Lila Jean (Nason-Birt) George Miskobinesii (Red Thunderbird)

Lila Jean (Nason-Birt) George, Miskobinesii (Red Thunderbird), 77, passed peacefully with her daughter by her side, in the early hours of September 15, 2023, as a result of her second round battling breast cancer. Lila was born in 1946 at the Cass Lake Indian Hospital. Her parents were Cecelia Agnes Nason and Lyle Birt. She was one of eleven children, with eight brothers and two sisters. She deeply loved all of her family, relatives, and community.

Lila married David George, and together they raised a family that included two biological children; Clement (Waabiitus) and Melissa (Waabiigoniis), along with one long-term foster-son, Dennis. In her lifetime, Lila provided foster-care for many Anishinaabe children, and for those that knew Lila, she “fostered” quite a few adults she met along the way as well.

Lila led a life of integrity. She was loving, articulate, compassionate, and hard-working. She taught and practiced social work and advocated for social justice. A few months before her death, her published journal article was cited by Justice Gorsuch as the United States Supreme Court ruled to uphold the Indian Child Welfare Act. Lila left a remarkable legacy.

Lila, Misko Binesii, was born into beauty and strife, she was known for her humor, intelligence, generosity, and loving-kindness. She taught and touched so many people’s lives in her time here, she will be missed profoundly. Lila’s legacy will live on, but now she goes home, and rests.

Lila George’s wake will start at 6:30pm on 9/18/23 at the Ball Club Community Center. Her funeral will follow the next day, starting at 10:00AM (Tuesday 9/19/23) also at the Ball Club Community Center. Her services will be Traditional Anishinaabe & spoken in Ojibwemowin and English. For those that carry pipes, please bring them. Everyone is welcome to bring your own ceremony dishes and utensils. There will be dinnerware and utensils provided for guests. Following her burial, there will be a time to gather and share, laugh, sing, eat, talk and celebrate Lila’s life more socially. We hope to have a drum and the Ojibwe Singers come during that time (after burial). All are welcome, Miigwech/Thank you!