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Elijah Harper Remembered.... March 3rd, 1949 - May 17th, 2013
Elijah was born on March 3, 1949 at Red Sucker Lake First Nation in northeastern Manitoba. He attended residential school and later studied at the University of Manitoba.
He began a long career in public service when he was elected Chief of his community at the young age of 29.
In 1981, he was elected as Member of the Manitoba Legislative Assembly for Rupertsland, an office he held for 11 years. He was the first elected First Nations person to serve as MLA. In 1996, he was appointed to the Manitoba cabinet as Minister Without Portfolio for Native Affairs, and in 1997, as Minister of Northern Affairs.
He was best known for his historic role in blocking the Meech Lake Accord. Many Canadians will remember the humble, yet, iconic figure, seated in the House of Assembly raising his ever-present eagle feather, refusing unanimous consent of the Manitoba Legislative Assembly. As result, he was recognized as Newsmaker of the Year by the Canadian Press in 1990.
In 1993, Elijah was elected as Member of Parliament for the riding of Churchill. In January 1998, he served a term as Commissioner for the Indian Claims Commission.
Red Sucker Lake First Nation bestowed on him the title of Honourary Chief for Life for his heroic work. He is also the recipient of the Commemorative Medal of Canada, the Stanley Knowles Humanitarian Award, a National Aboriginal Achievement Award, the Order of Merit from St. Paul's University, the Order of the Sash from the Manitoba Métis Federation, and the Gold Eagle Award from the Indigenous Women's Collective in Manitoba. He is also a member of the Order of Manitoba. In recognition for his distinguished leadership in Canada's Aboriginal community, he was also awarded an Honourary Doctorate of Laws from Carleton University and an Honourary Doctorate of Laws from the University of Winnipeg.
Following his active career in public service, Elijah spent much of the rest of his life visiting First Nations, meeting with Indigenous leaders across North America, working with charities, and doing international humanitarian work. Donations in memory of Elijah may be made to the National Aboriginal Circle Against Family Violence P.O. Box 2169, Khanawake, Quebec J0L1B0 (450) 638-2968 or the First Nations Child & Family Caring Society, Suite 401-300 Cooper Street, Ottawa, Ontario K2P 0G5 (613) 230-5885.
Join us here for CBC National dedication Join us here for Elijah Harper Biography
Office of the Treaty Commissioner proudly sponsors:
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Join us here for the full Saskatchewan First Nations Annuity Payment Schedule
Join us here for the 2013 Spring Program and Student Registration
Success of Urban Reserves Presentations to the University of Winnipeg and the University of Manitoba
February 13th, 2013
L-R Muskeg Lake Cree Nation Councillor Harry J. Lafond, Saskatoon Mayor, His Worship Don Atchison and Manitoba Treaty Commissioner James Wilson
Treaty Land Entitlement 20th Anniversary September 22, 1992 - September 22, 2012
3rd Row Left to Right Chief Clarence Stone, Chief Harry Lafond, Chief Richard John, Chief Peter Bill, Chief Gerald Swiftwolfe, Chief Gabriel Gopher, Chief Wayne Standinghorn, Chief Charles Paddy, Chief Frank Iron, Chief Louis George, Chief Ron Michel, Chief Blaine Favel, A/Chief Joe Waskewitch 2nd Row Left to Right Chief Albert Musqus, Chief Albert Pinacie, Chief Denton George, Chief Marie Anne Daywalker-Pelletier, Chief Art Kaiswatum, Chief Rick Gamble, Chief Irvin Starblanket, Chief Hank Neapetung, Chief Richard Gladue, Chief Johnson Kakum, Chief Mike Baptiste, Chief Gordon Oakes. 1st Row Left to Right Senator Bill Standingready, Dr. Lloyd Barber, Honourable Pierre Cadieux, Senator Ernest Mike, Bob MItchell, Premier Roy Romanow, Lieutenant Govenor Sylvia Fedoruk, Chief Roland Crowe, Right Honourable Brian Mulroney, Grand Chief Ovide Mercredi, Honourable Tom Siddon, Honourable Bill McKnight, 1s Vice Chief Dan Bellegarde, Treaty Commissioner Cliff Wright. September 22, 2012 marks the 20th Anniversary of the execution of the Treaty Land Entitlement Framework Agreement (the "Framework Agreement") by Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada ("Canada"), Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Saskatchewan ("Saskatchewan") and twenty-two (22) of the twenty-six (26) Indian Bands in Saskatchewan which had established their claims to receive additional land under an existing Treaty. The right to receive additional land was generally referred to as "outstanding Treaty land entitlement".
The claims of some of the Entitlement Bands had been outstanding for a very significant period of time, some dating back to 1874 when Treaty Number Four was signed. Seven of the twenty-six Entitlement Bands are adherents to Treaty Number Four, seventeen are signatories to Treaty Number Six (signed in 1876), while the remaining two Entitlement Bands are adherents to Treaty Number Ten (signed in 1906).
The Framework Agreement was the result of an intensive and co-operative effort by Canada, Saskatchewan and the FSIN/AEC to resolve the outstanding Treaty land entitlement of 26 Bands in Saskatchewan.
We are all Treaty People (click on link to join us at the We Are All Treaty People Video) Treaties are beneficial to all people in Saskatchewan. They are considered mutually beneficial arrangements that quarantee co-existence between the treaty parties. Newcomers and their decendents benefit from the wealth generated from the land and the foundational rights provided in the treaties. They built their society in the new land where some were looking for political and religious freedoms. Today, there are misconceptions that only First Nations peoples are part to the treaties, but in reality, both parties are part of the treaty. All people in Saskatchewan are treaty people. According to First Nations people's natural laws, all creation lived in balance and harmony..... Treaty Essential Learnings.....page 16 (click on link to join us at the Treaty Essential Learnings section)
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