Chief Ovide Mercredi, 1992

dc.date.accessioned	2010-11-26T17:03:26Z
dc.date.available	2010-11-26T17:03:26Z
dc.date.created	1992
dc.date.issued	1992
dc.identifier.other	06.04.0308
dc.identifier.uri	http://library2.smu.ca/xmlui/handle/01/19248
dc.description	b&w photograph
dc.description	Excellent condition
dc.description	Honorary degree recipient Chief Ovide Mercredi, in academic dress, sits at a desk and pauses in his writing. Ovide M. Mercredi was born January 30, 1946. He was born Cree in the northern community of Grand Rapids, Manitoba. He is a graduate from University of Manitoba with a law degree, practiced criminal law and later specialized in constitutional law as an advisor to Manitoba Chiefs. In 2015 he entered Canadian politics and was elected president of the New Democratic Party. In 1989, he was elected Regional Chief of the Assembly of First Nations for Manitoba. He became key strategist for the Assembly during the time of the Meech Lake Accord Constitutional Reform. Additionally, he had a strong leadership role in helping resolve Oka crisis in 1990. Mercredi was elected as National Chief for the Assembly of First Nations in 1991. During his first term, he led negotiations for the First Nations in the Charlottetown Accord. He was Chief of Misipawistik Cree Nation from 2005-2011, councillor for three years after his term as Chief and national spokesperson for Treaties 1-11 from 2006-2014. Mercredi has received honourary degrees from Bishops University, Saint Mary’s University (shown above), University of Lethbridge and Athabaska University as well as the Order of Manitoba in 2005. He co-authored “In the Rapids: Navigating the Future of First Nations” with Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond in 1993 and published a collection of poetry in 2015 called “My Silent Drum”. Today he remains an influential figure for the Indigenous People and is a senior advisor for the Indigenous Leadership Initiative (an organization that strengthens the Indigenous nation in order to protect the Indigenous cultural lands, development of new Indigenous leaders and helping communities become fully respected and equally treated in Canada’s economic and social growth).
dc.description	From External Affairs. A piece of paper is taped to the back, and the following is typed on it: 'Chief Ovide Mercredi putting the finishing touches to his speech before the October 24 [sic] Convocation.' The year '1992' is written on the paper in black pen. The photo appears on page 122 of Saint Mary's University: An Anniverary Portrait by Anne West. A cropped version of it appeared on page 8 of the December 1992 issue of the Saint Mary's University Times.
dc.description.provenance	Made available in DSpace on 2010-11-26T17:03:26Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0	en
dc.format.extent	10 cm x 13 cm
dc.subject.other	People
dc.subject.other	Honourary Degrees
dc.subject.other	Mercredi, Ovide M., 1946-
dc.subject.other	Convocation
dc.title	Chief Ovide Mercredi, 1992
dc.type	Image