Creighton Orville (Butch) Deloney- Master Ojibwe Drum Artist Passes On

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(Free-Press-Release.com) July 5, 2011 -- Creighton Orville Deloney (Butch), age 64, passed away in Chicago, Illinois on June 24,2011. The cause of death was acute myocardial infarction.

Born, December 29,1946 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he lived in and worked in Chicago, until retiring in 2005. Creighton was an enrolled member of the Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians. His father, George Deloney Sr. was a renowned American Indian rights advocate and the first American Indian Mason in Chicago.

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Creighton Orville (Butch) Deloney- Master Ojibwe Drum Artist Passes On

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Butch was a union pile driver for 39 years. After losing one leg in a pile driving incident at the age of 21, he continued to work in his field with one prosthesis.

He was a graduate of MATC and attended the University of Illinois-Chicago and NAES College for several years.

For the past seven years, Creighton was a volunteer in the Chicago American Indian community,with NAES College and the American Indian Association of Illinois, teaching young and old how to make American Indian drums, and helping build the Medicine Shield College Program with Eastern Illinois University.

He was the only American Indian drum builder in Illinois. “He would take scrap lumber and old buffalo hides and make them into the most beautiful drums any one had ever seen or heard,” said AIAI President,Dr. Dorene Wiese. “He donated all of his resources to help others learn. In 2006, he created the Been Na Un Dennah drum and became a member of the Been Na Un Dennah drum group. He wanted the drum to bring our community together,”said Wiese. With Carlos “Zeke” Peynetsa as head singer, Been Na Un Dennah performed for thousands of school children each year, teaching them Native music, dance, and culture.

Creighton not only made drums, but American Indian jewelry, cradle boards, and moccasins. He also loved playing darts and pool, and watching science fiction films.

"He was a good Indian man, who enjoyed tending to others," said Dr. Lola Hill, Dean at AIAI.
Services were held at St. James Presbyterian church on Tuesday, June 28,2011. Reverend Joellen Hosler officiated.

Memorial contributions are being accepted by the American Indian Association of Illinois, 6554 N. Rockwell, Chicago, IL 60645. For more information call 773.338.8320.

More information can be found online at http://www.chicago-american-indian-edu.org

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