By Paul Barnsley
Windspeaker Staff Writer

Georges Erasmus was recognized for a long and varied political career at this year's National Aboriginal Achievement Awards show on March 12.

His most recent high-profile task, as co-chair of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, is still very fresh in the minds of Aboriginal people across Canada, although the hearings ended in 1996 and it has been more than a year since the report was released.

The report of the royal commission was praised by Aboriginal leaders across the country as a viable blueprint that could be followed to reverse the damage done to their communities by more than 100 years of colonialism and assimilation attempts. The report prompted an apology by the government of Canada to Aboriginal people who experienced physical and sexual abuse while attending Indian residential schools, and led to Gathering Strength, the federal government's new action plan to change how it deals with Canada's Aboriginal people.

Erasmus was born in the Dene community of Rae Edzo, N.W.T. on Aug. 8, 1948, one of 12 children. He helped found and was a director of the Tree of Peace Friendship Centre in Yellowknife before becoming president of University Canada North. From there it was on to politics. He became the president of the Dene Nation at the age of 28 and his seven years in that position were highlighted by a successful fight against the potentially disastrous environmental impacts of the proposed Mackenzie Valley and Alaska pipelines to his home territory.

The success in the north propelled Erasmus to the national stage. He was elected as the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations in 1985 and held that position for two three-year terms, eventually succeeded by Ovide Mercredi.

As the AFN grand chief during the Oka confrontation, Erasmus became a national figure who presented many First Nations issues to the mainstream Canadian public. He participated in several first ministers conferences on constitutional reform.

Co-author of the book Drumbeat: Anger and Renewal in Indian Country, the man whose formal education ended upon his graduation from high school, was appointed to the Order of Canada in 1987. He has been awarded honorary doctorates by seven universities, including Queen's, the University of Toronto and the University of Manitoba.

"I was angry. I was frustrated, but I also had lots of energy," he said of his early days in politics. "I thought I had some answers. I was determined to make a difference."

Many Aboriginal leaders believe Erasmus made a difference. He is seen as one of the early leaders in the fight for the recognition of Aboriginal rights. Still several months shy of his 50th birthday, the former AFN leader is seen as an elder statesman in Aboriginal politics.

"It's a wonderful time to be a young Aboriginal person because some of the initial struggles are over," he said, "and we have all kinds of possible careers for young people where they can be first."

The achievement award recipient continues to pursue his political interests, albeit in a less prominent fashion than during his AFN days. He serves on the boards of many organizations and foundations across Canada. Groups dedicated to human rights or environmental issues, such as Energy Probe Research Foundation, the World Wildlife Fund of Canada, Operation Dismantle and others, count Georges Erasmus among their supporters.

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