Leadership Archive

In the Treaty Law Schools of 2015 and 2018, the elders late Noel Starblanket of Starblanket Cree Nation and late Vern Bellegarde of Little Black Bear First Nation, attended to speak on their history with early Indian political development in their Saskatchewan and Treaty Four territory.

At the Treaty Law School, Noel told his story on the history of being President of the National Indian Brotherhood that was precursor to today’s Assembly of First Nations. Noel expressed his desire to do his political memoir. Starblanket would pass away in 2019.

Vern told his story of being elected to lead the Prairie Treaty Nations Alliance (PTNA) organization in 1988. As an independent entity, the PTNA would lack the support for its establishment. Today there is still a question of rightful Treaty representation for issues brought to the Canadian government. Bellegarde would pass away in 2023.

These are just two examples of Treaty Indian leadership and the stories that are not told and preserved for our history. There is a critical gap for this history. Where is this space and where are the resources to preserve this? Late Noel Starblanket and late Vern Bellegarde were elders that supported and guided the Treaty Law School and their legacy now is the Leadership Archives.

Director of the Treaty Law School, Dr. Evelyn Poitras, Peepeekisis Cree Nation, joined Mount Royal University and the Bissett School of Business as Assistant Professor in 2024 and is also Chair of the inaugural Indigenous Business and Economic Development Program (IBED) that is funded by the Ptarmigan Foundation. Poitras ongoing research with the Treaty Law School is supported in her work at the Bissett School of Business.

The Mount Royal Media Department will support a gathering of interviews with Treaty Indian Leadership so that their stories and historic accounts may be shared and preserved for the next generations. With a background in video production, Poitras development of Treaty Indian Leadership stories and research may also provide a source of education support materials.