John Boncore

John Boncore
File:Splitting the Sky-video screen shot.jpg
Native name	Dacajeweiah ("Splitting the Sky")
Born	January 7, 1952 Buffalo, NY
Died	Chase, BC
Nationality	American
Other names	John Pasquale Boncore, John Boncore Hill, John B. Hill, John Hill
Ethnicity	Mohawk, Cree, and Italian
Occupation	Activist and actor
Known for	Participation in the Attica Prison revolt, Gustafsen Lake Standoff, and attempted arrest of George W. Bush

John Boncore (January 7, 1952 – March 12, 2013), also known as John Pasquale Boncore, Dacajeweiah ("Splitting the Sky"), John Boncore Hill, John B. Hill, and John Hill, was a political activist and actor who first garnered media attention for his role in the 1971 Attica Prison revolt in upstate New York.

Personal life

Boncore was born in Buffalo, NY, to a Mohawk/Cree mother and an Italian-American father. His father and eleven co-workers died in 1957 after entering a storage tank at U.S. Rubber without respirators. Boncore's family fell into poverty thereafter and he and five siblings were later sent to foster care after being removed from their mother's care. Boncore was physically abused due to being placed in racist households during his time in foster care and ended up homeless after fighting back against one his oppressive foster parents. At the age of 19, he was sentenced to four years in Attica prison for robbing a store out of desperation and hunger after sleeping on the streets of New York city.

In 1993, Boncore met Sandra Bruderer, a Cree woman whom he later married, at a First Nations/Native American sovereignty conference in Edmonton. In 2001, the two self-published a co-written autobiography of Boncore entitled The Autobiography of Splitting the Sky: From Attica to Gustafsen Lake (ISBN 0-9689365-0-4). Boncore also acted in roles in the TV series Men In Trees, Alice, I Think and Da Vinci's City Hall, and in the films The Last Rites of Ransom Pride (2010) and Deepwater (2005).

Attica and political activities

Boncore was a leader in the Attica Prison revolt. Although 43 people died during the five-day siege, including ten hostages taken by inmates, Boncore was the only person convicted of murder in the aftermath. Despite a legal defense mounted by famed attorney William Kunstler, Boncore was convicted in 1975 by a jury of the murder of prison guard William Quinn, whom he denied attacking as was claimed, and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. However, in 1976, Boncore was granted clemency by New York governor Hugh Carey.

Boncore later joined the American Indian Movement and returned to the media spotlight during the 31-day Gustafsen Lake Standoff by First Nations land claims activists in British Columbia. First Nations people and supporters had come to Gustafsen Lake to hold a Sun Dance on private property there, Boncore was the Sun Dance leader and when an eviction notice was served on the group he called for armed resistance.

In 2009, Boncore was arrested while attempting to make a citizen's arrest of former US president George W. Bush in Calgary, Alberta.

Death

On March 13, 2013, Boncore was found dead near his home on the Adams Lake Indian Reserve near Chase, BC. Media reports indicate he is believed to have died on March 12, 2013, after falling on cement steps and possibly suffering a blow to the head. The coroner's office dismissed foul play before a planned autopsy was conducted. Boncore is survived by Sandra Bruderer, six children, and five grandchildren.

External links

• Introduction to The Autobiography of Splitting the Sky by John Steinbach
• John Boncore at the Internet Movie Database