Donald Kenneth Fairbanks Jr.

Donald Kenneth Fairbanks Jr. "Waasekamig" which means "Shining Earth" a member of the bear clan, passed away unexpectedly on November 7, 2025, in Cass Lake, MN at the age of 45 years.
A wake for Donald will begin on Wednesday November 12, at 5 PM with a 7 PM service at the White Earth Family Center, 217 2nd St NW, Cass Lake, MN. Pallbearers will be Daniel Barrientez, Tommy Bryant, Timothy Goodman, Frederick Desjarlait, Mike Redeagle, Willie Dick, Michael Beaulieu, Anthony Gouge, and Charles Gokey. Honorary Pallbearers will be Krysten Sullivan, Jacqueline Ahmed, Margo Diamond, Adolf Laronge, Patrick Martinson. Roger Diamond Jr., Adam Martin Sr., Chato Gonzales, Joseph Guage, Jason Pettibone Sr., Sam Sargent, and Charles Anderson. The Traditional service will be held on Thursday November 13th at 10 AM. His Spiritual Advisor will be Alan Hardy. Interment will be in the Fairbanks family lot at Ellis Cemetery, Oak Point, MN.
Donald Kenneth Fairbanks Jr. was born on May 28, 1980, in Bemidji, MN, the son of Brenda Louise (Corbine) and Donald K. Fairbanks Sr. He grew up in Lac Courte Oreilles, Wisconsin and spent his summers in Cass Lake, Minnesota. Donald attended school in Hayward and graduated from Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe in 1999. He studied at Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University from 1999 – 2001. Donald moved to Cass Lake where he found his passion to help others. He worked for the Casino, Leech Lake Housing Authority as a Tax Credit Compliance Specialist, and most recently since 1999 worked for the Northwest Indian Community Development Center. Donald helped form the Inigaachige-Ziibi" "River of Cruelty" model curriculum in Bemidji for men in which he named and was very proud of. Donald was proud about helping men returning home from incarceration. He was always willing to step up with helping, offering assistance in whatever he was asked during his time at the Ombishkaa program "Rising up". For those that knew him, he always had a big smile just like his sister Kari. He was always there to help and make sure people were good. Donald would talk at conferences and at prisons. He was always looking for ways to help his fellow man. Donald was a member of the Mideiwin. He was a devout Vikings fan and attended away games in Los Angeles and Miami. Donald was very proud to be a grandpa.
He is survived by his parents Donald and Brenda Louise Fairbanks Sr., His daughter Rayna Abeita, granddaughter Aaleah Abeita, sister Kari Fisherman, brothers LeRoy Fairbanks and Michael Redeagle, aunts, uncles, cousins, many friends and his Fur Babies Shine and Griddy.
He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, LeRoy Fairbanks and Edna Whitefeather, maternal grandparents, Louis "Sonny" and Rita Mae (Dennis) Corbine, aunts, Marilyn Tribble, Lucille Carley, uncles, Dale Fairbanks, Robert Whitefeather, Wayne Corbine Sr. Peter Corbine, cousin Benay Fairbanks, and good friend Diego Sanchez.