Description
He Moved a Mountain: The Life of Frank Calder and the Nisga'a Land Claims Accord is the biography of the remarkable man, Frank Calder (1915-2006). Dr. Frank Arthur Calder of BC's Nisga'a First Nation was the first Aboriginal person to be elected to any Canadian governing body. For twenty-six years he served as an MLA in the legislature of British Columbia. He was the driving force behind Canada's decision to grant recognition of Aboriginal land title to First Nations people throughout the country. He accomplished this goal by guiding the controversial request through a series of court cases, finally to the Supreme Court of Canada, achieving success when Parliament, in an all-party resolution, passed a measure recognizing indigenous title. Because of this historic decision, Canada serves as a resource for other Aboriginal populations in countries where similar accommodations for Aboriginal people have not yet been made. Calder received many honours in his lifetime, including the Order of Canada. The one he most cherished, however, was one rarely bestowed by the Nisga'a Nation: "Chief of Chiefs." While growing up, Frank went to grade 10 in residential school, completed high school and then graduated from the University of BC (in the Anglican Theological College). It took him two years longer than usual to complete university, as he had to return home during the fishing season to earn the money for his tuition. He was a force to be reckoned with and established his name in Canadian politics as the man who brought First Nations land rights issues to the Supreme Court of Canada.