Georges Erasmus
Encyclopedia
Georges Henry Erasmus, OC
(born August 8, 1948 in Behchoko
, Northwest Territories
) is a Canadian
Aboriginal
politician. He was the national chief of the Assembly of First Nations
from 1985 to 1991.
Erasmus was born in a Dene
community of the Northwest Territories to a family of 12 children. He attended high school in Yellowknife. In 1967, he was a volunteer with the Company of Young Canadians
.
He became president of the Dene Nation in 1974 and while president fought against the proposed Mackenzie Valley Pipeline
.
He was the federal New Democratic Party
candidate in 1979 for Western Arctic
riding.
Erasmus was national chief of the Assembly of First Nations during the Oka Crisis
. After serving two terms as national chief he co-chaired the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples
.
Erasmus has been honoured for his work many times. He was appointed to the Order of Canada
as a member in 1987, and was promoted to officer in 1999. He has also been awarded honorary doctorates by seven Canadian universities, including the University of Toronto
, Queen's University
, and the University of Manitoba
. He was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Western Ontario in June 2006. In 2009 he was awarded the Governor General's Northern Medal
.
As a distinct Dene nation, Erasmus pointed out that they sought to enter into the confederation of Canada as a “recognized entity” with their own self-government over a specific land base. Erasmus points out in this presentation that the Treaties 8 and 11 were agreements entered into on the understanding that they recognized the right of the Dene to govern themselves and from which the Dene nation could live separately but in peaceful coexistence with the non Dene people. Erasmus states, “Clearly these agreements have been broken. Instead of recognition of our national right to self-determination, we have been subjected to over fifty years of colonization, of forced assimilation.” In representing his people on the public stage, Erasmus has pursued the need for negotiation, new agreements, and recognition of Indigenous rights from the Canadian government. At times his frustration towards a noncommittal federal government has shown, and he has had to forewarn the government of potential conflict.
At an early point in his intellectual and political life, Erasmus begins to highlight the importance of de-colonization and how this must be based on collective action. In taking this approach he attempts to highlight the collective capacity of resistance, and challenges the power relations embedded within the language and practice of paternalism, asserting his people’s right to define themselves, and their own needs. Beginning with the Dene declaration, the model of nations coexisting together in an ethical relationship while retaining sovereignty, is highlighted as a central tenet of his people’s position. This is carried on throughout his public interviews and is presented in the RCAP.
In a speech given by Erasmus in 2002, he continues to call for conversation “nation to nation,” as the means upon which to build a “common future”. Importantly, Erasmus proposes that the contemporary focus should move from an emphasis on “Aboriginal Rights to relationship between peoples; from crying needs to vigorous capacity; from individual citizenship to nations within the nation state.” He suggests that the pursuit of seeking recognition of Aboriginal Rights through the Canadian courts should change because “Litgation is no way to build a community.” Erasmus reasserts instead, the importance of treaty making as a way forward to build renewed relationships built on “mutual trust” and a bond “like that of brothers who might have different gifts and follow different paths, but who could be counted on to render assistance to one another in times of need.”
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(born August 8, 1948 in Behchoko
Behchoko, Northwest Territories
Behchokǫ̀ , officially the Tłı̨chǫ Community Government of Behchokǫ̀ is a community in the North Slave Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. Behchokǫ̀ is located on the Yellowknife Highway , on the northwest tip of Great Slave Lake, approximately northwest of Yellowknife...
, Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
) is a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
Aboriginal
Aboriginal peoples in Canada
Aboriginal peoples in Canada comprise the First Nations, Inuit and Métis. The descriptors "Indian" and "Eskimo" have fallen into disuse in Canada and are commonly considered pejorative....
politician. He was the national chief of the Assembly of First Nations
Assembly of First Nations
The Assembly of First Nations , formerly known as the National Indian Brotherhood, is a body of First Nations leaders in Canada...
from 1985 to 1991.
Erasmus was born in a Dene
Dene
The Dene are an aboriginal group of First Nations who live in the northern boreal and Arctic regions of Canada. The Dené speak Northern Athabaskan languages. Dene is the common Athabaskan word for "people" . The term "Dene" has two usages...
community of the Northwest Territories to a family of 12 children. He attended high school in Yellowknife. In 1967, he was a volunteer with the Company of Young Canadians
Company of Young Canadians
The Company of Young Canadians was a short-lived Canadian youth program sponsored by the Canadian federal government, which existed from 1966 to 1977. It was inspired by the U.S...
