Elementary Student Zone: Biographies
Many and more Aboriginal notables are represented on the Canadian Aboriginal Newspaper site at
http://www.ammsa.com/windspeaker/index.htm. Choose the link “People of Honour.”
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Joseph and Josephine Crowshoe
Joseph is keeper of the Siksika
(Blackfoot) short thunder medicine bundle. Josephine is the keeper of
the Sun Dance medicine bundle. They are the only remaining traditional
Piikani Elders of the Nation. They have worked to preserve their culture
and bridge the gap between the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal People of
Alberta.
Sharon and Shirly Firth
The Firth twins were born in Aklavik, NWT,
but grew up in Inuvik. There they often helped their father with his
trap lines. They learned to ski from Father Mouchet a local priest, and
discovered they had a natural talent for cross-county skiing. In total,
they won a combined 48 Canadian championships.
Chief Dan George
Chief Dan George, a member of the Salish
Band, was born in 1899 in British Columbia. He worked as a dockworker
and logger until he was 60 and was Chief for the Tslieil-Waututh Band.
His acting career began at age 59. In 1970, he was nominated for an
Academy Award for his role in “Little Big Man.”
Elijah Harper
Elijah was the first Treaty First Nations
person elected in Manitoba as a provincial politician. He served as a
member of parliament from 1981 to 1992. Elijah is known for refusing to
support the Meech Lake Accord, as it did not guarantee Aboriginal
rights. His refusal prevented the Accord from becoming law.
Tomson Highway
Tomson Highway is an esteemed playwright,
novelist, and children’s author from Manitoba. Highway holds a Bachelors
degree in Music as well as English. In 1994, he received the Order of
Canada and in 2000, Maclean’s magazine listed him as one of the top 100
most important people in Canada.
Waneek Horn
Waneek Horn is a member of the Kahnawake Mohawk First Nation located
near Montreal, Quebec. She is the daughter of Kahn-tineta Horn, a
notable Mohawk activist, teacher and speaker for First Nations rights.
While in university, Waneek Horn won the title Female Athlete of the
Year three times. Her accomplishments include winning a gold medal at
the 1999 Pan Am Games and participating as co-captain of the water polo
team at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. She has been a part-time as a TV host
for the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network.
Tom Jackson
Tom Jackson was born on the One Arrow Cree
Nation reserve in Saskatchewan and grew up in Alberta. He later moved to
Winnipeg, Manitoba, where he lived as a homeless person. He became a
musical, television, film and stage performer. He is known for his role
in the television series North of 60, and he has been in hundreds of
other productions. He began and starred in the cross-Canada Christmas
benefit The Huron Carole.
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