Thelma Chalifoux facts for kids

Thelma J. Chalifoux (born February 8, 1929 – died September 22, 2017) was an important Canadian teacher and senator. She was known for her strong work helping Métis communities and fighting for fairness for everyone.

About Thelma Chalifoux

Thelma Chalifoux was born in Calgary, Alberta, on February 8, 1929. She was one of five children. Her mother, Helené, helped the family by selling vegetables from their garden. Her father, Paul Villeneuve, had attended a residential school. He worked as a carpenter and farm hand. Thelma studied sociology at Lethbridge Community College. She also took courses in construction at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology.

Thelma was a social justice activist and politician. This means she worked to make things fair for all people. She was very active in the Métis community. She worked for a government group called the Company of Young Canadians. There, she helped communities in northern areas grow. She also worked to get better housing for people.

Thelma helped start the Slave Lake Friendship Centre. This centre helped women who were dealing with domestic abuse. She also strongly supported teaching the Cree language in schools in Northern Alberta.

Besides her community work, Thelma created shows about Métis culture and history. She was the first woman to host a weekly radio show. It was called "Smoke Signals from the Peace" on Peace River's CKYL Radio. She also helped produce a TV series called Our Native Heritage. In 1994, she started her own business. It was called Chalifoux and Associates Educational and Economic Consulting. She also owned a craft and floral design business.

Thelma Chalifoux was chosen to join the Canadian Senate. This happened on November 26, 1997. She was chosen by Prime Minister Jean Chrétien. This made her the first Indigenous woman to serve in the Canadian Senate. She was also the fourth Métis person to join. She stayed in the Senate until 2004. She retired at age 75 and moved back to Alberta. The next year, Alberta Venture magazine named her one of the 50 Greatest Albertans.

After she retired, Thelma started the Michif Cultural and Resource Institute. It is now called Michif Cultural Connections Company. This group works to keep and share the Métis history of Alberta. In 1994, Thelma was the first woman to receive the National Aboriginal Achievement Award. Today, this award is known as the Indspire Award.

Thelma Chalifoux passed away on September 22, 2017. She was 88 years old. She was surrounded by her family.

On May 8, 2018, the Edmonton Public School Board decided to name a new school after her. The Thelma Chalifoux School (for grades 7-9) is in Larkspur.

Working for Métis Communities

Thelma Chalifoux joined the Métis Association in the late 1960s. This was when Métis communities started to become more active locally. When she joined, Thelma worked hard to fix big problems for Métis people. She spoke up to government groups.

She explained that Métis communities often did not have enough social support programs. Many Métis families in Canada struggled to meet their basic needs. Thelma pushed for more affordable housing and food. She also wanted higher financial help for Métis families.

Later, she focused on creating the Welfare Unit. This group investigated complaints about how the Alberta Government Welfare Department treated Métis communities. Her work showed unfair situations. For example, at Fort Chippewa, families did not get enough money. She found cases like a widow raising five children on only $60 a month. Thelma especially wanted to help Métis women who were overlooked by the government. She made sure their voices were heard.

Awards and Special Recognitions

Thelma Chalifoux received many important awards for her work:

• National Aboriginal Achievement Award (1995)
• Métis National Council Lifetime Achievement Award (2014)
• Honorary Doctorate from the University of Toronto (2004). This award was for her strong work helping others.

In 2023, Canada Post announced something special. Thelma Chalifoux will be one of three Indigenous pioneers honored on new postage stamps. The others are George Manuel and Nellie Cournoyea.