Article Origin
Volume
Issue
Year
There were many shakers and movers last year among Alberta’s Aboriginal population. Some of the people listed below were recognized for years of commitment in their profession, while others are still on the move, seeing their efforts recognized with the attention they continue to bring to issues. Of note are the non-Aboriginal organizations or people who have been singled out. They made the list because of the impact they had on the Aboriginal population.
All selections, of course, are subjective.
Canadian National Committee for International Polar Year 2007-2008
Use of traditional knowledge from the Aboriginal populations helped garner the Canadian National Committee for International Polar Year 2007-2008 the 2010 gold medal from the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. “Understanding the traditional knowledge of the northern Aboriginal people allows an opportunity to capacity build stronger community-based monitoring of the environment in the north,” said David Hik, director of the Canadian IPY Secretariat and a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Alberta. “Canada championed the concept of using Aboriginal traditional knowledge,” said Ian Church, chair of the National Committee for IPY, based in Whitehorse. Involving Aboriginal Elders and community members with understanding and assisting the research in their communities was a collaboration that many countries had never experienced before. The next steps include continued analysis of the research data, along with maintaining the monitoring of contaminants, by knowing what and where to look. The research will also be sustained through local Aboriginal populations continuing their monitoring of the northern landscape.
Canadian Taxpayers Association
Chief Harry Sharphead of the Enoch Cree First Nation found himself at the centre of attention when the Canadian Taxpayers Association announced that his salary of $180,000 was the highest of any Alberta chief. The CTF campaigned vigourously for elected band officials’ salaries to be made public, not only to their own band members, but to the general Canadian public as taxpayers pick up the federal portion of the salary. It was an issue the CTF ran with because “we’ve been selected by concerned whistleblowers on reserves right now,” said Scott Hennig, Alberta director with CTF.
The CTF launched the web site www.reservetransparency.ca “. . . to help you know your rights and how to receive information” according to the web site. According to INAC’s website, 2008-2009 figures saw on the national level an average honourarium for chief at $60,000, ranging from $0 (volunteer) to $250,000; and for councillor an average honourarium of $31,000, ranging from $0 to $216,000.
Lewis Cardinal
After coming close to winning a seat on Edmonton Municipal Council in 2007 (losing by less than 200 votes), Lewis Cardinal decided to move to a different playing surface. In June, Cardinal announced he would be running under the New Democratic Party banner in the riding of Edmonton Centre in the next federal election. Cardinal is a Treaty 8 Cree originally from Sucker Creek. At the Nov. 6 Alberta NDP convention in Red Deer unanimous approval of an Indigenous Peoples policy book that incorporates the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was passed. “This is a landmark first in Canada,” said Cardinal, co-chair of the Indigenous Peoples caucus of the NDP. “This policy document is more comprehensive than what any party offers anywhere in Canada. It will ensure NDP social and economic policy is anchored in the unique relationship of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit in Alberta.”
Marie Delorme
Marie Delorme, owner of Calgary-based The Imagination Group, won two awards through the Alberta Business Awards of Distinction, including the Aboriginal Woman Entrepreneur Award of Distinction. Delorme’s company was praised by the Alberta Chamber of Commerce, which facilitates the awards, for its focus on Aboriginal-themed products and services. The Imagination Group offers business consultation expertise to Aboriginal organizations, corporations and governments. Two other companies founded by Delorme concentrate on promoting Aboriginal art and culture. NATION-Imagination distributes promotional and corporate products and gifts created by more than 35 Aboriginal artists and services 200 corporations with its merchandise available at more than 250 retailers. A third company, Authentically Aboriginal, is an online registry to authenticate First Nations works of art, which includes a national certification mark for validity. A member of the Métis Nation, Delorme currently serves on Mount Royal University’s board of governors and holds an advisory post that oversees the institution’s Aboriginal programs. Other activities include co-chairing the Calgary United Way campaign and membership in the International Women’s Forum.
