(Coast Salish Territory/Vancouver, B.C. – November 16, 2018) The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) offers our sincere sympathies and heartfelt condolences to the St. Denis familyand to the Wolf Lake First Nation for the great loss of Algonquin Chief Harry St. Denis. He will be deeply missed not only by his family and friends, but by all of us across the country who had the privilege of knowing and working with him over many decades.

Chief St. Denis was a tireless and passionate advocate for his community of Wolf Lake, where he served as Chief for 32 consecutive years, and for the Algonquin Nation, which he represented through his work on a number of national committees. He served as co-chair of the Assembly of First Nations Chiefs Committee on Lands, Territories and Resources, where he worked in strong solidarity with so many of us in our collective struggles for land rights and self-determination.

He gave powerful articulation to our concerns for justice and fundamental human rights and provided support and guidance to so many of us in fighting for recognition of our inherent title and rights at home and gaining international support for our rights through the United Nations. Throughout our work together, his wonderful humour lightened our spirits. 

Chief St. Denis’ strong, thoughtful and inspiring voice, which enriched so many of our discussions and encouraged us to act on them, will continue to guide us into the future.