January 2, 2020 Tribute to Chief Frank T. Halcrow, Kapawe’no First Nation

Today is a very sad day for all of Treaty No. 8, and Indian Nation as a whole, as we hear of the passing of Hereditary Chief Frank Halcrow, Kapawe’no First Nation. He was the last Hereditary Chief in Alberta and has served as Chief for his Nation since 1970. His wisdom, political knowledge and expertise will be missed, Chief Halcrow was a dedicated warrior and advocate for not only his Nation but the entire Indian Nation, including but not limited to, Lesser Slave Lake Indian Regional Council and the Treaty 8 First Nations. On behalf of the Treaty No. 8 Chiefs, Elders, staff and citizens, we send our condolences to his wife Effie, his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, his brothers and sisters and his community.

Chief Halcrow made many contributions over his lifetime which included the establishment of the Lesser Slave Lake Indian Regional Council, Lakeshore Regional Police Service, Grand Council of Treaty 8, Kapown Treatment Centre and the first ever licensed on-reserve day care, just to name a few.

He worked with the Indian Association of Alberta and advocated in London England with the House of Lords, where the Queen was present for four of those meetings, to address the outstanding issues of Treaties in Alberta and he helped write a report on the London Lobby in 1981. Chief Halcrow was very passionate about Self Government and Self Determination for his nation and all nations. He fought hard to seek justice and implementation of modern means of Governance into First Nations to be able to fit into modern society as we know it using instruments such as Treaty and all other arrangements such as Treaty articles, treaty implementation processes, etc..

His work and his legacy will continue as the First Nations continue to implement their inherent rights, governances and structures as he did for his Nation with the Government of Canada recently in November 2019, whereby he signed the Memorandum of Understanding on Self Governing and Self Determination discussion process using inherent rights. He will be greatly missed as a true leader and role model for our youth and future leaders in Treaty No. 8 and Alberta.

You Will be missed Chief Halcrow, but you will not be forgotten…