Albert Phoenix

Albert “Boxie” Phoenix, 84, made his final journey Home on Friday, January 13, 2017 from his home on the Barona Indian Reservation, following a brief illness.

Born on July 19, 1932, Boxie was the last baby born on the Capitan Grande Indian Reservation before the Tribe was relocated to the Barona Ranch, now known as the Barona Indian Reservation. Boxie was the longest serving Tribal Council member having served his people for 40 years as Vice Chairman and Councilman. While on the Tribal Council, Boxie also worked for H.G. Fenton and retired after 33 years as a truck driver.

A strong passion for helping his community, Boxie continued to represent the Tribe at the Southern California Tribal Chairmen’s Association, SANDAG, and daily management of the Barona Maintenance Department.

Always guided by the need to preserve the culture and heritage of the Barona people, Boxie sang and taught Peon. Along with his wife, Joan, he taught Plains style songs and dancing to youth and created the Little Hawks dance troupe. Together they stressed the importance of the Tribe’s language. For years, they worked hard to develop the first dictionary of the Ipaay ‘Aa along with other Barona tribal elders and friends. He is the Founding Father of the Barona Powwow, creator of the CA Powwow circuit, Barona’s spiritual leader, and a key figure in the development of what Barona is today.

Boxie was drafted to the U.S. Army in 1953 and served until 1955, during the Korean conflict, ending his military service achieving the rank of Corporal.

While Boxie was a father, brother, grandfather, uncle to many people, native and non-native, he is survived by his three daughters, Mary Beth Glasco (Edward Glasco), Laurie Whitecloud, Chelena Deer (Clarence Deer), two sons Frank Phoenix (Tawnya Phoenix) and Dennis Grant (Jean Kay), 11 grandkids – Tuchon Phoenix (Cora Phoenix), Daniel “Chedo” Phoenix, Justin Phoenix, Ned Woods (Krystal Woods), Rhyanne Whitecloud, Harrison Whitecloud, Verona Deer, Tara Gover (Phil Gover), Jaye Deer (Lira Deer), Brett Glasco, Jasmine Mulholand, and 10 great grandchildren – Kenidi Phoenix, Tuchon Phoenix II, Kassidi Phoenix, Jaydon Phoenix, Scarlett Woods, Koda Whitecloud, Padme Whitecloud, Che Vasquez, Aidan Gover, and Delilah Gover.

The Barona Indian Reservation will never be the same.

Memorial gifts may be made to the David and Donna Long Center for Cancer Treatment at Sharp Grossmont Hospital, 5555 Grossmont Center Drive, La Mesa, CA 91942, 619-740-4500.

Thursday, January 19, 2017

El Cajon Mortuary

684 S Mollison Ave, El Cajon, CA 92020

Viewing 4:00 pm—7:00 pm

Rosary 7:00 pm—8:00 pm

Friday, January 20, 2017

Barona Mission

1054 Barona Road, Lakeside, CA 92040

Funeral Mass 10:00 am

Lunch to follow at the Golf Events Center