My Heroes Have Always Been Indians: A Century of Great Indigenous Albertans

Dr. Cora J. Voyageur

Brush Education, Nov 14, 2018 - Biography & Autobiography - 240 pages

In a series of inspirational profiles, Cora Voyageur celebrates 100 remarkable Indigenous Albertans whose achievements have enriched their communities, the province, and the world.

As a child, Cora rarely saw Indigenous individuals represented in her history textbooks or in pop culture. Willie Nelson sang “My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys,” but Cora wondered, where were the heroes who looked like her? She chose the title of her book in response, to help reflect her reality.

In fact, you don’t have to look very hard to find Indigenous Albertans excelling in every field, from the arts to business and everything in between. Cora wrote this book to ensure these heroes receive their proper due.

Some of the individuals in this collection need no introduction, while others are less well known. From past and present and from all walks of life, these 100 Indigenous heroes share talent, passion, and legacies that made a lasting impact.

Read about:

- Douglas Cardinal, the architect whose iconic, flowing designs grace cities across Alberta, across Canada, and in Washington, DC,

- Nellie Carlson, a dedicated activist whose work advanced the cause of Indigenous women and the education of Indigenous children,

- Alex Janvier, whose pioneering work has firmly established him as one of Canada’s greatest artists,

- Moostoos, “The Buffalo,” the spokesperson for the Cree in Treaty 8 talks who fought tirelessly to defend his People’s rights,

- And many more.

Contents

• Introduction: 3
• PART ONE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES OF ALBERTA THEN AND NOW: 6
• PART TWO PROFILES OF INDIGENOUS ALBERTANS: 24
• 1 AatsistaMahkan Running Rabbit: 27
• 2 Anderson Anne: 29
• 3 Auger Dale: 31
• 4 Bad Boy Margaret: 32
• 5 Benson Mel Edward: 34
• 6 Berube Craig: 36
• 7 Big Plume Joseph Lloyd: 38
• 8 Black Kettle Maggie: 40
• 9 Bourassa John: 41
• 10 Bourque Sharon: 43
• 11 Brady James Patrick: 45
• 12 Calahasen Pearl: 47
• 13 Callihoo John: 49
• 14 Callihoo Victoria: 50
• 15 Calliou Brian: 52
• 16 Cardinal Douglas Joseph Henry: 54
• 17 Cardinal Gilbert: 56
• 18 Cardinal Harold: 57
• 19 Cardinal Melvin Mike: 59
• 20 Cardinal Tantoo: 60
• 21 CardinalSchubert Joane Marguerite: 62
• 22 Carlson Nellie Mildred: 63
• 23 Chalifoux Thelma: 65
• 24 Chonkolay Harry Gabriel: 67
• 25 ClarkJones Bertha: 69
• 26 Collins Joan: 70
• 27 Cree Raphael: 72
• 28 CropEared Wolf MakoyiOpistoki: 73
• 29 Crowchild David: 75
• 30 Crowfoot Bert: 76
• 31 Crowshoe Joseph and Josephine: 78
• 32 Crowshoe Lindsay: 80
• 33 Crowshoe Reg: 81
• 34 Cunningham Chester Raymond: 83
• 35 Cunningham Henry: 85
• 36 Daniels Christine: 86
• 37 Decoteau Alexander Wuttunee: 88
• 38 Dickason Olive Patricia: 89
• 39 Dion Joseph Francis: 91
• 40 Donald Bella Georgina: 93
• 41 Eagle Speaker Casey: 95
• 42 Erasmus Peter: 97
• 43 Fedyk Cora: 99
• 44 Fletcher John Thomas: 100
• 45 Fortin Terry: 101
• 46 Fosseneuve Louison Shot: 103
• 47 Freidel Marge: 104
• 48 Garrioch Alfred Campbell: 106
• 49 Genaille Sheila: 107
• 50 Gladstone James Basil: 109
• 51 Gladue Joey Wayne: 110
• 52 Gray Delia: 112
• 53 Guest Jacqueline: 113
• 54 Halfe Louise Bernice Skydancer: 115
• 55 Hope Adrian: 116
• 56 Janvier Alexandre Simeon: 118
• 57 Jobin Louis: 120
• 58 Johnson Connie Beverly: 122
• 59 Kane Margo: 124
• 60 Lafleur Joseph Dollar: 126
• 61 Lewis Willard: 127
• 62 LHirondelle LouisMaurice: 129
• 63 Lightning Albert Buffalo Child: 131
• 64 Little Bear Leroy: 133
• 65 Littlechild George: 134
• 66 Littlechild Jacob Wilton Willie: 136
• 67 Lusty Terry: 138
• 68 Mandamin The Honourable Leonard Stephen Tony: 140
• 69 Margetts Jenny: 142
• 70 McDonald Dorothy: 144
• 71 Moostoos The Buffalo aka Louison Willier: 145
• 72 Norris Malcolm: 147
• 73 Norwest Henry: 149
• 74 Omeniho Melanie: 150
• 75 Ominayak Bernard: 152
• 76 Parenteau Lillian: 154
• 77 Poitras Audrey: 155
• 78 Poitras Jane Ash: 157
• 79 Randle Kenton: 158
• 80 Roberts Jed: 160
• 81 Samson John: 162
• 82 Sewepagaham William Andrew Joseph: 163
• 83 Shot in Both Sides Atsotoah: 165
• 84 Sinclair Samuel: 166
• 85 Smallboy Robert: 168
• 86 Soop Everett: 169
• 87 Souray Sheldon: 171
• 88 StanleyVenne Muriel: 172
• 89 Steinhauer Ralph G: 174
• 90 Supernault Clifford Rodger: 176
• 91 Tailfeathers Gerald: 178
• 92 Three Persons Tom: 179
• 93 Tomkins Peter Jr: 181
• 94 Tuccaro David Gabriel: 183
• 95 Urion Carl: 184
• 96 Vinson Laura: 186
• 97 Voyageur Alice: 187
• 98 Walking Buffalo aka George McLean: 189
• 99 Ward Ken: 190
• 100 Willier Billy: 192
• Appendix A Questionnaire: 193
• Appendix B Introductory Letter to Aboriginal Community: 195
• Appendix C Newspaper Advertisement: 196
• Appendix D First Nations in Alberta: 197
• Notes: 198
• About the Author: 226

About the author

Dr. Cora J. Voyageur is a full professor in the Sociology Department at the University of Calgary, where she has taught for 20 years. Her research interests explore the Indigenous experience in Canada, including leadership, community and economic development, women’s issues, and health. She is a residential school survivor and a member of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation from northern Alberta.

Bibliographic information

• Title: My Heroes Have Always Been Indians: A Century of Great Indigenous Albertans
• Author: Dr. Cora J. Voyageur
• Publisher: Brush Education, 2018
• ISBN: 155059754X, 9781550597547
• Length: 240 pages
• Subjects: Biography & Autobiography / Cultural, Ethnic & Regional / Native American & Aboriginal; Biography & Autobiography / General; History / Americas (North, Central, South, West Indies); History / Native American; Social Science / Ethnic Studies / Native American Studies; Social Science / Indigenous Studies