Ernie "Big Cat" Stevens Jr.

Ernie L Stevens Jr., a loving son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, and friend, passed away on Friday, September 26, 2025. He gave his life in service to his family, his Nation, and to Indigenous Peoples everywhere. While Ernie was a citizen of the Oneida Nation in Wisconsin, he was known far beyond his home community for his dedication to tribal sovereignty, youth advocacy, and community development.

To the people who knew him, he was someone who always left an event last because he had to stop and talk to everyone. He enjoyed telling a long-winded story but loved hearing stories from others just as much. No matter where he was, he took time to share how proud he was of his children, how much he loved his wife, and how he was shaped by the strong women who raised him: most notably, his mother and grandmother.

From his earliest years, Ernie carried the teachings of his mother's activism. At just 13 years old, he stood alongside members of the American Indian Movement at Wounded Knee, learning what it meant to fight for his people. In his later years, his grandmother would establish a home near Duck Creek in Oneida for her family. It is here that Ernie would build on this homestead and provide a space for everyone to feel welcome. A homestead built on many stories. Born in Los Angeles, California, and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for many years, he enjoyed the hustle and bustle of the big city. But he was most fond of the quiet days playing cribbage in his front yard with his wife.

Ernie earned his Associate's Degree from Haskell Indian Junior College in 1983, alongside his wife. Haskell held a special place in his family's story, as his grandmother, Maria Hinton, had also attended when it was still a boarding school. In time, all five of Ernie and Cheryl's children would follow in their footsteps, each attending Haskell and playing basketball there. Over the years, Ernie could often be found in the stands cheering on the games, giving guest lectures, handing out t-shirts, and showing up in every way possible to support the students. He loved Haskell deeply and often spoke of the mentors who believed in him before he believed in himself.

Ernie earned his Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice from Mount Senario College in 1996, where he was active on the Indian Student Council. During that time, he also served briefly as a Reserve Officer for the Barron County Sheriff's Department. He often spoke of how a kind soul gifted him his officer's belt during a time of need, a gesture he treasured and carried with him throughout his life. While still in northern Wisconsin, Ernie also became the youngest coach in the state, leading both basketball and soccer at UW–Barron. This marked his transition from player to coach, a path that grew into a lifelong commitment, hosting countless basketball camps, funding travel to tournaments, sponsoring jerseys, and supporting student-athletes across the country.

After graduation, Ernie returned home to run the Oneida Outreach Program at the Norbert Hill Center, where community members could earn college credit from Mount Senario College. He reflected on this time often and with pride, remembering how he leaned on community members to serve as educators, expanding access to opportunities that had not always been available. It was during this program that his mother and stepmother formed a lasting friendship, a reminder to him of how education could build bridges within community. With Cheryl's steady encouragement, Ernie later continued his own learning journey, earning a Master's in Management from the University of Phoenix in 2021.

Education did not always come easily to Ernie, but with the steadfast support of his wife and the guidance of dedicated mentors, he persevered and found success. What fueled him most was his passion for athletics: boxing, basketball, football, baseball, and softball, which carried him across the country, earning championships, trophies, and jackets, but most importantly, forging lifelong friendships. His own struggles with academics gave him a deep respect for the power of education, and he became a strong advocate for others to pursue their studies. At the same time, because athletics had been a lifeline during his most challenging times, he committed himself to supporting the athletic journeys of young people throughout Indian Country. This dedication ultimately led him to co-found the Soaring Eagle Foundation, a tribute to the Soaring Eagle Boxing Club and an organization created to help Indigenous youth follow their dreams both on and off the court.

From 1993 to 1999 Ernie served as a councilman for the Oneida Nation Business Committee, where he worked to strengthen economic opportunity and improve services for his community through Self Determination. His leadership quickly extended to the national stage, being nominated and elected as First Vice President for the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) in 1999. In 2000, he was elected Chairman of the Indian Gaming Association (IGA), a position he would hold for 24 years. At the time of his passing he was serving his 13th term, having been reelected in April of 2025. Under his leadership for IGA, Ernest helped guide tribal gaming through unprecedented growth, making tribal government gaming the largest segment of the U.S. gaming industry. The success of gaming meant new schools, better health care, infrastructure, elder services, and youth programs for tribal nations across the country.

Ernest also served on the boards of the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development, the Nike N7 Foundation, Native Forward, the Center for Native American Youth, and the Boys & Girls Club's Native American advisory board. He was inducted into The Boys & Girls Club Alumni Hall of Fame in 2012, the American Gaming Association's Hall of Fame in 2015 and honored by many other organizations for his tireless advocacy. Throughout his career, Ernest worked with countless tribal leaders, members of Congress, and global organizations, but he never forgot who he represented. Whether he was testifying before Congress, addressing a national conference, or sitting in a tribal gym, he carried himself as a warrior for the people.

To Indian Country, he was an advocate, mentor, and friend. At home, he was Cheryl's best friend of 47 years, a devoted father, and a loving grandfather. Of all his titles and responsibilities, being Papa was the role he cherished above all others. To his 20 grandchildren, he leaves behind a legacy of endless love: Nyah, Patricia, MarjaRia, Ernest, Tierra, Brandon Jr, Daniel, Sierra, Marley, Markane, Mason, Lucia, Riddek, Orion, Lennon, Isley, Maria Grace, Luka, Abi, and Quade. Whether he was picking on them, giving them bubble gum, or just settling for a fist bump, they endured his teasing with groans and felt his love with each breath that he was near.

He is survived by the love of his life, Cheryl Rose, his 5 children: Brandon (Ashlee), Ernie III (Stephanie), Margaret, Maria, and Lois (Paul), his siblings: Kelly (Shelly), Toni (Doug), Mike (Tommi), Pam, Jennifer, David, Michelle (Tehassi), and Apache (Brian), and his mother, Marjorie.

He is preceded in death by his grandmother, Maria Hinton, his father, Ernie Stevens Sr, his stepmother, Patricia, his little brother, Coleman, and his beloved German Shepard, Luke.

Ernie Stevens, Jr. was more than a leader; he was family to us all. As we honor his journey, we remember his laughter, his bright presence in every room, his willingness to listen, and his unwavering commitment to our people.

May we continue his work by living out the values he held dear:

Family. Community. Sovereignty.

Family and friends are invited to gather for visitation on Friday, October 3, 2025, from 4:00–8:00 p.m. at the Oneida Nation Elementary School (N7125 Seminary Rd, Oneida, WI). Oneida Hymn Singers at 6:30pm. Visitation will continue on Saturday, October 4, 2025, from 1:00 a.m.–10:00 a.m. at the Oneida Nation Longhouse (W370 Reformatory Rd, Seymour, WI).

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 4, 2025, at the Oneida Nation Longhouse. Burial to follow at Oneida Sacred Burial Grounds Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Soaring Eagle Foundation in support of the newly established Ernie Stevens Jr. Scholarship Fund, inquiries to legacy@soaringeaglefoundation.com