Elijah Harper like 'loving grandfather'

The humble man who changed history holding an eagle feather and uttering the word 'no' to the Meech Lake Accord recently encouraged Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation to stand strong in the face of substance abuse and dysfunction.

"Harper's most important message was for us to love each other," said Marie Kappo, Elder and Community Action Group (CAG) member, which invited the leader to the northern community. "He said we should help each other and have love in the families the way it was before. Being in residential school we missed out on love," she added.

Harper's visit was a crucial part of the group's action plan to encourage personal, inner heroism amongst members of their community. Formed in spring 2006, the goal of the CAG is to offer families and individuals healing tools towards a healthier existence.

Exuding dignity and strength, Harper touched all he met at Sturgeon Lake, but perhaps it was the children whom he most affected. At the K-12 school Harper talked with small groups, answered questions and made a personal connection. Acting-principal Shelly Hamelin said that the very young children responded to him as they would to a loving grandfather.

The older students had studied Harper's political journey and asked him questions about his career.
"Now the kids are interested in politics," Hamelin said after Harper encouraged students to get their education, work hard and change what they want to change. Hamelin sees the school partnering with the CAG to help turn around those who are young and in crisis.

Born in the isolated community of Red Sucker Lake in northern Manitoba, Harper's grandparents raised him from the trapline to become a Member of Parliament in the Manitoba Legislature. He blocked the adoption of the Meech Lake Accord in 1990, determined to work for better constitutional rights for his Aboriginal people.

Harper told his audience that, having no other children to play with, he sat for hours with his grandparents while they set traps, fished and hunted. They lived simply but did not know they were poor. He attended residential schools and speaks out about the damage they have done to generations.

"An element of disconnectedness exists today. The ability to raise kids is lacking. In residential school we were basically existing, being fed, being educated, civilized to become like (the
dominant society)," he said. "This is what I would call a `generational' curse in the whole nation."
Harper said laws enacted to change the spirituality of a nation changed "how we manifest our relationship with the Creator. We used drums and dance to praise God the Creator but those things were stripped from us. We need that spirituality to have a connection with the environment, community, family, ourselves," he said.

In his community, Harper noted the Elders are passing on and technology has brought undesirable things to the community. Even though the community is small, he sees the gradual, quiet infiltration of drugs.

"Our people are in trouble," said Harper. "We need to instill pride in the children. We are a great people, a great nation. But greatness is not about the money you have, not the power you have, and not the land you have. Greatness is measured by how much you are willing to give, to share," he said. "This community has taken strong action. Something is happening here. That is one of the reasons I am here, I guess," said Harper.

"I believe if we go back to our roots, principles and beliefs we can gain our direction," he said.