M. Saginaw Grant • July 20, 1936 - July 28, 2021

M. Saginaw Grant, ‘Wapime’ (grey fi sh), walked on to the spirit world on Wednesday, July 28, 2021. A long-time resident of Los Angeles, Saginaw passed away from natural causes in North Hollywood, California.

Born July 20, 1936 in Pawnee, Oklahoma to Sarah Murray Grant and Austin Grant, Sr., Saginaw was the oldest of four children. He attended Pawnee Indian School before enlisting in the United States Marine Corps in 1953 at the age of 17. He proudly served his country for three years until 1956.

Best known as an actor in fi lm and television, Saginaw’s talents were far-reaching. His occupations were as varied as his talents. He worked as a drycleaner and went on to become an author, public speaker, spiritual leader, and using the public recognition gained from his work as an actor, he became an ambassador for many causes which were important to him.

His fi lm and television credits found him working with some of the biggest names in the acting world, on movies and shows like THE LONE RANGER, BREAKING BAD, THE WORLD’S FASTEST INDIAN, AMERICAN HORROR STORY, SHAMELESS, THE RIDICULOUS 6, VEEP, WINTER IN THE BLOOD, COMMUNITY, MY NAME IS EARL, SAVING GRACE and HARTS OF THE WEST. His long career brought him various awards and accolades.

As hereditary chief of the Sac and Fox Nation, Saginaw was a respected elder who was very active in the Native American community. His love of dancing took him around the pow wow circuit where he was known for his gourd dancing, grass dancing and Southern straight dancing.

Saginaw is survived by his brothers, Francis Grant, Sr. of Cushing, Oklahoma, Austin Grant, Jr. and his wife Vera of Cushing, Oklahoma, daughter Lisa Grant and her wife Ann of Duncan, Oklahoma, daughter-in-law Dodie Kent of Van Nuys, California, grandchildren Della Grant, Cassandra Kent and Vanessa Kent, great-grandchildren Joseph Grant Soutter, Sherry Jo Soutter, Stephen Soutter and Micah Littlecrow, adopted daughter Mariana Tosca of Los Angeles, CA, publicist Lani Carmichael of Los Angeles, California, and adopted family Rick, Heather and Chayton Mora of Scottsdale, Arizona.

Saginaw was preceded in death by his mother and father, Sarah and Austin, son Robert Benjamin Kent, sister Stella Wilson, and nephews Jeff rey Wilson and J. Paul Wilson.

A memorial service is being arranged in Los Angeles through Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills. Traditional tribal services will be held at the Sac and Fox Nation Community Center Friday, August 13, 2021 at 7:00 pm in Stroud, Oklahoma, under the direction of Parks Brothers Funeral Service. His burial and fi nal resting place will be at the Sac and Fox Tribal Cemetery in Stroud, Oklahoma which will take place Saturday morning.

Condolences may be off ered online at www.ForestLawn.com and www.ParksBrothers.net.