Late Metis Nation president honored by state funeral

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More than 800 people turned out to mourn the death of Metis Nation of Alberta president Larry Desmeules at the first ever Metis state funeral.

Desmeules, 53, died of a heart attack in his home in the early hours of Feb. 24.

At the funeral, Manitoba Lt. Gov. Yvon Dumont called Desmeules "a man of decision, commitment and undying loyalty."

Others who paid tribute to Desmeules at the 90-minute service at St. Joseph's Cathedral included Alberta Premier Ralph Klein, former premier Don Getty, Social Services Minister Mike Cardinal and MLA Pearl Calahasen. Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and Constitutional Affairs Minister Joe Clark sent letters expressing sympathy.

"His accomplishments as leader of the Metis Nation of Alberta are many and will most certainly help to prepare the ground for future Metis generations," read Clark's letter.

Desmeules made great strides for the Metis people, serving as president of the Metis Nation since 1987.

He was born in northwestern Ontario and worked on his family's fishing boat as a young man. He went on to become a successful salesman and businessman, settling down in Edmonton.

He was active in Metis and other Aboriginal organizations and he became executive director of the Alberta Native Communications Society in 1971.

While working for the Metis Association, he became founding manager of Metis Urban Housing. In less than three years, the organization acquired 295 hours for Metis families to rent at affordable rates. By the end of 1991, a total of 800 houses and a seniors' complex belonged to Metis Urban Housing.

Desmeules served as an executive member of the Metis National Council and

was instrumental in successfully negotiating the Aboriginal package on constitutional reform. He was a strong supporter of the Charlottetown Accord, encouraging Metis people to vote yes in the Oct. 26, 1992 referendum.

Desmeules was excited by a tripartite agreement signed in September, which brought Metis one step closer to self-government. The deal meant the federal government would be working with Metis for the first time. A key goal was to establish practical methods of achieving self-government and to work towards improved opportunities for Metis in Alberta.

But perhaps his biggest achievement was the Metis Nation accord and framework agreement with the Alberta government, which was signed in 1990. It was the first step towards self-government for Metis on eight settlements and for the 50,000 living in urban areas in Alberta.

Desmeules was asked in early 1993 if he was interested in a Senate seat, but there was no further word on the appointment before his death.

Regena Crowchild, president of the Indian Association of Alberta, said Desmeules "was very dedicated to the Metis people and has been for all his life.

"He certainly provided excellent leadership for the Metis people and they had made such progress."

Doris Ronnenberg, president of the Native Congress of Canada, (the new name for the Native Council of Canada's Alberta wing) worked with Desmeules during the constitutional negotiations.

"He was always very personable - he liked to kid people. There's things that he initiated that bore fruit, and he's to be commended for that," Ronnenberg said.

Desmeules leaves behind his wife, Ann, sons Larry Jr. and Charlie, daughters Cynthia Berolin and Gayle Cardinal, his mother, a sister, five grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.