Harold Cardinal

Who was Harold Cardinal?

Harold Cardinal was a Cree writer, political leader, teacher, negotiator and lawyer.

From the start Cardinal steadfastly demanded, on behalf of all First Nation peoples, the right to be "the red tile in the Canadian mosaic."

Cardinal was a lifelong student of First Nations law as practiced by Cree and other Aboriginal Elders, and this study has been complemented, but in no way supplanted, by extensive study of law in mainstream educational institutions. He was also a generous mentor and inspiration to a very great many Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students, professionals and political leaders.

He died of lung cancer in 2005 at the age of 60.