Dr. Dale Auger
1958– 2008
Dr Dale Auger was a renowned artist whose vibrant acrylic and oil paintings are held in many notable public and private collections around the world. Through his strong, intensely colorful images, he told a story of his ancestors and the Native spiritual life.
Listen to Dr. Augers story below
Senator Thelma Chalifoux
1929– 2017
From the time Thelma Chalifoux was young, she cared for others, including elders in her family. After leaving an abusive marriage in the 1950s, she went back to school to study sociology at the Lethbridge Community College, and construction estimating at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, while working to support her seven children. Since the late 1960s, Chalifoux worked extensively with rural and Aboriginal organizations, and in other forums where she has contributed to the betterment of the Métis and has supported and initiated programs for all Aboriginal people.
Listen to Senator Chalifoux’s story below
Gordon Crowchild
1929– 2015
Gordon Crowchild grew up watching his father compete in the Calgary Stampede Rangeland Derby. It wasn’t long before he entered his first rodeo competition in the boys’ steer-riding event in 1944 and later fulfilled his dream of becoming a chuckwagon driver. In 1955, he experienced an accident that ended his chuckwagon career and almost took his life.
Listen to Gordon’s story below
Maggie Black Kettle
1917 – 2011
Maggie Black Kettle had numerous accomplishment during her life time. Maggie owned a Tipi at the Indian Village in the Calgary Stampede grounds and was well known for her famous Bannock. Maggie named the first white buffalo in Canada “Holy Buffalo” and had numerous roles in movies such as Wild America, Medicine River, and the tv series North of Sixty
Listen to Maggie’s story below
James Gladstone
1887 – 1971
James Gladstone devoted most of his life to the betterment of Indigenous Peoples in Canada and was appointed the country’s first senator with Indian status. In 1960, he had the satisfaction of moving a bill through the Senate that gave federal voting privileges to Indigenous people.
Listen to James story below
Dr. Harold Cardinal
1945 – 2017
Harold Cardinal was barely out of his teen years when he first entered the world of Indian politics. In 1968, at the age of 23, he was elected president of the Indian Association of Alberta, the youngest person ever to hold the position.
Listen to Harold’s story below
Elsie Yanik
1917 – 2016
Elsie began her work as a nurse’s aide in Fort Smith at age 17. She spent 80 years spreading her own kindness as a minister, mentor and volunteer. Her community commitment included terms as president of the Voice of Native Women of Alberta Board, 10 years of service with the Young Offenders Board and work with the Nunee Health Authority in Fort Chipewyan.
Listen to Elsie’s story below
Jenny Flett
1908 – 2009
As a midwife, Jenny travelled by dogsled to women’s homes or teepees. Her only tools were a weighing scale, clean sheets, clamps and two pie tins, which were warmed on the stove or open fire to help with the delivery. When women she cared for could not afford to pay her, she would gladly accept any token such as fish, fur or fruits.
Listen to Jenny’s story below
Jimmy Herman
1940 – 2013
After playing a small part in a CBC television pilot, Herman decided to pursue acting full time. In 1990, he got the life-changing call to appear as Sioux warrior Stone Calf in Kevin Costner’s Academy Award winning film “Dances with Wolves”
Listen to Jimmy’s story below
John Snow
1933 – 2006
John Snow attended residential school until he was 16, then returned home, where he learned to hunt and trap from his father and helped the family out by doing odd jobs. But what he truly wanted to do was to continue his education.
Listen to John’s story below
Victoria Belcourt Callihoo
1861 – 1966
Victoria spent her entire life living in the Lac Ste. Anne area-a life that spanned more than a century. She was five years old when Canada was formed. She was almost 44 when Alberta became a province. She was alive when the first treaties were signed in Western Canada and was there to witness first-hand the decimation of the buffalo herds that had once been the mainstay of her people.
Listen to Victoria’s story below
Marie Smallface-Marule
1944 – 2014
As an educator, Marie was one of the first Aboriginal women to gain a BA in Sociology and Anthropology from the University of Alberta. She was also one of the first Aboriginal women to travel to Africa with CUSO as a volunteer in Community Development and Adult Literacy in Zambia. It was as a result of these travels that she began her quest to work on human rights issues.
Listen to Marie’s story below
