John Boncore

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. In 1975, he was convicted of the murder of prison guard William Quinn during the incident. He was granted clemency by the governor of New York in 1976..

Personal life Boncore was born in Buffalo, New York, to a Mohawk/Cree mother and an Italian-American father.

In 1993, Boncore met Sandra Bruderer, a Cree woman whom he later married, at a First Nations/Native American sovereignty conference in Edmonton. 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. He had intended to defend himself on the basis that Bush was a war criminal and that the RCMP was bound by law to assist him rather than arrest him. The judge in the case had scheduled 3 days for him to present his defence (he had asked for one). He died before he was able to present his defence.

Death On March 13, 2013, Boncore was found dead near his home on the Adams Lake Indian Reserve near Chase, British Columbia. 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.

Films 2005: Deepwater as Joe Littlefeet 2005: Mindless Love as Dr. John 2005: Da Vinci's City Hall (TV Series) as Rocky 2006: Alice, I Think (TV Series) 2006: Men in Trees (TV Series) 2010: The Last Rites of Ransom Pride as John 'Splitting The Sky' Boncore