THUNDER BAY -- Nishnawbe Aski Nation honoured two former chiefs for their contributions in helping shape the organization and improving the lives of First Nations.
Both former grand chief Frank Beardy and founding grand council Treat 9 vice-president Chris Cromarty were honoured with lifetime achievement awards at the NAN chief’s assembly meeting in Thunder Bay.
The two elders received the plaque, a pin, a ring and a jacket as well as a blessing.
Cromarty retired in 2002 so he could spend time with his wife Annie in Wunnumin Lake First Nation.
Cromarty accomplished much in his life including giving the Declaration of the Rights and Principles of NAN to the Trudeau government in 1977, helping to set up an Indian Friendship Centre in Toronto in the 60s and just before his retirement helped to assist community members with their Employment Insurance benefits.
Cromarty said he was honoured and humbled to receive the recognition for his work and never thought he would be thanks on such a large scale.
“I think I am most proud of setting up the organizations,” he said. “We were just learning to lay the foundations and look after the bread and butter issues. Now 40 years later not only is that looked after, but we’re engaging companies and governments and we’re reclaiming some of the wealth, which should be shared with the rest of Canadians as well as ourselves but equally.
“We may not win all our fights but the effort is there.”
Beardy, on a four-hour leave from the hospital, served his community of Muskrat Dam as chief for three terms and started a pirated radio station in his home community. The Canadian Radio Television Commission refused to issue licenses in the north for the stations.
Beardy went ahead anyway and his radio station eventually grew to become Wawatay Communications.
He was heavily involved in the amalgamation of the Sioux Lookout Hospital in the 1980s and the first First Nation to be an executive assistant to a provincial minister at Queen’s Park when he worked with Minister of Northern Development Rene Fontaine.
Frank became the Leading negotiator for the Nishnawbe Aski Policing Agreement. This led to the organization becoming a stand-alone police service.
Beardy now lives in Thunder Bay with his wife Maggie and have numerous grandchildren and grandchildren.
