15 Facts About George Manuel

George Manuel, OC was an Indigenous leader in Canada.

Maria later married Louie Manuel, and George took his stepfather's last name.

George Manuel was first educated at the Kamloops Indian Residential School.

George Manuel became involved in indigenous politics and his increasing responsibilities strained his marriage.

George Manuel was elected chief of the Neskonlith Indian Band.

In 1959, following the death of his mentor Andy Paull, George Manuel was elected head of the North American Indian Brotherhood.

George Manuel next worked for the Alberta Brotherhood, which represented indigenous peoples in the province.

Cardinal encouraged George Manuel to run for national chief of the newly created National Indian Brotherhood, a body that would represent almost 250,000 'status Indians' in Canada.

George Manuel served as its first national chief from 1970 to 1976.

In 1975 George Manuel helped found and was elected as the president of the World Council of Indigenous Peoples, serving in this position until 1981.

George Manuel wrote a book, The Fourth World: An Indian Reality, expanding on this idea, co-written with Michael Posluns; it was published in 1975.

George Manuel was President of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs from 1979 to 1981, where he continued to inspire indigenous action.

George Manuel developed the Aboriginal Rights Position Paper and organized what came to be regarded as one of the UBCIC's most ambitious projects: the Indian Constitutional Express.

George Manuel's younger daughter Doreen Manuel is a film maker.

In 2023, Canada Post announced that George Manuel will be one of three people, alongside Nellie Cournoyea and Thelma Chalifoux, honoured as indigenous pioneers on new postage stamps.