Indigenous Role Model:

Comparison Report
GED 135 Personal Success: Indigenous Perspectives

Submitted by: Christine Dobson

Frederick Rickard Sr. Okimah (leader)

Elder of Moose Cree First Nation

Elijah Harper Chief (leader)

Member of Red Sucker Lake First Nation

Both of these leaders had a strong sense of community.

Their concept stems from land based culture where
traditional practices are highly regarded amongst
Indigenous people. An important theme for Indigenous
people is the idea of community. This community
extends beyond the human to encompass everything in
the animate and inanimate realms. The individual is
constantly reminded that he is part of the whole, not any
more important than any creature around him. The
radical sense of community requires respect and concern
with the time when every being was an integral part of
the community.

Indigenous Leaders
Frederick Rickard Sr. & Elijah Harper

Both these leaders demonstrated their strong traditional and

spiritual knowledge of their cultures through the importance of
community.

Their views of community was not only the place they lived but
all aspects of their lives and encompassed all First Nations in
Canada.

Their traditional values, beliefs and behaviours united the

Indigenous peoples.

Through colonization they still maintained their identity and

have a clear sense of what is important to them, and creating
change to make a difference.

Both demonstrated confidence and leadership and strive for

bigger and better objectives for their people.

Indigenous Leaders

Frederick Rickard Sr.

Moose Cree First Nation

Elijah Harper
Red Sucker Lake First Nation

Frederick Rickard Sr.

January 2, 1925 February 17, 2015

Cree traditional leader (Okimah) and storyteller

Born at familys hunting grounds in Mishacabi, James Bay Area

Youngest of six siblings

Attended day school till Grade 2 and returned to hunting camp

with family.

Trapper for many years and taught others in the community

Guide for hunting camps (Fall Migratory Bird Season)

Ran taxi service by boat during the summer months

Strong traditional practices and harvesting off the land

Strong belief in taking what you need only and giving thanks

Strong spiritual belief that everything in our world had a spirit

i.e., water, animals, plants, wind, sun etc.

Frederick Rickard Sr.

Cree from Moose Cree First Nation

National Film Board Documentary Okimah -1998

The Winter Chill 2006 (short film from his role as

storyteller)

Along with his wife fostered a lot of children

Father to 9 children of his own

Frederick Rickard Sr. was a well respected member of

his community, he continued to practice the
traditional and spiritual ways of the Swampy Cree's
as taught to him by his parents and extended family.

His mother was the traditional healer of the

community and carried out the role as midwife.

Frederick Rickard Sr.

Cree of Moose Cree First Nation

As a leader he was also a storyteller and an example

is the short film entitled The Winter Chill

Frederick also had artistic abilities in making

handmade snowshoes, craving with wood and soap
stone, flutes from trees that he could play, designing
and making leather belts, traditional preparing
moose hide for use in snowshoes or tanning for
moccasins.

He also taught his children which traditional

medicines were used by his mother along with what
berries are good to eat.

The documentary film Okimah defines his role in the

community as leader and teacher.

Frederick Rickard Sr.

Cree of Moose Cree First Nation

Stressed the importance of providing leadership within the

hunting community and providing customary rules for exploiting
the resource base through his own life experiences and
observations plus teachings from his parents/siblings.

The hunting excursions are not only about harvesting but also
about the need to respect the land and animals.

Demonstrated his role as knowledge keeper and the importance

for future generations to learn and not forget our traditional
ways.

His sense of community and that religion is not about

supernatural beings, but rather about beliefs and practices which
are the collective representation of society and groups;
god=social=human; power of god over man is really power of the
group over the individual. An important theme for aboriginal
people is the idea of community.

Elijah Harper
March 3, 1949 May 17, 2013

Oji-Cree politician, consultant and policy analyst

Studied at the University of Manitoba and began his long career in

public service

Elected chief of his community at the age of 29

1981 elected NDP member of the Member of Legislative Assembly

(MLA) -11 years

First aboriginal member to serve an MLA

1990 , Opposition to the Meech Lake Accord

1993 1997 , served as Minister of Northern Affairs

1998 Commissioner for the Indian Claims Commission (term)

Numerous awards and Honours:

Canadian Press Newsmaker of the Year (1990)

Elijah Harper
Oji-Cree from Red Sucker Lake First Nation

Stanley Knowles Humanitarian Award 1990

Honorary Chief for Life, Red Sucker Lake First Nation

National Aboriginal Achievement Award 1996

Award of Merit, Canadian Institute for Conflict

Resolution, Saint Paul University 1998

Order of Manitoba 2010

Honorary Doctor of Laws, University of Winnipeg 2011

Honorary Doctor of Laws, Carleton University 2012

Elijah Harper rose to national recognition for his

opposition to the Meech Lake Accord

Elijah Harper
Oji-Cree of Red Sucker Lake First Nation

Mr. Harper caused delays by voting NO to the Meech Lake

Accord, he acknowledged that First Nations had not been consulted
or recognized in the constitutional discussions.

Strong advocate for indigenous and human rights

His work took him international to places such as Great Britain, the
International Court of Justice at the Hague, the European
Parliament in France, South Africa, Brazil and Chile.

Mr. Harper called for a Sacred Assembly for promoting Aboriginal

Justice through spiritual and healing between non and aboriginal
peoples. This was successful and represented elders, women,
youth, political and spiritual leaders in all faiths. As a result the
Canadian government declared June 21st as National Aboriginal
Day to recognize Aboriginal people in Canada.

Indigenous Leaders
Conclusions
Frederick Rickard Sr.

sense of community in his

environment

Elijah Harper

Sense of community in his

role and referring to all
First Nations in Canada

Strong advocate for

indigenous and human
rights

Strong traditional values,

beliefs and practices

Knowledge keeper/teacher

Storyteller

Important of passing
knowledge to future
generations

supported initiatives to
improve the lives of First
Nations Peoples.

Respect and thanks for the

gifts we receive from
mother earth.

Spokesperson of the
Indigenous communities

Respect for other First

Nations and their beliefs

Conclusion:
Frederick and Elijah demonstrated their sense of
community in their own lives and the importance of
recognizing and respecting the Indigenous values and
beliefs. Both showed respect to the land and culture and
held positions that influenced others to listen and
understand. As Indigenous leaders they influenced and
inspired their people to succeed. There is a lot of
unsung leaders in communities that provide these
traditional teachings and they are our Elders.

Questions:
1.

How has the idea of sense of community changed

when people moved from the land to the reserve?

2. How would you define an Indigenous leader?

3. Who are the Indigenous leaders in your community?