(L-R) Pat with her family, Cathy Calliotte (daughter), Logan Schwebel (grandson), Robert Harris (brother), Makenzie Gallego (niece) and Stephanie Brown (sister-in-law).
Photo by Kimberlie R. Hall
Hayward, Wisconsin (NFIC)
Patricia Calliotte, age 65, of Hayward, Wisconsin, passed away on November 17th, 2006, from complications related to emphysema. She was the Associate Editor of the National Native newspaper, News From Indian Country, and regional publication Akiing.
Patricia Harris Calliotte was born August 3, 1941, in Topeka, Kansas. She worked over the years as a librarian at Howard Community College in Columbia, Maryland, a math teacher, a professional picture framer and cab driver.
Pat Calliotte arrived on the Lac Courte Oreilles Reservation around 1984 and worked with the LCO Telecommunications Project regarding the launch and training of Native radio journalists at WOJB radio. She worked with the Telecommunications Project as part of the LCO Tribal School System and by 1986 was working at WOJB-88.9 FM editing the tribe’s local newspaper, the Lac Courte Oreilles Journal, along with LCO Council member Dr. Rick St. Germaine. She was a cofounder, and the only non-Native to own stock in Indian Country Communications (ICC) when the Corporate entity formed in 1986 and Pat was one of the first officers on the board of directors (one of five) until 1994. The independent newspaper News From Indian Country was launched upon the tribe’s decision to no longer publish the LCO Journal. ICC publishes News From Indian Country and the Great Lakes regional publication Akiing, and Pat has always been the Associate Editor and Classified Advertising Salesperson.
Pat was a strong supporter of educational efforts to assist Native people to speak out for themselves.
She was known as Water Woman (Nibique) for the work she did alongside many friends at Native ceremonies from the west to east coast. She made many friends and relatives of people across Indian Country and on the Pine Ridge Reservation.
Pat Calliotte is survived by one daughter, Cathy Calliotte and grandson Logan Schwebel, and one brother Robert (Stephanie) Harris, and niece Makenzie Gallego of Menlo Park, California. She was predeceased by her parents Cleta Wempe Harris and Francis Harris.
A memorial feast and service was held on Tuesday, November 21st at her home in the village of Skunawong on the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe Reservation.
Memorial donations for her work on behalf of Native Journalism should be directed to the Richard LaCourse Award for Excellence in Native Journalism at the Native American Journalists Association presently located at 555 Dakota Street, Al Neuharth Media Center, Vermillion, South Dakota 57069. 605-677-5282. Fax 866-694-4264. info@naja.com.
