Obaijah's Role In Canadian Politics

Elijah was a Canadian politician, an oji-cree aboriginal man from red sucker lake Manitoba. He was the first treaty Indian to be elected in Manitoba to be elected as a provincial politician. He is well known because of the Meech lake accord. He was upset that first nations were not consulted. Meech Lake Accord s meant to recognize Quebec as a distant nation. The Accord would protect French language rights for example. At the time of the Meech Lake Accord, aboriginal people were still not recognized as a founding member of Canada. Elijah Harper was an MLA-member of legislative assembly, his sphere of influence was both on a provincial and federal level. He was elected to represent the people in Rupertsland riding for the NDP-New

The riding where Elijah was elected has a very high aboriginal population. It also had a very high unemployment rate and lots of social concerns with housing, education, and health issues. Elijah ran to be a voice for these issues. He wanted to make things better for his people. Its been 57 years since aboriginal people were given the right to vote in 1981. This means that women were given the right to vote 42 years before aboriginal people. So when Elijah was elected it was only 21 years after Aboriginal people were allowed to participate in Canadian politics. This show discrimination against aboriginal people. They say Elijah Harper was a very humble and powerful leader. He followed traditional beliefs, because he was holding an eagle feather during the Meech Lake Accord. He was the first public figure and has become a legend amongst aboriginal people. He was born on his family’s traditional trap line and when things got difficult he went there to get away from stress. He forced Canadians to understand that aboriginal people were here too. By stopping The Meech Lake Accord had to ask themselves why he did