Bois Forte Tribal Member Phyllis Mae (Strong) Boshey, (May-may-skoo-waa-beck / Yellow Butterfly), was born on April 7, 1937 on the Nett Lake Reservation in northern Minnesota to Mary (Boness) Chicag and Albert Strong. She passed away on November 4, 2022 peaceably at her home on the Lake Vermilion Reservation.

Dearly loved by so many in her community at the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa for her leadership as a Tribal Council Member, family member and friend as everyone's Grandma and Auntie. One word can describe her: generosity. She was generous with her time, resources, and love. Everyone has a story of how she helped them. In her youth, she lived with her grandparents Rosie Beargrease Strong (descendent of famous dogsledder John Beargrease) and George John Strong at historical "Strongville" in the Nett Lake Village and was the longest living of former Strongville residents. In her 19 years as District II Lake Vermilion Bois Forte Tribal Council Representative, Phyllis was instrumental in Vermilion's first tribal government office and first medical clinic, the development of Fortune Bay Resort Casino, the Wilderness Golf Course, and conceived the idea of the Bois Forte Heritage Center & Museum to come to life, and for her service on the Bois Forte Housing Authority Board. Her early work history included flagging for road construction and skillfully loading taconite pellets into train cars at Minntac.

She enjoyed carrying on cultural traditions such as Jingle Dress dancing at pow wows, beadwork, berry picking, wild ricing, netting, and gardening. She really enjoyed living near the water on the lakeshore and being on the water. Phyllis was a lifelong learner and loved her studies of maps and reading literature on Ojibwe peoples' history and culture to enhance her knowledge of and advocacy for treaty rights.

She was preceded in death by husband Robert Boshey; sisters: Mary Strong and Sara Kochie; brothers: Gerald Chicag, Sr., Faron Chicag, Kenneth Strong Sr, Gaynard Strong; and nephew Carl Dagen.

Phyllis is survived by her brother Rodney Strong; daughters: Denise Pieratos, Lake Vermilion, MN; Carrie Strong, Lake Vermilion, MN; and Cheryl Milbridge, Roseau, MN: 7 grandchildren, and 17 great-grandchildren; and 33 nieces and nephews.

A Traditional Wake will be held on Monday, November 7, 2022 starting at 5:00PM at the Vermilion Wellness Center. The Traditional Service will be held on Tuesday, November 8, 2022 at 10:00AM, also at the Vermilion Wellness Center.