The Reggio journalist and historian Matteo Incerti died at the age of 50. He was in Canada where he was presenting his book ‘The Red Indians who liberated Italy’. Incerti worked as a journalist in the parliamentary group of the 5 Star Movement and was one of the first activists in Emilia. He had arrived in Canada a few days ago, where he would have been hit by an illness that left him no escape.
Giuseppe Conte recalled him with a message on Twitter: “It is with immense pain that I learn of the death of Matteo Incerti, a boy from our community, a friend who has seen the Movement move its steps from the beginning. Dear Matteo, we will always remember you with affection. We cling to the pain of his loved ones. “
A few years ago he was the protagonist of a story that was talked about a lot, both in Europe and in the United States: the story of the American soldier Martin Adler who, during the war, took a photo of three children from Monterenzio in the Bolognese Apennines. Thanks also to the mediation of Incerti Adler was able to track them down, then to meet them.
His latest book told the story of a group of volunteers from Canada’s Native American tribes who signed up as volunteers during the war and many of them fell into our country.
Watch the video – When he brought Martin Adler back to Bologna: the embrace with the three ‘children’ that the soldier saved in 1944
The return of soldier Adler: in Bologna the embrace with the three ‘children’ he saved in 1944
FROM THE ARCHIVE – ALL HISTORY
(Source Ansa)
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He Begins His Spirit Journey from Neyaashiinigming
On the evening of August 12, 2022 I opened the front door of Cozy Cats Bed and Breakfast at Neyaashiinigmiinng to be greeted by the smiling faces of Prin Johnston and Matteo Incerti. My cousin Prin had driven to Toronto International Airport to collect Matteo Incerti. Matteo was an Italian journalist who wrote a book about the Indigenous soldiers’ role in liberating Italy in World War II. His book, entitled “I Pellerossa Che Libarono L’Italia” is scheduled to be available next month in Canada on Amazon International. The book was translated into English by Angela Arnone. The English version will be entitled “The First Nations Who Saved a Nation”.
Matteo was full of energy and enthusiasm as he explained how he was aware of the great sacrifice that the Indigenous soldiers had made during WWII. He knew the names of all the soldiers from our band, the Chippewas of Nawash. Matteo had been communicating with Patrick Lavalley over several years. Patrick had faithfully kept up the correspondence while sharing with our community.
By the time we all retired for the night Matteo found out that Prin was the daughter of Orville Johnston, that Orville’s wife was my birth father’s sister, that I was the niece of Alfred and Joe Mcleod, Leonard and Wilmer Nadjiwon, and the mother of Dallas (Keeshig) Soonias who had played volleyball in Ortona, Italy. He vowed to write about Dallas Soonias travelling to Ortona in his English version of the book.
Matteo also learned that my husband Rodney Soonias, who is Cree, was a friend of Henry Beaudry in Saskatchewan. My husband is from Red Pheasant First Nation which shares a boundary with Mosquito First Nation. Mosquito First Nation was one of the homes of Henry Beaudry during his lifetime. Henry spent many hours visiting Rodney’s parents, Bertha and Frank Soonias, in Red Pheasant. Matteo immediately asked for our contact information so that we could connect again when he went to his next stop in Saskatchewan.
The next morning we awoke to hear Matteo’s exclamations over the beautiful view of Georgian Bay from his breakfast seat at the Cozy Cats BnB. He shared his desire to see a real bear while he was visiting here. He also shared that it was his mother’s birthday. He face-timed his mother at breakfast. We all waved to her and wished her a Happy Birthday.
Later that day Matteo went to a Powow at Saugeen First Nation with Prin. Prin reports that he was happy and full of wonder at what he was experiencing. Prin introduced him to all the particpants at the powwow and told them why he was in Saugeen Ojibway Nation (SON) territory. He posted many photos on facebook!
The next morning his wish was fulfilled. He saw a bear. After breakfast Wendall Nadjiwon, the son of Wilmer Nadjiwon, came to visit with Matteo. During their conversation many new connections continued to be made. Wendall and Matteo walked up the road to see where Matteo could enter the hiking trails which loop through Neyaashiinigmiing. Matteo took one last picture. He and Wendall shared a joke. While he was laughing he fell to the ground. Wendall, who is a firefighter, held him and felt for a pulse. There was none.
Matteo Incerti began his spirit journey while visiting the people who he loved and honoured in his book. He was scheduled to present his story and his book to the whole community on Wednesday August 17, 2022. Instead, the community will gather to honour this wonderful human being with a feast and Indigenous ceremony. We will mourn the loss of such a wonderful bright spirit.
Beverly Keeshig-Soonias