The Kanai and Blood Tribe community are mourning the loss of one of their own as respected elder Pete Standing Alone, 90, died Tuesday.

Throughout his lifetime, Standing Alone was a prominent, proud man standing tall for his people, the Blackfoot. He held a variety of leadership roles for the Blood Tribe, government and community organizations.

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A resource for culture, history, language and ceremonial activities, he served as a cultural adviser to the Red Crow Community College and the University of Lethbridge. There, he spoke to classes and group discussions, offering insight into language and the retention of their culture.

He often offered his services to the Galt Museum and Archives, as well as Calgary’s Glenbow Museum.

In a statement, the University of Lethbridge called Standing Alone an “integral part of the U of L’s commitment to Indigenous education.”

When significant government officials and dignitaries came through the province, he was called upon to perform many headdress ceremonies — some of which included Prince Charles, former prime minister Stephen Harper and former opremier Ed Stelmach.

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As a young man, Standing Alone was involved with the Horn Society, growing into one of their most respected elders.

Standing Alone was one of the era’s last remaining free-range ranchers with a sizable herd of cattle and horses — many of which he trained as bucking stock in rodeos. He owned the largest horse ranch on the Blood Reserve.

His cultural foresight was demonstrated throughout a number of films, the earliest made in 1958. Sharing a way of life long misunderstood by the greater public, the films Circle of the Sun, A Pinto for the Prince, and Standing Alone shared his life as a younger man and his maturation into an elder.

The final of 15 movies he participated in, the 2005 film Round-up, depicted his life as a cowboy.