First Nations leader Elijah Harper passes

Revered First Nations leader Elijah Harper has passed away.
Harper died on May 17 of a heart attack. He was 64.
His wife, Anita Olsen Harper, children and the Harper family issued the following statement:
“Elijah was a wonderful man, father, partner. He was a true leader and visionary in every sense of the word. He will have a place in Canadian history, forever, for his devotion to public service and uniting his fellow First Nations with pride, determination and resolve.Elijah will also be remembered for bringing Aboriginal and non‐Aboriginal people together to find a spiritual basis for healing and understanding. We will miss him terribly and love him forever.”
Harper, of Red Sucker Lake First Nation in Manitoba, became the first Aboriginal person to serve in a provincial parliament when he was elected a Manitoba MLA in 1981.
He served in the Manitoba legislature until 1992. During that time he held the cabinet portfolio of minister of Northern Affairs for two years, from 1986 to 1988, in the NDP government of Howard Pawley.
Harper received national attention in 1990 when he stood in the Manitoba legislature and refused to accept the Meech Lake Accord for its lack of consultation with First Nations.
Consequently Manitoba was unable to pass the accord, which served as the beginning of the end of the Meech Lake Accord in Canada.
That year Harper was named “Newsmaker of the year” by the Canadian Press and given the title of Honourary Chief for Life by the Red Sucker Lake First Nation.
In 1993 Harper was elected to the federal government in the northern Manitoba riding of Churchill as a Liberal. He served one term as a federal politician.
Condolences poured in from First Nations leaders and non-Aboriginal leaders following Harper’s death.
Ontario Regional Chief Stan Beardy said the best way to honour Harper’s legacy is to continue fighting for First Nations rights.
“Elijah Harper was a courageous and committed advocate for Indigenous rights here in Canada but also internationally,” Beardy said. “He will be sorely missed and we will always remember all that he did in advancing and protecting First Nation rights.”
Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Harvey Yesno offered condolences to the Harper family.
“Chief Elijah Harper was a friend, a confidant and a leader who was an inspiration and role model for me,” said Yesno. “The First Nations community have lost a great man who led our people for years, was a champion for Treaty and Aboriginal rights who inspired many, built bridges between the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal worlds and changed the direction of an entire country.”