November 26, 1998 – December 1, 2022

Jada Nichole Redday was born on November 26, 1998, in Aberdeen, SD, to Desiree Redday and Maurice Redday Jr. Her Dakota name is Canku Topa Win (4 Roads Woman). Jada began her journey to the afterlife on December 1, 2022, in Minneapolis, MN, where she was residing. She is a tribal member of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate (SWO) of the Lake Traverse Reservation, and a member of the Long Hollow District.

Jada graduated high school from Tiospa Zina Tribal School as the Valedictorian of the Class of 2017. Her parents instilled the importance of education into her life at a young age. After one successful, summer semester at the Sisseton-Wahpeton College, Jada was looking to explore the world, so she began a new adventure by enrolling in Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute (SIPI) in Albuquerque, NM. After overcoming the various challenges associated with obtaining a college degree, she graduated with honors in April 2019 and earned an Associate Degree in Applied Sciences with a major in Vision Care. As her loved ones can attest to, she cared deeply about the health and wellbeing of others, which fueled her motivation to major in a health-related field. That determination drove her to pursue a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Dakota (UND) in Grand Forks, ND. While there, she acquired her first home by renting an apartment off-campus. After staying true to herself and putting forth countless hours of sacrifice, she graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor Degree in Public Health Administration in May 2022. She also proudly carried the SWO flag during the commencement ceremony. Although she was very accomplished already as a young woman, getting her bachelor’s degree meant a lot to her and truly was one of her finest and proudest moments of her life. Considering she just celebrated her 24^th birthday, she had so much more life, love, experiences, memories, and accomplishments ahead of her.

Jada held several different jobs during her young life. She started her first job with the SWO Summer Youth Program in the Youth Department. While studying for her Associate Degree at SIPI, she worked part-time in Walmart as a Cashier. She later interned at Indian Health Service in Sisseton, SD, in the Optometry unit. While studying for her bachelor’s degree at UND, she worked part-time at the front desk of LaQuinta Suites. She continued working there over the summer months after graduation until she decided to move to Minneapolis with her mother in the fall to launch her new career. There, she started working with the Indigenous Peoples Task Force in the HIV Awareness Department by serving as the Non-Medical Case Manager. She was so excited to finally start seeing all of her hard work pay off, and grateful that she was in a position to directly help fellow Native Americans. However, she didn’t want to stop there. She had plans and aspirations of enrolling in a graduate degree program in Health Administration to obtain a Master’s degree and eventual PhD to enable and empower her to help even more people live a better, healthier, and more meaningful life.

Jada was a beautiful Dakota winyan (woman) who was a natural artist and expressed herself in so many different ways. She was daring and courageous, not afraid to take chances, or worried about how someone may think or feel about her, which is characteristic of a true artist. She loved music and fashion and her interests spanned across many genres of music and fashion trends. She was so damn fly all the time; a real one in every respect. She was a soft and gentle soul who made lasting relationships wherever she went. She was funny, outgoing, and vivacious, and was the life of the party wherever she was. She loved adventures, traveling the world, trying new things, having new experiences, meeting new people, and just making awesome memories. We will always remember her contagious smile, pretty brown eyes, and caring personality. Her presence in all of our lives will be sorely missed and the countless, lifelong memories will forever be held in our hearts and minds. Although her physical body is gone, her soul is forever…

Jada is preceded in death by her: great grandparents, Roger Cloud, Eugene Gunderson, Henry Redday, Ellen Harris, Charles Bothum, and Helen Canku; Grandma Tika Leith, Uncle Justin Redday Sr., and James Pomani.

A beloved daughter, granddaughter, sister, aunt, niece, cousin, and friend, Jada Nichole Redday unexpectedly and unintentionally left behind many loved ones. She is survived by her: mother, Desiree; father, Maurice Jr.; brothers, Maurice III and Sean; sisters, JaCinda and Marissa; nephews, Maurice IV and Bryson; paternal grandparents, John and Peggy Redday; maternal grandparents, David and Leslie Gunderson; great grandparents, Marcella Haug and Karen Taylor; aunts, Tracy, Catessa, and Tylynn; uncles, Ronald, William, Terrence, Bruce, and David; 1^st cousins, Justin Jr, Sherae, Azailya, Zakahria, Adrianna, Anthony, Mason, Taytum, Talynn, Isaiah, Gerica, Xavier, Peighton, Bentley, William III, Trenton, Masy, Major, and Trey; friends, Brooklyn, Mona, Brad, Kyleigh, Magazu, Jennifer, Maria, Maycee, Taylor, Gracee, Deanna, and so many more relatives and friends.

When you think of Jada, celebrate the good memories you have of her. Remember that life is fragile and short and should be lived to the fullest. Cherish your loved ones and know that none of us are promised tomorrow. She wasn’t here long enough, but the time that she was here she brought so much joy, love, memories, jokes, and purpose to our lives. The family of Ms. Jada Nichole Redday respectfully asks that all of you remember her beautiful spirit, and remember to live life to the fullest and love your loved ones unconditionally and continuously, because life is too short.

“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.” John 11: 25-26