelbyville, Mich. 49344.
