News
February 12th 2009
Elijah Harper’s campus talk
Last Wednesday, Feb. 5, the university hosted one of Canada’s most renowned indigenous leaders, whose passionate plea for aboriginal rights crushed Canada’s constitutional talks in the ’90s.
Born on a reserve in northern Manitoba, Elijah Harper became chief of his hometown at 29 and entered politics in 1981 as the first Treaty Indian to be elected in provincial politics.
More than 25 years later, Harper is on a national speaking tour. He took the stage at the University of Winnipeg amidst a standing ovation after a brief introduction from old friend and travel companion Paul Chartrand, director of U of W’s Aboriginal Governance Program.
Harper is most well known for the firm, passionate ‘no’ that shattered the Meech Lake Accord talks in 1990, and in doing so galvanized indigenous political action in Canada.
“He’s had such a significant impact on aboriginals across Canada,” said Leigh Brown, a high school teacher and instructor at the U of W.
Harper now keeps busy speaking to students and First Nations People across the country, seeking to inspire hope as an activist for aboriginal rights.
During his talk, Harper didn’t touch or glance at his notes.
“I’d rather talk from the heart, speak what I feel,” he said.
Harper began with his dehumanizing experience in residential schools. He described this period and the pre-1867 government attempts to eliminate aboriginal spirituality as an assault on their very existence.
While Canada’s aboriginals may have more rights now, many of the government policies against them are still alive and well, he said.
Harper feels the federal government should address issues with the chiefs as equals to move towards reconciliation—but so far their actions have been very one-sided.
This past June, Prime Minister Stephen Harper apologized for the wrongs committed against aboriginals and asked for forgiveness. In his talk, Harper likened this to a woman being raped and receiving an apology, while she now has the responsibility of a child.
It is now time for the prime minister to take responsibility, he said.
“The greatness of a people is not measured by money, power, or land… It’s how much you are willing to give and share. The First Nations demonstrated that to the world.”
He also worried about the closed-door approach the current Indian Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission is taking, with government-selected commissioners questioning legal and church authorities.
“The healing needs to take place where they were removed from, the land and the language, rather than the Western philosophy.”
Harper nonetheless holds no grudge against the government.
“In order to speak freely of these things, one must drop the burden.”
He affirms education is the key to proper reconciliation, with the final goal being the involvement of aboriginals everywhere: politics, universities, institutions.
“When I said no, I meant yes. Yes for the recognition and justice of our people,” Harper said.
“That’s how it is with our culture, with the elders,” said Jeanette Myran, an aboriginal student at the University of Manitoba who attended the lecture. “Respect.”
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