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Obituaries

Journey to the Spirit World

This page serves as a space to honor and remember the lives of our tribal members who have passed away. Here, we come together as a compassionate and supportive community to pay tribute to their legacies.

Obituary picture of Eric Anderson
Eric Anderson

Born: August 18, 1975
Journeyed to the Spirit World: July 2, 2023

Eric Leonard Anderson, 47, of Flandreau, SD, died on Sunday, July 2, 2023 at Avera McKenna Hospital in Sioux Falls. A funeral service will be held 11:00AM, Friday, July 7, 2023 at Eastman Hall in Flandreau, SD. Visitation will be from 5:00PM to 7:00PM with an all-night wake service beginning at 7:00PM on Thursday, July 6, 2023 at Eastman Hall.

Eric Leonard Anderson, was born on August 18, 1975 in Minneapolis, MN to Victoria Anderson and Daniel Percy. He was an enrolled member of the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe. When Eric was one month old, Dennis Banks gifted him his first Anishinaabe name “Nowa-Cumig” (At the center of the Universe). At six months old, Ona Kingbird gave him his second Anishinaabe name, “Asini-iw-inini“(Stone Man).  Eric grew up in the American Indian Movement and traveled all over with the Red Nation Sundance.  His second birthday was celebrated on the Red Nation Sundance Caravan in California. Eric shared the same birthday as AIM leaders Chief Leonard Crow Dog and Carter Camp.

Eric was the first grandson and first great grandson in his family.  He was deeply loved by his grandmother Betty, great grandparents Ted Taylor and Ann Flower and grandparents Pat and Jerry Roy.  His Grandpa Jerry gave him the nickname “Zoom Zoom”, “Zoom” stayed with him throughout his life.

In 1979, Eric moved with his mother to Flandreau, SD. He attended Flandreau Public School and graduated from Flandreau Indian School in 1994. Eric attended the esteemed Oscar Howe Summer Art Institute in 1993 and 1994, his favorite class was Art. Eric became an excellent artist. He was employed at the Royal River Casino, First American Mart, FSST Tribal Health Clinic and most recently at the Hunkake Café in Flandreau.

Eric met Dionne Crawford in 2006 and started a family together in Sisseton, SD.  In 2007, Eric and Dionne welcomed their first child, Maya Isabella and in 2009 they welcomed their son, River Delray. During this time, Eric sundanced four years at Crow Dog’s Paradise. He attended Sisseton Wahpeton College and achieved an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration with a 3.75 GPA.  Eric was also a certified fitness trainer through Penn Foster, he was passionate about fitness and weightlifting. Impressively, Eric could bench 410 lbs., squat 485 lbs. and dead lift 520 lbs.

In 2010, he moved to Flandreau but traveled back and forth to Sisseton often to spend time with his children.  Eric loved music, especially Metallica, Slipknot, Rob Zombie, Nirvana, Run DMC, NWA, Snoop Dog, old school Rap, classic rock and heavy metal.  In 2022, he was ecstatic to bring his daughter Maya to see Slipknot in Fargo. He loved watching scary movies and drawing.

In 2019, Eric was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic cancer. The doctors informed Eric he had three weeks to live, advising him to get his affairs in order. His response to the doctors was that he going to fight and beat cancer because he had two children, he wasn’t ready to leave them. For over a grueling year, Eric underwent experimental chemotherapy and immunotherapy, making this the most difficult period of his life. Eric’s traditional beliefs and medicines, the Canupa and his children were his strength and will to live. Eric received his Dakota name, Sitomini Ya Wayankapi during this time. On December 21, 2021, Eric was declared cancer-free. Since early childhood, Eric suffered from Asthma. As a result of his sickness, chemo and immunotherapy, his asthma severely progressed and led to many trips to the ER and was a contributing factor in his passing.

The majority of Eric’s time was spent with Maya and River, because their bond was like no other- this brought strength and happiness to his life.

Eric is survived by his children Maya and River Anderson of Sisseton, SD; mother Vicki (Joe CircleBear) Anderson of Flandreau, SD; father Daniel Percy of Minneapolis, MN; siblings John Carlos Fisherman, Sr., Elizabeth (Mike Toledo) Fisherman and Aaron Fisherman of Flandreau, SD; grandmother Betty Taylor; uncles Scott Anderson and Jean Paul Roy and aunt Leah Fyten all of Flandreau, SD; as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews and friends.

He was preceded in death by cousin/brothers Scott Taylor Anderson, Konrad Roy, Darren Roy and Mike Roy, Jr.; aunt Jennifer Fyten; uncles, Teddy, Josh, Mike and Miles Roy; grandparents Patricia Taylor Roy and Gerald Roy. Great grandparents Ann Flower and Ted Taylor.