Gary Merasty facts for kids

Gary Merasty was born on September 22, 1964, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He is a Canadian leader and former politician. He served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Liberal Party of Canada in a large area of northern Saskatchewan called Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River.

Before becoming an MP, Gary Merasty was the Grand Chief of the Prince Albert Grand Council two times. He is a member of the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation, which is part of Treaty 6 territory. He made history as the first First Nations person with official status to be elected as an MP in Saskatchewan.

Early Life and Growing Up

Gary Merasty was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in 1964. He grew up in a community called Pelican Narrows, Saskatchewan. His mother, Theresa, and his aunts raised him there.

Becoming a Member of Parliament

Gary Merasty decided to enter federal politics in 2006. In the 2006 Canadian federal election, he ran for the Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River riding. This election was very close!

He won against the person who was already the MP, Jeremy Harrison. On election night, it looked like Merasty won by 106 votes. Jeremy Harrison asked for a recount, which is when votes are counted again. The recount confirmed Merasty's win, but by a smaller difference of 67 votes. An investigation by Elections Canada found that everything was fair.

Working as an MP

As a Member of Parliament, Gary Merasty worked on important issues for Canadians. He was part of several special groups in the House of Commons of Canada, called Standing Committees.

• He worked on the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food, which deals with farming and food.
• He also served on the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development. This committee focuses on issues important to Indigenous peoples and northern communities.
• He was also part of the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities.

Working with the Liberal Party

Within the Liberal Party, Gary Merasty had special roles. He was an associate critic for Indian Affairs. This meant he helped review and comment on government policies related to Indigenous peoples. He was also a Special Advisor for Aboriginal Outreach, helping the party connect with Indigenous communities.

Supporting the Kelowna Accord

On September 29, 2006, Gary Merasty introduced a motion to support something called the Kelowna Accord. This was a plan to improve living conditions and opportunities for Indigenous peoples in Canada. Even though the government at the time did not support it, Merasty's motion passed with a vote of 160 to 113.

Asking for an Apology for Residential Schools

Gary Merasty also played a very important role in getting the Canadian government to apologize for the Canadian residential school system. These schools caused a lot of harm to Indigenous children and families.

He first asked for a formal apology on November 7, 2006. He asked again on March 27, 2007, after a government minister said an apology was not needed.

On May 1, 2007, Merasty brought a motion to the House of Commons. This motion asked the government to apologize for the trauma caused by the residential schools. It highlighted how these schools tried to make Indigenous children forget their culture, language, and heritage. It also mentioned the sad legacy of abuse. After Merasty introduced this motion, the government decided to support it. The apology passed unanimously, meaning every MP voted for it (257-0). This was a very significant moment for Canada.

Leaving Politics

In July 2007, Gary Merasty announced he would leave his role as an MP on August 31, 2007. He decided to work in the private sector, which means working for businesses instead of the government. Soon after, he became a Vice President at Cameco Corporation, a large company. Later, in 2013, he was named president and CEO of Des Nedhe Development.

Awards and Community Work

Gary Merasty has received several awards for his service and leadership:

• In 1996, he received the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation Pelican Narrows Community Service Award.
• In 2006, he was named Eagle Feather News Newsmaker of the Year.
• In 2012, he received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.

He also received the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal in 2004 and the Commemorative Medal for the Centennial of Saskatchewan in 2005. These medals recognized his service to the people of Saskatchewan.

Merasty has also served on the boards of many organizations, helping to guide them. These include:

• Board of Directors for the Northwest Company
• Board of Directors for the Children's Hospital of Saskatchewan (from 2010)
• Board of Directors for the Canada West Foundation (from 2008)
• Chair of Northern Career Quest (from 2008)
• Board of Directors for Enterprise Saskatchewan (2008–2011)
• Chair of the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Association (SIGA) (2000–2005)
• And many other important groups focused on development, aviation, and education for Indigenous communities.

Education

Gary Merasty has a strong educational background. He earned both a Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree in Education from the University of Saskatchewan. In 2007, the University of Saskatchewan recognized him as one of their "100 Alumni of Influence." In 2005, he also received an honorary diploma in Entrepreneurship and Small Business from the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology.

Electoral Record