Thelma chalifoux biography of rory

Thelma Chalifoux

Canadian politician

Thelma J. Chalifoux (8 February – 22 September ) was a Canadian teacher and senator.[1] She is a member of the Métis Nation of Alberta.[2]

One of five children, her mother, Helené, helped support the family by trading garden-grown vegetables.

  • FEBRUARY 8, 1929 – Indigenous America Calendar
  • The Virtual Museum of Métis History and Culture

    • Her father, Paul Villeneuve, was a residential school survivor and served in the First World War working as a carpenter and farm hand.[3] She studied sociology at Lethbridge Community College and later took courses in construction estimation at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology.[1][4]

    Chalifoux was a social justice activist, politician, and an active figure in the Métis community.

    As an employee of the government agency Company of Young Canadians, she worked to advance community development initiatives in northern communities and advocated for improved housing conditions.[5][4] Chalifoux co-founded the Slave LakeFriendship Centre, assisting women struggling with alcoholism and domestic abuse.

    She additionally championed the teaching of Cree in northern schools.[1] Along with her community work, Chalifoux produced programming focused on Métis culture and history. She was the first woman to host a weekly show "Smoke Signals from the Peace" on Peace River's CKYL Radio and was the co-producer of the Allarcom series Our Native Heritage.

    In she founded and became a senior partner of Chalifoux and Associates Educational and Economic Consulting. She also owned Secret Garden Originals, a craft, and floral design business.[6]

    Chalifoux was appointed to the Canadian Senate on the advice of Prime MinisterJean Chrétien on 26 November , making her the first Indigenous woman and fourth Metis person to serve in the Canadian Senate, following Richard Hardisty, William Albert Boucher, and Gerry St.

    Germain.[7][8] She held the position until when, at the age of 75, she retired and returned to Alberta.[5] The following year Alberta Venture magazine ranked her number 8 on their list of 50 Greatest Albertans.[9]

    After her retirement, she founded the Michif Cultural and Resource Institute now the Michif Cultural Connections Company, an organization dedicated to preserving and sharing the Métis history of Alberta.[5][10] Chalifoux was the first woman to receive the National Aboriginal Achievement Award – known today as the Indspire Award - in

    Chalifoux died at the age of 88 surrounded by her family on 22 September , after a period of failing health.[1][10]

    On 8 May , the Edmonton Public School Board of Trustees voted to name the new Thelma Chalifoux School (grade 7- 9) in Larkspur in her honour.[11]

    Métis Association

    Chalifoux joined the Métis Association in the late s during the early growth of local-level activism within Métis communities.[12] Upon joining, Chalifoux strove to fix major issues affecting the Metis by advocating within governmental bodies.

    She argued that there were inadequate levels of social welfare programs despite clear indications that Métis communities were among a large majority of those in Canada not meeting their basic needs.[13] Chalifoux, advocated for the increase of affordable shelter, food, and higher welfare grants and subsidies for Métis families.

    Thelma chalifoux biography of rory Albert and Lac Ste. Archived from the original on 8 December Login to post a comment. Have you taken a test?

    She later focused her efforts on the formation of the Welfare Unit, a group of investigators that looked into complaints concerning the Alberta Government Welfare Department's dealings with Métis communities and families. Her efforts exposed welfare injustices like those that occurred at Fort Chippewa concerning the lack of funds given to various families in desperate need of assistance.

    Her investigations revealed accounts like that of a widow parenting "five children [and was given] $60 a month to live on."[12] She took a special interest in helping disadvantaged Métis women who had fallen through the cracks of government bureaucracy and otherwise would have remained voiceless.[citation needed]

    Awards and honours

    • National Aboriginal Achievement Award ()[7]
    • Métis National Council Lifetime Achievement Award ().[10]
    • Honorary Doctorate, University of Toronto ().

      (Awarded for her advocacy work.)

    In , Canada Post announced that Chalifoux will be one of three people, alongside George Manuel and Nellie Cournoyea, honoured as indigenous pioneers on new postage stamps.[14]

    References

    1. ^ abcdHeidenreich, Phil (24 September ).

      "Thelma Chalifoux, Canada's first Indigenous woman to be appointed to Senate, dies at 88". Global News. Retrieved 18 October

    2. ^"Metis Dictionary of Biography"(PDF). Gabriel Dumont Institute. Retrieved 25 October
    3. ^Chalifoux, Jenna (). "Metis Matriarch – Thelma Chalifoux".

      Edmonton City As Museum Project ECAMP.

      Thelma Julia (Chalifoux) Coulter (1929-2017) - WikiTree However, despite her hard work it was not until that the government returned the children they had taken. Is Thelma your relative? Upon joining, Chalifoux strove to fix major issues affecting the Metis by advocating within governmental bodies. Died 22 Sep at age 88 in St.

      Retrieved 18 October

    4. ^ ab"Senator Thelma Chalifoux". Inspire. 20 November Retrieved 18 October
    5. ^ abc"Thelma Chalifoux, former senator and Métis activist, dies in Alberta at 88".

      CBC News. 25 September Retrieved 18 October

    6. ^Barkwell, kids were taken away during the 60s scoop %20Thelma%20Villeneuve%
    7. ^ abLusty, Terry. "Thelma Chalifoux". Alberta Online Encyclopedia. Heritage Community Foundation. Archived from the original on 8 December Retrieved 18 October : CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
    8. ^Sutherland, Shannon.

      "Speak Loudly, Influence People".

    9. Item 1 of 3
    10. Thelma CHALIFOUX | Obituary | Edmonton Journal
    11. Item 2 of 3
    12. The Virtual Museum of Métis History and Culture

      13. . Alberta Venture. Retrieved 18 October

    13. ^"The 50 Greatest Albertans". Alberta Venture. Retrieved 18 October
    14. ^ abcJones, Susan (27 September ). "Chalifoux remembered as Métis advocate".

      See full list on thecanadianencyclopedia.ca Her father, Paul Villeneuve, was a residential school survivor and served in the First World War working as a carpenter and farm hand. Login to post a comment. Read more about Thelma Chalifoux. She was a senator, entrepreneur, and activist.

      St. Albert Gazette. Retrieved 18 October

    15. ^"Thelma Chalifoux (Larkspur) - Edmonton Public Schools". Edmonton Public School Board. Retrieved 23 June
    16. ^ abIseke J; Desmoulins L ().

      Retrieved 23 June In education, community development, broadcasting, social work, politics, and other fields she stood up for those at risk, and served her community as a tireless advocate. During the Second World War she volunteered in soup kitchens. CBC News.

      "Spiritual beginnings of indigenous women's activism: The life and work of the Honourable Thelma Chalifoux, white standing Buffalo". Canadian Woman Studies. 29 (1–2): 24– ISSN&#; OCLC&#;

    17. ^Adams, Howard, and Xwi7xwa Collection. Tortured People: The Politics of Colonization.

      FEBRUARY 8, 1929 – Indigenous America Calendar: Thelma Chalifoux Coulter is managed by the Canada Project. Born 8 Feb in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Thelma was also a volunteer with Catholic Social Services, and had her leadership with the organization recognized in with the Bill Irwin Award. Retrieved 18 October

      Rev. ed. Penticton, B.C: Theytus Books,

    18. ^"New Canada Post stamp honours first Indigenous woman to lead a Canadian government". Toronto Star, 11 June

    External links