.
He became president of the Dene Nation in 1974 and while president fought against the proposed Mackenzie Valley Pipeline
Mackenzie Valley Pipeline
The Mackenzie Valley Pipeline is a proposed project to transport natural gas from the Beaufort Sea through Canada's Northwest Territories to tie into gas pipelines in northern Alberta. The project was first proposed in the early 1970s, but was scrapped following an inquiry conducted by Justice...
.
He was the federal New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
candidate in 1979 for Western Arctic
Western Arctic
Western Arctic is a federal electoral district and senate division in Northwest Territories, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1979....
riding.
Erasmus was national chief of the Assembly of First Nations during the Oka Crisis
Oka Crisis
The Oka Crisis was a land dispute between a group of Mohawk people and the town of Oka, Quebec, Canada which began on July 11, 1990 and lasted until September 26, 1990. At least one person died as a result...
. After serving two terms as national chief he co-chaired the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples
Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples
The Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples was a Canadian Royal Commission established in 1991 to address many issues of aboriginal status that had come to light with recent events such as the Oka Crisis and the Meech Lake Accord. The commission culminated in a final report of 4000 pages,...
.
Erasmus has been honoured for his work many times. He was appointed to the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
as a member in 1987, and was promoted to officer in 1999. He has also been awarded honorary doctorates by seven Canadian universities, including the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
, Queen's University
Queen's University
Queen's University, , is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded on 16 October 1841, the university pre-dates the founding of Canada by 26 years. Queen's holds more more than of land throughout Ontario as well as Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England...
, and the University of Manitoba
University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...
. He was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Western Ontario in June 2006. In 2009 he was awarded the Governor General's Northern Medal
Governor General's Northern Medal
The Governor General's Northern Medal was created by Adrienne Clarkson on September 15, 2005, to provide awards to those who serve with distinction in Canada's north.The medal was designed by Cathy Bursey-Sabourin and the design consists of:...
.
Intellectual Contribution to Indigenous Rights
Georges Erasmus is a committed advocate, political leader, and well-respected spokesperson for Indigenous peoples in Canada. In 1976, Erasmus presented to the Berger Inquiry the Dene’s position to the proposed pipeline. This presentation, “We the Dene” gives some initial insight into the intellectual thinking of Erasmus. However, it is important to stress that Erasmus speaks from his location as a member of the Dene and his intellectual thoughts would be influenced by his relationships with his elders and his position within his community. Speaking as one of the Dene, Erasmus outlined the Dene’s assertion of sovereignty.As a distinct Dene nation, Erasmus pointed out that they sought to enter into the confederation of Canada as a “recognized entity” with their own self-government over a specific land base. Erasmus points out in this presentation that the Treaties 8 and 11 were agreements entered into on the understanding that they recognized the right of the Dene to govern themselves and from which the Dene nation could live separately but in peaceful coexistence with the non Dene people. Erasmus states, “Clearly these agreements have been broken. Instead of recognition of our national right to self-determination, we have been subjected to over fifty years of colonization, of forced assimilation.” In representing his people on the public stage, Erasmus has pursued the need for negotiation, new agreements, and recognition of Indigenous rights from the Canadian government. At times his frustration towards a noncommittal federal government has shown, and he has had to forewarn the government of potential conflict.
At an early point in his intellectual and political life, Erasmus begins to highlight the importance of de-colonization and how this must be based on collective action. In taking this approach he attempts to highlight the collective capacity of resistance, and challenges the power relations embedded within the language and practice of paternalism, asserting his people’s right to define themselves, and their own needs. Beginning with the Dene declaration, the model of nations coexisting together in an ethical relationship while retaining sovereignty, is highlighted as a central tenet of his people’s position. This is carried on throughout his public interviews and is presented in the RCAP.
In a speech given by Erasmus in 2002, he continues to call for conversation “nation to nation,” as the means upon which to build a “common future”. Importantly, Erasmus proposes that the contemporary focus should move from an emphasis on “Aboriginal Rights to relationship between peoples; from crying needs to vigorous capacity; from individual citizenship to nations within the nation state.” He suggests that the pursuit of seeking recognition of Aboriginal Rights through the Canadian courts should change because “Litgation is no way to build a community.” Erasmus reasserts instead, the importance of treaty making as a way forward to build renewed relationships built on “mutual trust” and a bond “like that of brothers who might have different gifts and follow different paths, but who could be counted on to render assistance to one another in times of need.”