Bermudians with Native American connections are mourning the loss of American Alice Mae Lopez.A member of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and a tireless advocate for the poor and homeless, the 49-year-old died suddenly on New Year’s Day.St David’s Island Native American community chairman Nives Filice was one of six who travelled to Massachusetts for Ms Lopez’ funeral on Saturday.Mrs Filice said the group first met Ms Lopez at a gathering of US East Coast Native tribes. The Wampanoag and the Pequots were among those present, invited by an elder in the Narragansett Tribe, Everett (Tall Oak) Weeden.According to Mrs Filice, the visit got off to a rocky start Tall Oak had Ms Lopez’ landing time wrong and she was stuck at LF Wade International Airport for two hours.“They finally got her and as she sat in [St David’s Island Native American community leader] Brinky Tucker’s house she was quite put out. But then she said, ‘I’ve got to catch myself, because I am here for a reason,’” Mrs Filice said.At every powwow, she taught the local community long-forgotten dances and songs.“Every single powwow she came down,” said Mrs Filice.“And she was planning on coming back in April to teach us more songs, so we’re hurting.”Ms Lopez also vacationed on the Island. She was most recently here for Cup Match and spent time with Mrs Filice’s family.Mrs Filice said she and her friend had shared New Year’s Eve texts.“That was the last communication that I had with her, and it was happy at least.“She had the ability to have really deep friendships with a lot of people, which not many people can have.“And if you talk to people in Bermuda or people in her community, everyone will say, ‘Alice was my best friend’. Not many people share themselves with that many people and she had that ability.”Ms Lopez was able to help many in her tribe and her community through her work as director of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Housing Department, Mrs Filice added.“And she was helpful with us in our community here. She was my sounding board and I went to her for advice on so many things.“She was really, really free spirited. She felt that you just go with how you feel and follow your intuition. She believed in that heavily.”A traditional Native American funeral service was held in Ms Lopez’ honour.“Once they found that she had passed, they lit a fire which [burned] on her front lawn until [after the burial].”As part of that ceremony, mourners offered tobacco prayers in Ms Lopez’ honour.A powwow in Bermuda on June 18 and 19 will be dedicated to her memory.Donations in Ms Lopez’ memory may be made to the Mashpee Wampanoag Housing Department, c/o The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, 483 Great Neck Road South, Mashpee, Massachusetts 02649.