'Quiet dignity' of MP cited in making award

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Elijah Harper really needs no introduction. He's one of the best-known

and most widely respected of Aboriginal Canadians. The parliamentarian

was presented with the National Aboriginal Achievement Award for public

service.

Harper was relatively unknown even 10 years ago. From Red Sucker Lake

First Nation in Manitoba, he became its chief at 29 years of age. In

1981, he was first elected to the Manitoba legislature, where he was to

serve 100 years.

His journey towards fame began with his appointment, in 1986, to the

post of cabinet minister without portfolio responsible for Native

Affairs, In 1987, he became Manitoba's minister of Northern Affairs.

As with others at the awards, Harper was involved in the constitutional

sessions at the end of the 1980s and into the '90s. He blocked passage

of the Meech Lake Constitutional Accord in the Manitoba legislature in

1990, a sole negative vote when unanimous consent was required for

passage.

Eagle feather in hand, Harper cited the lack of adequate participation

by Aboriginal people in Canada's political process-and more specifically

Canada's constitutional process--as his reason for blocking the accord.

His stand exemplified the growing influence and power of First Nations

across Canada.

The next step in Harper's career seemed to be a national profile, when

he was elected in 1993 as Liberal Member of Parliament for the riding of

Churchill, Canada's third largest electoral division. He now sits on

the House standing committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern

Development. He has been unable to do all that might have been expected

of him due to a widely publicized and debilitating illness, which has

plagued the quiet man from Manitoba's north. In recent months, however,

Harper seems to have effected something of a recovery, and he is again

working effectively as one of the few Aboriginal voices within the

political system.

In December last year, he brought 3,000 people together in Hull, Que.,

in a sacred assembly. They met to find a spiritual process for

resolving political problems.

Harper was presented with the National Aboriginal Achievement Award

"for his example and dedication to resolving the political and social

problems of First Nations."

One of three winners in the large public service category, other

nominees included Remy Bastien of Moisie, Que.; Margaret Commodore of

Whitehorse; Jeanette Corbiere-Lavell of Glenburnie, Ont.; Sonny Joe

Cross of Kahanawake, Que.; Billyjo DelLaRonde of Winnipeg and Grant

Dokis of Hanmer Ont. The other winners were the Hon. W. Yvon Dumont and

Grand Chief Phil Fontaine, both of Winnipeg.