Edward John facts for kids

Edward John (born July 8, 1949) is an important First Nations leader in Canada. He has worked hard to represent Indigenous people and their rights.

Who is Edward John?

Edward John is a respected leader from the Tl'azt'en Nation in British Columbia. He has held many important roles, from leading his own community to working with the United Nations. He is known for his dedication to improving the lives of First Nations people.

His Early Life and Education

Edward John was born in 1949 in a village called Tachie. This village is part of the Carrier people's traditional territory. His traditional name is 'Ukailch'oh.

He went to several schools, including Lejac Residential School. Later, he studied at the University of Victoria, where he earned a degree in sociology. He then went to the University of British Columbia to study law. After becoming a lawyer in 1979, he worked in Prince George, British Columbia. In 2004, he received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree, which is a special award for his achievements.

A Leader for First Nations

Edward John has spent much of his life working as a leader for First Nations communities.

Working for His Community

From 1974 to 1990, he was an elected Councillor for the Tl'azt'en Nation. He then served as the elected Chief of his Nation from 1990 to 1992. He also led the Carrier-Sekani Tribal Council as Chief from 1984 to 1988. He helped negotiate treaties, which are agreements between First Nations and the government. Because of his service, he was given the special title of Grand Chief of Tl'azt'en Nation.

Edward John is also very good at speaking the Carrier language. He helped start the Yinka Dene Language Institute to keep the language strong. He also played a big part in creating the University of Northern British Columbia.

Representing First Nations Across Canada and the World

Edward John has worked at many levels to represent First Nations. From 1983 to 1987, he was the First Nations representative at important meetings with Canada's leaders about Indigenous rights.

In 1991, he helped create the First Nations Summit. This group represents First Nations in British Columbia during treaty negotiations with the Canadian and provincial governments. He was a member of their leadership team for many years.

From November 2000 to June 2001, he served as the Minister for Children and Families in British Columbia's government. This meant he was in charge of programs and services for children and families in the province. In 2015, he also advised the government on how to improve child welfare for Aboriginal children.

Edward John has also been a key figure in the Assembly of First Nations, a national organization that represents First Nations people across Canada. In 2011, he became the North American Representative to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. This is a global group that works on issues affecting Indigenous people worldwide. He even became the Chair of this forum in 2012, showing his international influence.

In August 2024, he was once again elected Chief of Tl'azt'en Nation.

Awards and Recognition

Edward John has received several awards for his important work. In 2012, he received an Indspire Award for his achievements in politics. He also received another honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Victoria. In 2018, he was honored by the University of British Columbia for his legal career.