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Asin, Carol Jean Nickaboine, age 85 passed away on Thursday, March 27, 2025. Visitation will begin at 6 PM on Sunday, March 30, 2025, at the Baadwewidang (District 1) Community Center on the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Reservation. A Funeral Ceremony will be held at 10 AM on Monday, March 31, 2025, at the Baadwewidang Community Center on the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Reservation with Niibaagaabaw Vincent Merrill officiating. Interment will be in the Little Flower Cemetery next to her beloved husband. Arrangements are with the LeMieur Funeral Home in Onamia. Carol was born on July 8, 1939, in Cloquet, Minnesota to her parents, Mary and James Hanks, Sr. She was united in marriage to Lawrence "Butch" Nickaboine, Sr. on May 16, 1961. The couple lived in Chicago and Minneapolis before settling in the Mille Lacs Reservation. She worked for Nay Ah Shing Schools and Wewinabi Early Education as an Ojibwe language teacher for the majority of her life. It was her priority to encourage the students to dance and learn their language. Asin was very active in the traditional culture of the tribe. She was fourth degree Midewin and Ogichidaakwe on the 3 drums. Through her role she lived the life of a true Ogichidaakwe by helping people through ceremony by making their blankets or offering gifts. She would help anyone who needed it unselfishly. Asin received 2 Lifetime Achievement awards, one from Minnesota Indian Education Association and one from Women Empowering Women in Indigenous Nations.. She co-authored several books of short stories published by the Mille Lacs Band. One was a story about her beloved Siamese cat, Gary written in Ojibwe language which she was quite proud of. She was an avid ceremonial blanket maker and would start preparing every spring and fall. She would gleam showing people her beautiful handiwork. She also made jingle dresses for girls and bells for boys at Nay Ah Shing Schools who needed one. She enjoyed going to ceremonial/annual pow wows at various communities throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin. She enjoyed family camping trips when the children were younger, especially the North Shore and going to Mt. McKay in Thunder Bay for the Powwow. The Family took many road trips throughout the country. In the last few years, she traveled with her daughter Suzanne extensively throughout the United States and traveling as far as England and Italy. Carol had special relationships with all of her grandchildren but none as special as that with Vernon Nickaboine and Marlon Nickaboine, who she and Butch later adopted and raised since infancy. These boys can do no wrong in Carol's eyes. Asin is so loved by the children of the Mille Lacs Reservation that many of them called her Grandma often times making her own grandchildren jokingly upset. Getting a hug from her was a true gift in itself. Carol is survived by her daughters, Suzanne (Daniel) Wise, Ann (Danielle) Nickaboine; sons, Steven Hanks, Larry (Wanda) Nickaboine, Jeff Nickaboine, Paul (Stefanie) Nickaboine, Vernon Nickaboine, Marlon Nickaboine; grandchildren, Kassandra Merrill, Meghan Merrill, Alexandra Merrill, Angelina Wise, Robert Oswaldson, III, Bobbi Sue Oswaldson, Wyatt Oswaldson, Lawrence Nickaboine III, Skylar Nickaboine, Hayleigh Nickaboine, Christopher Weous, Karla Nickaboine, Heather Nickaboine, Jaxin Nickaboine, Kristin, Ricky, Jamie, Chasity, Chance, Dwayne Jr., Samantha; greatgrandchildren, Marcos, Lisa, Liliana, Paislee, Olivia, Ryder, RubyAnna, Peyton, Caroline, Ryder, Robert IV, Eren, Rueben, Samuel, Eli, Brody, Alex; niece, Gladys Sam. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence "Butch" Nickaboine, Sr.; parents, Mary and James Hanks, Sr.; Sons, James Nickaboine, Sr., Vernon Hanks, Sr.; sister, Susan Sam, Jenny Hanks; brothers, Frank Hanks, Jim Hanks, John Hanks; grandchildren,James Nickaboine, Jr.

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Carol Nickaboine

July 8, 1939 - March 27, 2025