Special to the American Press

Ernest Sickey, the first tribal chairman of the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana, has died at the age of 80.

Sickey, a father, former chairman of the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana and prominent Indian-affairs advocate, passed away peacefully Wednesday, according to his family.

A memorial service to celebrate his remarkable life and contributions will take place on Tuesday, June 27. More details about the service will be publicized as they become available.

Sickey helped enlighten the non-Indian world about tribal sovereignty and self-determination, and diligently led the Coushatta Tribe’s efforts to be formally recognized by the State of Louisiana and the U. S. Department of the Interior, which he achieved in 1972 and 1973, respectively. He later worked with the Louisiana legislature to create the State’s Office of Indian Affairs for which he served as the office’s first executive director.

Sickey served as tribal chairman of the Coushatta Tribe from 1973 to 1985 and his legacy includes transformative socioeconomic benefits for the Coushatta Tribe, Southwest Louisiana, the State of Louisiana, and beyond.

He was instrumental in promoting civil rights and Indigenous rights throughout the broader southeastern region and helped to organize the Louisiana Governor’s Commission on Indian Affairs.

Sickey’s formal efforts to regain federal re-recognition for the Coushatta people began in 1965, as he helped community members organize Coushatta Indians of Allen Parish, Inc. and established a local trading post to sell traditional Coushatta longleaf pine needle baskets.

In 1970, he was instrumental in petitioning the Indian Health Services to again provide medical care for tribal members. Those efforts were successful in 1972, which was the same year the Louisiana Legislature granted the Coushatta official recognition.

In June 1973, while under Sickey’s leadership the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana once again received federal recognition from the Secretary of Interior.

Sickey served as an advisor to the Coushatta Tribal Council, as well as tribes throughout the United States most of his life.