Vern Harper
Encyclopedia
Vern Harper is a Canadian First Nations
Cree
Elder
, medicine man
, and Aboriginal
rights
activist. The “Urban Elder” as he calls himself, falsely claims to be a fifth generation grandson of Mistawasis, a hereditary Cree chief, and a sixth generation grandson of Big Bear
.
He is the author of Following The Red Road: The Native People’s Caravan, 1974 (1979).
Status, as recognized by the Correctional Service of Canada
. As such, he provides spiritual services, sweat lodge ceremonies and Traditional counseling to Aboriginal inmates. He also counseled Aboriginal youth offenders.
In 1997, Mr. Harper was the subject of the documentary Urban Elder which chronicled his life and role of community leader and Traditional Elder in an urban setting.
Presently, Mr. Harper serves as Resident Elder at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
(CAMH) in Toronto further promoting the role of First Nations spirituality in the treatment of mental health
and addiction
. In 1974, he was the head of the Communist Party of Canada (CPC).
He resides in Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
.
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
Cree
Cree
The Cree are one of the largest groups of First Nations / Native Americans in North America, with 200,000 members living in Canada. In Canada, the major proportion of Cree live north and west of Lake Superior, in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the Northwest Territories, although...
Elder
Elder (administrative title)
The term Elder is used in several different countries and organizations to indicate a position of authority...
, medicine man
Medicine man
"Medicine man" or "Medicine woman" are English terms used to describe traditional healers and spiritual leaders among Native American and other indigenous or aboriginal peoples...
, and 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....
rights
Rights
Rights are legal, social, or ethical principles of freedom or entitlement; that is, rights are the fundamental normative rules about what is allowed of people or owed to people, according to some legal system, social convention, or ethical theory...
activist. The “Urban Elder” as he calls himself, falsely claims to be a fifth generation grandson of Mistawasis, a hereditary Cree chief, and a sixth generation grandson of Big Bear
Big Bear
Big Bear or Mistahi-maskwa was a Cree leader notable for his involvement in the North-West Rebellion and his subsequent imprisonment.-Early life and leadership:...
.
Political Activism
Following a difficult and traumatic childhood and having later recovered from problems with drugs and alcohol, Harper became politically active as Vice-President of the Ontario Metis and Non-Status Indian Association in 1972. In 1974, with his then-wife, Pauline Shirt Harper (born July 13, 1943, Saddlelake, Alberta) he organized the Native People’s Caravan, a cross Canada trek to raise awareness of broken treaties and grievances against the Canadian government. In 1976, he and his wife founded the Wandering Spirit Survival School of Toronto.He is the author of Following The Red Road: The Native People’s Caravan, 1974 (1979).
Later Life and Career
Mr. Harper is one of a few First Nations Elders with ChaplainChaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
Status, as recognized by the Correctional Service of Canada
Correctional Service of Canada
The Correctional Service of Canada , or CSC, is the Canadian federal government agency responsible for the incarceration and rehabilitation of convicted criminal offenders sentenced to two years or more...
. As such, he provides spiritual services, sweat lodge ceremonies and Traditional counseling to Aboriginal inmates. He also counseled Aboriginal youth offenders.
In 1997, Mr. Harper was the subject of the documentary Urban Elder which chronicled his life and role of community leader and Traditional Elder in an urban setting.
Presently, Mr. Harper serves as Resident Elder at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health is a consortium of mental health clinics at several sites in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its name in French is Centre de toxicomanie et de santé mentale...
(CAMH) in Toronto further promoting the role of First Nations spirituality in the treatment of mental health
Mental health
Mental health describes either a level of cognitive or emotional well-being or an absence of a mental disorder. From perspectives of the discipline of positive psychology or holism mental health may include an individual's ability to enjoy life and procure a balance between life activities and...
and addiction
Substance dependence
The section about substance dependence in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders does not use the word addiction at all. It explains:...
. In 1974, he was the head of the Communist Party of Canada (CPC).
He resides in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
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...
.