Wayne William Snellgrove, also known as Standing Bear, passed away unexpectedly on July 2, 2026, in Sedona, Arizona at the age of 55.

Born in Saskatchewan, Canada, on April 9, 1971, Wayne was the adopted son of the late Richard and Ann (Durgan) Snellgrove.

Wayne was adopted by the Snellgrove family at the age of three while the family resided in Williamstown, MA. Subsequently, the Snellgroves moved to Cherry Hill, NJ where Wayne become a competitive swimmer.

Wayne joined the local swim team at the age of eight and quickly discovered that water was his superpower. He would go on to set records at every swim club he belonged to including clubs in Fallston, MD, Bowling Green, OH, Danvers, MA, and The Peddie School in Hightstown, NJ. As a sophomore in 1988, the Danvers High School yearbook described him as “perhaps the best swimmer the Northeastern Conference has ever seen.” That year he broke four league records and five school records.

Although a torn rotator cuff sidelined his senior year, he still earned a scholarship to La Salle University where he continued to compete. From there he moved on to Hollywood, Florida where he eventually married and started a family – including a son, Alexander. Wayne served in, and eventually led, the local beach patrol and performed multiple rescues. Despite his pool injuries, he went on to become a two-time National Champion open water swimmer in marathon events (5 km in 1995, 10 km in 1996).

Wayne’s adoption story was eventually revealed to be more complex and painful than his adopted parents were aware of. Originally born in Saskatchewan, Canada, as a member of the Saulteaux Tribe, Wayne was a survivor of the Canadian Sixties Scoop – a program under which child welfare authorities “scooped up” indigenous children from their families and communities for placement in foster homes, from which they would be adopted by white families. Canada would eventually, in 2018, acknowledge the injustice of the program and pay restitution to Wayne and other survivors – but for Wayne, the harm was already done. For years he felt disconnected and like he didn’t belong. At age 32, as chronicled in the Sun Sentinel article “Journey Home” (Sept 21, 2003), he located his birth mother and returned home to his native reservation where he reunited with his first family. He took Standing Bear as his native name and made Saskatchewan his home. Eventually, under the mentorship of elder Grandfather Tony Stonehawk, Wayne became a healer, fire-keeper, advocate for indigenous rights, and a spiritual teacher.

Wayne faced many challenges on his journey home, but he always sought to help others succeed where he had stumbled. He spoke often at prisons and at addiction centers. He quoted, and did his best to live, Gloria Steinem’s words: “The final stage of healing is using what happens to you to help other people.”

Wayne was a founding leader of the ‘We Are the Medicine’ online circle. We are the Medicine continues to meet in support of Wayne’s healing mission under the leadership of Jenny Jones.

Wayne passed while in a loving relationship with Zenka Caro.

He is survived by his brother Thomas of Wakefield, MA and by his son, Alexander, of Sherbrooke, Quebec. Wayne is also survived by birth family from the Fishing Lake First Nation including his mother, Nora Smoke, sisters, Myria Smoke and Sindel Smith, and brothers Sheldon Smoke and Joe Smoke. Wayne was predeceased by his birth father, Robert Kayseas.

Wayne’s funeral will be held in the community of Fishing Lake First Nation, Saskatchewan as soon as practicable . Following indigenous tradition, a Family Feast will take place after the service and the following day, Elders will arrange for a fire to be lit at the burial site every morning for four days.

Wayne was big, funny, soft-spoken, and charming. Animals and small children trusted him instinctively. He loved chocolate chip cookies and told great stories.

He lived a big, brave life: Swimmer, lifeguard, father. World traveler, musician, artist, podcaster, public speaker, and author of four published books. As a social media influencer with tens of thousands of followers, he was a spiritual teacher and guide to many.

He will be deeply missed.