Glenn Lafleur will be inducted into the Order of Gabriel Dumont next month. (submitted photo/Glenn Lafleur)

By Derek Cornet

milestone

Northerners to be inducted into Order of Gabriel Dumont

Jan 15, 2020 | 4:35 PM

Several northerners, including former La Ronge resident Glenn Lafleur, will be inducted into the Order of Gabriel Dumont.

The awards, which will be held Feb. 6 and 7 in Saskatoon, is hosted by the Gabriel Dumont Institute of Native Studies and Applied Research (GDI). Clément Chartier of Buffalo Narrows, who is serving his fifth term as president of the Métis National Council, will receive a gold medal while Lafleur will be given a silver medal. A gold medal recognizes a lifetime of outstanding service to the Métis of Canada and silver honours those who have made a significant contribution.

Two others from the 25 people being inducted into the order are also from northern Saskatchewan. Laureen Guetre, of La Loche, and Nikki Natomagan, of Pinehouse Lake will receive bronze medals. The bronze category honours those who have distinguished themselves through leadership, community involvement and overall service.

“The Order of Gabriel Dumont is awarded by the Gabriel Dumont Institute to persons who have distinguished themselves with outstanding service to the Métis of Canada,” GDI Executive Director Geordy McCaffrey said. “It is one of the Métis Nation’s highest civilian honours awarded to Métis and non-Métis individuals based on their achievements and lifetime contributions.”

Lafleur, who recently left the GDI board after 15 years of service, is being recognized as a community leader. He has been a board member of the Crushers Hockey League, Jim Brady Métis Local, Kikinahk Friendship Centre, La Ronge Ice Wolves and Northern Lights School Division. Through his work with GDI and the Napoleon LaFontaine Scholarship committee, he worked to attract corporate financial assistance for Métis students in Saskatchewan.

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“Throughout my life, I have always had that connection to be involved with the Métis organizations,” Lafleur said. “That is a passion for me and I always had a passion to help out wherever I can. I wanted to try make a difference and be a role model for whoever I am working for.”

After 25 years living in La Ronge, Lafleur moved to Saskatoon where he works at the Orano Canada Inc. head office. He is originally from Beauval.

Chartier, who attended residential school, is a lawyer, writer, lecturer and activist who has served in both political and administrative capacities with numerous Indigenous organizations nationally and internationally. According to a GDI press release, he pushed the Métis Nation’s rights agenda at various levels on Canada’s judicial system and continues to provide counsel in ongoing Métis-specific cases.

“In particular, President Chartier has defended a number of Métis hunting and fishing rights test cases across Saskatchewan, including R. v. Morin and Daigneault (1997) which established harvesting rights in northern Saskatchewan, and R. v. Belhumeur (2007) which established harvesting rights in the Qu’Appelle Valley area,” the GDI news release said.

larongeNOW reached out to Chartier for comment, but he couldn’t be reached by time of publishing.

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno