Harold Cardinal facts for kids
Harold Cardinal (born January 27, 1945 – died June 3, 2005) was an important Cree leader. He was a writer, teacher, and lawyer. He worked hard for the rights of all First Nation people in Canada. He wanted them to be a strong and visible part of the "Canadian mosaic."
Harold Cardinal learned a lot from Cree Elders about First Nations law. He also studied law in universities. He inspired many young Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. He passed away in 2005 at age 60.
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Early Life and School
Harold Cardinal was born in High Prairie, Alberta. His parents were Frank and Agnes Cardinal. He grew up on the Sucker Creek Reserve. He went to high school in Edmonton. Later, he studied sociology at St. Patrick's College in Ottawa.
Leading First Nations
Harold Cardinal started working for change when he was young. In 1966, he became president of the Canadian Indian Youth Council. At just 23 years old in 1968, he was elected leader of the Indian Association of Alberta. He held this role for nine terms. He helped create the National Indian Brotherhood. This group later became the Assembly of First Nations.
He also served as the Chief of his home community, the Sucker Creek Indian Band. In the early 1980s, he was the Vice Chief of the Assembly of First Nations. This was when Canada was changing its Constitution.
In 1984, Cardinal helped start the Prairie Treaty Nations Alliance. This group represented First Nations in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. They worked on issues important to these nations. They especially focused on their treaties with the Canadian government.
Cardinal also tried to enter Canadian federal politics. In 2000, he ran as a candidate for the Liberal Party. He wanted to fight against ideas that pushed for Indigenous people to lose their unique cultures.
The "White Paper" and The Unjust Society
Harold Cardinal became well-known across Canada in the late 1960s. In 1968, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau spoke about Canada being a "just society." But many Indigenous people were upset. This happened when the Minister of Indian Affairs, Jean Chrétien, introduced a "White Paper."
This "White Paper" suggested removing the special legal status of Indigenous people. It wanted to get rid of the Indian Act. It also wanted to transfer control over Indigenous affairs to the provinces. This would have ended the rights Indigenous people had under their treaties. Many saw this as a plan to make Indigenous people lose their culture.
In 1969, Cardinal wrote his first book, The Unjust Society. He wanted to help people understand Indigenous issues. His book was a direct answer to the government's "White Paper." It quickly became a best-seller in Canada. The Unjust Society was very important. It helped convince the Canadian government to stop its "White Paper" policy.
Cardinal also wrote the Indian Association of Alberta's response to the "White Paper." It was called Citizens Plus, or The Red Paper. Cardinal's strong words inspired First Nations across Canada. Because of this, the government completely changed its mind. They started holding meetings with First Nations leaders in the early 1970s.
His second book, The Rebirth of Canada's Indians, came out in 1977. Cardinal used clever writing to show his points. He called Trudeau's "just society" an "unjust society." He turned the "white paper" into a "red paper." He compared the government's actions to a cultural attack.
Harold Cardinal always pushed for big changes. He wanted better policies for Indigenous rights, education, and economic growth. He was a symbol of hope for First Nations people in Canada.
Important Ideas and Legacy
In 1969, Harold Cardinal worked with Indigenous communities and Elders. He strongly questioned the government's power. He fought against The White Paper. His book The Unjust Society helped bring Indigenous voices to the forefront in Canada. He argued that the idea of "equality" was false. This was because it ignored how Canada was formed. It ignored the rights of Indigenous people in treaties.
Cardinal did not just change politics. He also helped redefine how Indigenous and non-Indigenous people relate. He believed in the need for mutual understanding and respect. He said that even though people are different, their dreams can come together.
He was one of the first Indigenous thinkers to say that Indigenous people could keep their traditions. They could also fully take part in modern life. He helped Canadians see Indigenous Elders as wise public figures. He showed that Indigenous knowledge was very valuable. He believed Indigenous scholars should learn traditional knowledge. This would help keep their culture strong.
Professional Roles
In the 1970s, Cardinal was the first Indigenous person to be a regional director general of Indian Affairs. This was a high-ranking government job. His time in this role was short and had some challenges.
In 1984, the chiefs of Treaty 8 asked Cardinal to negotiate an agreement. This was to "renovate" that treaty. The talks did not succeed. After this, Cardinal spent a long time reflecting. He studied a lot with Elders.
Cardinal also worked as a negotiator and advisor for many First Nations. He helped them with land and treaty rights issues. He made important contributions to the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. He also helped the Assembly of First Nations. He always believed that the spirit and meaning of the treaties should guide relations between First Nations and the government.
Law Career
After his political career, Harold Cardinal decided to study law. He was in his 40s. He studied law at the University of Saskatchewan. While there, he also taught as an assistant professor. He earned his master's degree (LLM) from Harvard University. Just days before he passed away in June 2005, he received a Doctorate in Law from the University of British Columbia.
On November 4, 2004, Harold Cardinal became a lawyer in Alberta. This was two months before his 60th birthday.
Other Awards
In 1999, the University of Alberta gave Cardinal an honorary doctor of laws degree. This was for his great achievements in leadership and law.
In 2001, Cardinal received a lifetime achievement award. This was from the National Aboriginal Achievement Award, now called the Indspire Awards.
See also
