Keith Goulet's life and times

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?Born and raised in Cumberland House. Father Arthur (Archie) Goulet was the first local Co-op store manager. Mother Veronique (nee Carriere) Goulet was a local school board trustee and president of the local Catholic Women's League.

? Attended teachers' college in Ontario and by 1967 was teaching grades 2 to 4 in Aroland, Ont., then Grade 6 from 1969 to 1971 in Moose Factory, Ont. Taught Cree at the University of Saskatchewan from 1972 to 1974, and was the co-ordinator/developer of NORTEP from 1976 to 1979. Principal of La Ronge Region Community College from 1980 to 1983, and CEO of the Gabriel Dumont Institute/SUNTEP (Saskatchewan Urban Native Teacher Education Program) in 1984 and 1985.

? Received his bachelor of education degree in 1974 and his master's of education in 1986.

? Entered politics in 1986 as a member of the opposition under Allan Blakeney.

? In 1987, was one of three Saskatchewan MLAs to vote against the Meech Lake Accord for its lack of inclusion of Aboriginal people and the formal rigidity of the veto to each province.

? In 1992, a year after the NDP formed a government under Roy Romanow, Goulet was appointed to cabinet, becoming the first Aboriginal cabinet member in Saskatchewan's history. Became provincial secretary and minister responsible for SGI.

?Also in 1992, became involved with the constitutional process that led to the proposed Charlottetown Accord. Chaired the constitutional hearings in Saskatchewan, and supported the accord because of its inclusion of First Nations people and Quebec, as well as its first-time -ever provision for modern Aboriginal culture, language, economics and environmental issues.

? Advocate for the settlement of treaty land entitlement (TLE) in Saskatchewan, an NDP election promise. Within six months of the election, an agreement was signed which led to a major settlement of around two million acres.

? In 1996, travelled with 12 northern trappers and veterans to Europe to talk about the role of Canadians in achieving European liberation during the Second World War, and about the problems with European opposition to trapping wild animals. Through negotiations, reached a deal wherein leghold traps would not be used on the ground, but could be used in or near water as drowning sets.

? Helped establish Multi-Party Training Plans in the mining sector. These agreements between governments, First Nations and industry assisted in nearly doubling northern participation in the mining workforce.

? Helped give northerners more control over their own resources and opportunities, through the establishment of environmental quality committees, co-management boards, Community-based Regional Economic Development Organizations (CREDOs) and the Interim Northern Development Board.