NISGA’A FRANK ARTHUR CALDER DIED—CANADA’S FIRST ABORIGINAL CABINET MEMBER
Born August 3, 1915, in Nass Harbour, British Columbia (B.C.), Frank attended Univ. of B.C.—its 1st Status Indian student–graduating in 1946. Elected to Parliament in 1949, he worked on a long-standing land claim the Nisga’a had against the province. He served from 1949-56 and 1960-79. In 1972, Calder became the first Indigenous Cabinet minister, responsible for Indian Affairs. He also was president of the North American Indian Brotherhood (1944), organizer for the Native Brotherhood of B.C., and a founder and president of the Nisga’a Tribal Council (1955-73). In that role, he was the named party in his tribe’s landmark suit to obtain title to their lands, Calder v. Attorney General of British Columbia (1967) [see January 31]. Awards and Honors include: Chief of Chiefs of the Nisga’a Clans (1958); First Nations Hall of Fame (1967); Aboriginal Order of Canada (1985); Officer of the Order of Canada (1988); National Aboriginal Achievement Award (1996); and Order of B.C. (2004). Calder died in Victoria.
Source: Bennett McCardle, “Frank Calder,” Canadian Encyclopedia, 10/15/2007. Retrieved 7/18/2019, https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/frank-calder
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