1. Ovide Mercredi is Cree and a former National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations.
18 Facts About Ovide Mercredi
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Ovide Mercredi is the former president of the Manitoba New Democratic Party.
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Ovide Mercredi was elected Regional Chief of the Assembly of First Nations for Manitoba in 1989.
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Ovide 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.
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Ovide Mercredi had a strong leadership role in resolving the Oka Crisis.
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Ovide Mercredi was elected as National Chief for the Assembly of First Nations, the national political body representing over 600 First Nations chiefs across Canada.
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Ovide Mercredi was re-elected as National Chief in 1994, and served until 1997.
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Ovide Mercredi led a Canadian delegation to the troubled area of the Mexican state of Chiapas.
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Ovide Mercredi co-wrote, with Justice Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, the 1993 book In The Rapids: Navigating the Future of First Nations.
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Ovide Mercredi is an advocate of non-violent methods for change and has been nominated by the Government of India for the Gandhi Peace Prize.
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Ovide Mercredi has received honorary law degrees from Saint Mary's University, Cape Breton University and Bishop's University.
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Ovide Mercredi is the former chancellor of University College of the North in northern Manitoba, and delivered his inaugural address at a ceremony on November 6,2007.
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On June 12,2009, Ovide Mercredi received an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from Athabasca University.
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Ovide Mercredi became Chief of the Misipawistik Cree Nation and served his community from 2005 to 2011.
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In 2012, Ovide Mercredi endorsed Sheila Copps' bid for the presidency of the Liberal Party of Canada.
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In 2013, Ovide Mercredi received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Manitoba.
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Ovide Mercredi was elected president of the Manitoba New Democratic Party on March 7,2015.
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On October 22,2015, Ovide Mercredi launched his book of poetry called My Silent Drum published by Aboriginal Issues Press.