Ovide Merredi will be speaking to the Charlottetown Rotary Club on Monday June 24, on the topic "Perfecting Canada:  Justice and Reconciliation with Aboriginal People's."

Mr. Mercredi is a Cree born in the northern community of Grand Rapids in 1946. He  served his community as  Chief of Misipawistik Cree Nation from 2005 to 2011.  He is now a councillor.

 

A graduate of the University of Manitoba with a Law degree he practiced criminal law and later specialized in constitutional law as an advisor to Manitoba Chiefs.  Mercredi has worked tirelessly for the rights of First Nations people throughout Canada. He is known as a First Nations leader that speaks eloquently with great passion and clarity.

In 1989, he was elected Regional Chief of the Assembly of First Nations for Manitoba.  He 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 helping to resolve the Oka Crisis in 1990.

 

Ovide was elected as National Chief for the Assembly of First Nations in 1991.  During his first term he led the negotiations for the First Nations in the Charlottetown Accord.  He was re-elected in 1994 and served as National Chief until 1997. 

 

Ovide is a strong believer in a positive future for all First Nations communities and recognizes the inherent strength and talents of First Nations people.  He has always maintained that his people possess the answers to their needs and aspirations.  To him healing can be accomplished by the simple application of traditional values such as respect and kindness.

 
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