Linda Gadwa
Linda Gadwa, principal at Kehewin school, received the 2010 Canada’s Outstanding Principal award from the National Academy of Principals. She was honoured along with 31 other principals across the country. “I’ve been teaching since 1999 and a principal for the past four years, all at the Kehewin school,” said Gadwa, who is originally from the community located near Bonnyville in northeastern Alberta. “I felt fabulous when I heard I had won the award. It’s very prestigious and I’m honoured.” Gadwa has kept busy with further education, including a post graduate diploma in educational policy studies in 2006 and a masters in education in 2009. Her vision was to hear students in kindergarten to Grade 12 speak their mother tongue, and initiated changes to make the Cree language instruction more meaningful, hiring certified teachers of Cree descent, who spoke the language fluently and were knowledgeable about the culture. In addition, Gadwa initiated a stay-in-school incentive program for high school students, rewarding them with trips to Europe. Eight students, based on their academics, attendance, and an overall positive attitude, get to go. The trip is a way to for them to learn more about other people as well as for the students to promote Aboriginal culture abroad. The entire school gets involved in fund-raising for the trip.
George Poitras
A personal invitation from George Poitras brought Hollywood film maker James Cameron to Fort Chipewyan at the end of September to view tar sands development and the environmental impact. In November 2009, Poitras resigned his position as consultation coordinator with Mikisew Cree First Nation to become a full time activist. His new role took him across the ocean. In May, he was in Oslo, Norway, where he spoke at the general meetings of three large oil companies that are invested in Alberta’s oil sands. In September, Poitras was part of a Canadian First Nations delegation in Washington at the White House. In the summer of 2009, his name was weaved throughout international media when he helped organize a demonstration in Trafalgar Square in London and referred to his campaign as the “bloody oil” tour. “We know the Alberta government has every intention to continue to exploit the tar sands regardless if people are dying from cancers in Fort Chip,” said Poitras.
Frontier Centre for Public Policy
The Calgary-based Frontier Centre for Public Policy released the controversial report Respecting the Seventh Generation: A Voluntary Plan for Relocating Non-Viable Native Reserves. The FCPP’s proposal “call(ed) for Indigenous leaders to engage with community and the government” on discussions for relocating “non-viable” First Nations communities closer to urban centres. FCPP, an independent non-profit organization, was not suggesting that the federal government force First Nations to move, stressed Joe Quesnel, author of the report, but was broaching the topic as a “conversation starter for First Nations.” The report was met unfavourably by such leaders as Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation Chief Allan Adam. Adam said while he would consider his First Nation non-viable, he would not be in favour of moving the entire reserve closer to an urban centre or what he referred to as the mainstream effort to “make First Nations people civilized.” Quesnel defined non-viable reserves as those that don’t have the economic means to grow and develop, and are isolated. However, the report does not identify which First Nations fall within that category.
Duane Good Striker
Duane Good Striker made the move from federal politics (running under the NDP banner for two elections) to municipal politics running for Edmonton city council in October. While his campaign headquarters, a colourful teepee erected near Edmonton’s Rossdale power plant, attracted attention, it didn’t translate into votes. Good Striker placed a distant fifth on a slate of five candidates. Incumbent Ben Henderson was returned by a margin of almost two to one over his closest competitor. Ward 8, which spanned from the university to the Capilano/Gold Bar area, didn’t have a large Aboriginal population, but Good Striker held out hope that he would do well because of the high advanced polling numbers and the amount of phone calls he fielded for issues that were non-Aboriginal. Good Striker has lived in the city for 22 years and is from the Blood First Nation. Edmonton has the second largest urban Aboriginal population in the country and leads the way with the Declaration Strengthening Relationships Between the City of Edmonton and Urban Aboriginal People, which was signed five years ago. However, Good Striker doesn’t believe the document goes far enough. “It means absolutely nothing,” he said. “If you read it, it says the city basically wants to help the Indians but the Indians must answer to the city on direction. So it’s not self-determined. It’s a city entity.” The only Aboriginal person to serve on Edmonton council was Inuit David C. Ward from 1968-1974.
Audrey Poitras
Audrey Poitras, president of the Métis Nation of Alberta, capped an eventful year by being recognized with a National Aboriginal Achievement Award for 15 years of fighting for Métis rights. Said Poitras of winning the award in the category of politics, “I just know we have so many Aboriginal people who have done such awesome work that it’s a great honour that I’m acknowledged for my time.” The year was filled with ups and downs for Poitras. Her campaign to have membership buy into the new concept of Métis citizenship was dealt two severe blows when special resolutions were voted down by membership. As well, she joined over 50 other Métis in Medicine Hat Provincial Court to hear a judge admonish the MNA for proceeding with a criminal case instead of a civil case when fighting for Métis harvesting rights. Poitras was “very disappointed” with the judge’s decision but vowed to take the battle to the next step. The MNA is also active in a trying to gain intervener status in a Métis membership case that has gone all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada.
- 1627 views