Ovide Mercredi
Encyclopedia
Ovide William Mercredi, OM
(born January 30, 1946) is an Aboriginal Canadian
politician
. He is Cree
and a former National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations
.
Mercredi attended the University of Manitoba
and graduated with a degree in Law in 1977. While a student he became President of the first Native Students’ Association formed in Canada. He was elected Regional Chief of the Assembly of First Nations for Manitoba
in 1989. Mercredi had specialized in constitutional law, and became a key strategist for the Assembly during the time of the Meech Lake Accord
constitutional reform discussions. He also had a strong leadership role in resolving the Oka Crisis
.
Mercredi was elected as National Chief for the Assembly of First Nations, the national political body representing over 600 First Nation Chiefs across Canada. During his first term, Mercredi played a major role in the Charlottetown Accord
constitutional discussions. He was re-elected as National Chief in 1994, and served until 1997. As National Chief, Mercredi addressed the United Nations
in both Geneva
and New York
. He also led a Canadian delegation to the troubled area of the Mexican state of Chiapas
.
In addition to serving as a lawyer and politician, Mercredi is a noted author. He co-wrote, with Justice Mary Ellen Turpel Lafond, the 1993 book, In The Rapids: Navigating the Future of First Nations.
Mercredi is an advocate of non-violent methods for change and he has been nominated by the Government of India
for the Gandhi Peace Prize
. He has also received honorary law degrees from St. Mary's University and Bishop's University
.
In April 2005, Mercredi announced he would challenge Bev Desjarlais
for the New Democratic Party
nomination in the riding of Churchill
for the next federal election
, but he later withdrew his candidacy.
In May 2007 Mercredi along with his fellow Manitoba Chiefs began seeking compensation from Manitoba Telecom Services for every cellphone signal that passes through First Nations land, saying the airspace should be considered a resource like land and water. Mercredi was quoted as saying "When it comes to using airspace, it's like using our water and simply because there's no precedent doesn't mean that it's not the right thing to do."
He is the current chancellor of University College of the North
in northern Manitoba, and delivered his inaugural address at a ceremony on November 6, 2007.
On Friday June 12, 2009, Ovide Mercredi received an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from Athabasca University
.
Mercredi is currently serving his first term as the Chief of the Misipawistik Cree Nation in Manitoba.
Order of Manitoba
The Order of Manitoba is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Manitoba. Instituted in 1999 when Lieutenant Governor Peter M...
(born January 30, 1946) is an Aboriginal Canadian
Aboriginal peoples in Canada
Aboriginal peoples in Canada comprise the First Nations, Inuit and Métis. The descriptors "Indian" and "Eskimo" have fallen into disuse in Canada and are commonly considered pejorative....
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He is Cree
Cree
The Cree are one of the largest groups of First Nations / Native Americans in North America, with 200,000 members living in Canada. In Canada, the major proportion of Cree live north and west of Lake Superior, in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the Northwest Territories, although...
and a former National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations
Assembly of First Nations
The Assembly of First Nations , formerly known as the National Indian Brotherhood, is a body of First Nations leaders in Canada...
.
Mercredi attended the University of Manitoba
University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...
and graduated with a degree in Law in 1977. While a student he became President of the first Native Students’ Association formed in Canada. He was elected Regional Chief of the Assembly of First Nations for Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
in 1989. Mercredi had specialized in constitutional law, and became a key strategist for the Assembly during the time of the Meech Lake Accord
Meech Lake Accord
The Meech Lake Accord was a package of proposed amendments to the Constitution of Canada negotiated in 1987 by Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and ten provincial premiers. It was intended to persuade the government of the Province of Quebec to endorse the 1982 Canadian Constitution and increase...
constitutional reform discussions. He also had a strong leadership role in resolving the Oka Crisis
Oka Crisis
The Oka Crisis was a land dispute between a group of Mohawk people and the town of Oka, Quebec, Canada which began on July 11, 1990 and lasted until September 26, 1990. At least one person died as a result...
.
Mercredi was elected as National Chief for the Assembly of First Nations, the national political body representing over 600 First Nation Chiefs across Canada. During his first term, Mercredi played a major role in the Charlottetown Accord
Charlottetown Accord
The Charlottetown Accord was a package of proposed amendments to the Constitution of Canada, proposed by the Canadian federal and provincial governments in 1992. It was submitted to a public referendum on October 26 of that year, and was defeated.-Background:...
constitutional discussions. He was re-elected as National Chief in 1994, and served until 1997. As National Chief, Mercredi addressed the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
in both Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
and New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He also led a Canadian delegation to the troubled area of the Mexican state of Chiapas
Chiapas
Chiapas officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Chiapas is one of the 31 states that, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 118 municipalities and its capital city is Tuxtla Gutierrez. Other important cites in Chiapas include San Cristóbal de las...
.
In addition to serving as a lawyer and politician, Mercredi is a noted author. He co-wrote, with Justice Mary Ellen Turpel Lafond, the 1993 book, In The Rapids: Navigating the Future of First Nations.
Mercredi is an advocate of non-violent methods for change and he has been nominated by the Government of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
for the Gandhi Peace Prize
Gandhi Peace Prize
The International Gandhi Peace Prize, named after Mahatma Gandhi, is awarded annually by the Government of India.As a tribute to the ideals espoused by Gandhi, the Government of India launched the International Gandhi Peace Prize in 1995 on the occasion of the 125th birth anniversary of Mahatma...
. He has also received honorary law degrees from St. Mary's University and Bishop's University
Bishop's University
Bishop's University is a predominantly undergraduate university in Lennoxville, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada. Bishop's is one of three universities in the province of Quebec that teach primarily in the English language...
.
In April 2005, Mercredi announced he would challenge Bev Desjarlais
Bev Desjarlais
Bev Desjarlais is a retired Canadian politician. She represented Churchill in the Canadian House of Commons from 1997 to 2006, initially as a New Democrat and later as an Independent after losing her party nomination in late 2005...
for the New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
nomination in the riding of Churchill
Churchill (electoral district)
Churchill is a federal electoral district in Manitoba, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1935. It covers northern Manitoba, a vast wilderness area dotted with small municipalities and First Nations reserves...
for the next federal election
Canadian federal election, 2006
The 2006 Canadian federal election was held on January 23, 2006, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 39th Parliament of Canada. The Conservative Party of Canada won the greatest number of seats: 40.3% of seats, or 124 out of 308, up from 99 seats in 2004, and 36.3% of votes:...
, but he later withdrew his candidacy.
In May 2007 Mercredi along with his fellow Manitoba Chiefs began seeking compensation from Manitoba Telecom Services for every cellphone signal that passes through First Nations land, saying the airspace should be considered a resource like land and water. Mercredi was quoted as saying "When it comes to using airspace, it's like using our water and simply because there's no precedent doesn't mean that it's not the right thing to do."
He is the current chancellor of University College of the North
University College of the North
University College of the North is a post-secondary institution located in Northern Manitoba, Canada.UCN has a student body of approximately 2,700 annually, and a staff of approximately 400...
in northern Manitoba, and delivered his inaugural address at a ceremony on November 6, 2007.
On Friday June 12, 2009, Ovide Mercredi received an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from Athabasca University
Athabasca University
Athabasca University is a Canadian university in Athabasca, Alberta. It is an accredited research institution which also offers distance education courses and programs. Courses are offered primarily in English with some French offerings. Each year, 32,000 students attend the university. It offers...
.
Mercredi is currently serving his first term as the Chief of the Misipawistik Cree Nation in Manitoba.