The Story of Elijah Harper

1
An eight-year-old boy named Elijah sat in the forest with his grandfather. He lived on a reserve in
Manitoba called Red Sucker Lake. His father was showing him how to make a beaver trap. Elijah
loved spending time on the land. He had learned all about hunting and fishing from his grandfather.

2
One day, a small plane landed on the lake. A white man stepped out. He was sent by the
government. His job was to take Elijah from his grandparents and bring him to a residential school, or
boarding school. Elijah didn’t want to get on the plane, but he had no choice. At that time, First
Nations people didn’t have any rights. They weren’t allowed to vote or be in government. The laws
said that First Nations children had to go to residential school, so they would become more like white
people.

3
Elijah spent the next 10 years in residential school. The teachers cut his hair. They told him that the
things he had learned from his grandfather were the ways of the heathens, or godless people. He
was punished if he tried to speak his own language. During that time, many of his classmates tried to
run away. But they were always caught and brought back.

4
By the time Elijah became an adult, the laws keeping First Nations people out of government had
changed. Elijah had an idea. If he was in government, he could help First Nations people stand up for
their rights. So, in 1981, he ran to be an MLA, or member of the government. He won! He was the
first Aboriginal MLA in the history of Manitoba.

5
Even as an MLA, it was hard to make change. The students who went to the residential schools
didn’t know about their culture anymore. They didn’t feel like they belonged anywhere. They also
had to deal with a lot of racism. Elijah was starting to feel powerless. But his chance to make a
difference was just around the corner.

6
In Ottawa, the prime minister of Canada wanted to pass a bill, or a suggested law. The bill was
supposed to help the country stay united. It said that Canada was created by the English and the
French. It protected French language and culture. But it didn’t say anything about the role of First
Nations people in building Canada. It did nothing to protect First Nations cultures or languages.

7
The prime minister needed all of the MLAs in Manitoba to agree to the bill to make it a law. But
when it was Elijah’s turn to vote, he held up an eagle feather and spoke the word, “No.” He felt that
Canada had a duty to protect First Nations language and culture too. With that, the prime minister’s
bill did not pass.

8
A picture of Elijah holding an eagle feather was soon on the front page of newspapers across the
country. It was a moment that put First Nations issued front and centre in Canadian politics. If the
country wanted to stay united, First Nations rights couldn’t be ignored.

9
Elijah Harper inspired a new wave a First Nations people to take part in politics. He paved the way
for a new generation of indigenous people to fight for their rights with protests like Idle No More.
The Idle No More protest movement was just beginning when he died in 2013. The eagle feather that
was laid to rest the day he died has been picked up once more.

1. Elijah refused to support a bill proposed by the prime minister because __________.
 A.   ?    it didn't protect English and French culture

B.   ?    it didn't protect First Nations culture

C.   ?    it protected English and French culture

D.   ?    it protected First Nations culture and language

2. Which word below is not a synonym for "heathen" (paragraph 3)?

A.   ?    Christian, Muslim or Jew

B.   ?    uncultured person

C.   ?    nonbeliever

D.   ?    pagan

3. What is not true about residential schools?

A. First Nations children didn't have to attend if their families didn't want them to.

B. Students learned how to become heathens.

C.  Long hair was not permitted.

D.  Students who ran away were caught and brought back.

4. Which statement is not true?

A. ven as an MLA, Elijah had difficulty bringing about changes because former
residential students felt lost.

B.   ?    Even as an MLA, Elijah had difficulty bringing about changes because former
residential students didn't listen to him.

C.   ?    Even as an MLA, Elijah had difficulty bringing about changes because former
residential students didn't remember their culture.

D.   ?    Even as an MLA, Elijah had difficulty bringing about changes because former
residential students face a lot of racism.

5. Elijah became an MLA because __________.

A.   ?    he wanted to protect the rights of First Nations people

B.   ?    he wanted to become Manitoba's first Aboriginal MLA

C.   ?    he wanted to teach First Nations culture to other Canadian

6. Which word below is not a synonym for "Aboriginal" (paragraph 4)?

A.   ?    immigrant

B.   ?    native

C.   ?    first people

D.   ?    original

7. Why was Elijah's refusal to support the prime minister so important?

 A.   ?    It was on the front page of newspapers all across Canada.

B.   ?    It raised awareness of First Nations issues in Canada.

C.   ?    It showed everyone that French culture was not very important in Canada.

D.   ?    It showed everyone that French culture was very important in Canada.

8. Which word below is not a synonym of "suggest" (paragraph 6)?

A.   ?    discourage

B.   ?    recommend

C.   ?    offer

D.   ?    propose

9. Elijah went to residential school __________.

A.   ?    to learn to be a heathen
B.   ?    to learn First Nations languages
C.   ?    to learn the ways of white people
D.   ?    to learn more about First Nations culture
10. Elijah Harper was taught how to hunt and fish __________.
A.   ?    by his grandfather
B.   ?    by the residential school he attended
C.   ?    by his father
D.   ?    by his older brother
11. Which word(s) below do not have the same meaning as "pave the way" (paragraph 9)?

A.   ?    slow down
B.   ?    make easier
C.   ?    help
D.   ?    make less difficult
12. Which word below is not a synonym for "duty" (paragraph 7)?

A.   ?    responsibility

B.   ?    obligation

C.   ?    benefit

13. When Elijah left the residential school, he was __________.

A.   ?    18 years old

B.   ?    17 years old
C.   ?    10 years old
D.   ?    19 years old