James Gladstone
Encyclopedia
James Gladstone (May 21, 1887 – September 4, 1971) was the first Status Indian to be appointed to the Canadian Senate
.
Gladstone was a Cree
by birth but was adopted by the Blood Reserve on which he was born; the Blood belonged to the Blackfoot
nation. He attended an Anglican Mission school on his reserve until 1903, when he moved to an "Indian Industrial School" in Calgary
and apprenticed as a printer.
After leaving school in 1905, Gladstone returned to his reserve where he worked as an interpreter. He also found work on ranches in the area wrangling cattle. In 1911, he found work with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
as a scout and interpreter and also worked as a mail carrier on his reserve.
Eventually, Gladstone established himself as a farmer and rancher and worked with his sons to assemble 400 head of cattle and also introduced modern farming practices to the reserve.
In 1949, Gladstone was elected president of the Indian Association of Alberta
and was sent to Ottawa
three times to press for improvements to the Indian Act
. His acceptance by both Blackfoot and Cree assisted him in bringing the different groups together in one political organization.
He was appointed to the Senate by Progressive Conservative
Prime Minister
John Diefenbaker
in January 1958, two years before Status Indians won the right to vote in Canada and pressed for Aboriginals to be enfranchised. He sat as an "Independent Conservative" until he retired from the Upper House in March 1971.
Canadian Senate
The Senate of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the House of Commons, and the monarch . The Senate consists of 105 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister...
.
Gladstone was a Cree
Cree
The Cree are one of the largest groups of First Nations / Native Americans in North America, with 200,000 members living in Canada. In Canada, the major proportion of Cree live north and west of Lake Superior, in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the Northwest Territories, although...
by birth but was adopted by the Blood Reserve on which he was born; the Blood belonged to the Blackfoot
Blackfoot
The Blackfoot Confederacy or Niitsítapi is the collective name of three First Nations in Alberta and one Native American tribe in Montana....
nation. He attended an Anglican Mission school on his reserve until 1903, when he moved to an "Indian Industrial School" in Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
and apprenticed as a printer.
After leaving school in 1905, Gladstone returned to his reserve where he worked as an interpreter. He also found work on ranches in the area wrangling cattle. In 1911, he found work with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...
as a scout and interpreter and also worked as a mail carrier on his reserve.
Eventually, Gladstone established himself as a farmer and rancher and worked with his sons to assemble 400 head of cattle and also introduced modern farming practices to the reserve.
In 1949, Gladstone was elected president of the Indian Association of Alberta
Indian Association of Alberta
The Indian Association of Alberta is a province-wide First Nations rights organization. It was founded in 1939, after splitting off from the League of Indians in Western Canada.-Further reading:...
and was sent to Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
three times to press for improvements to the Indian Act
Indian Act
The Indian Act , R.S., 1951, c. I-5, is a Canadian statute that concerns registered Indians, their bands, and the system of Indian reserves...
. His acceptance by both Blackfoot and Cree assisted him in bringing the different groups together in one political organization.
He was appointed to the Senate by Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
John Diefenbaker
John Diefenbaker
John George Diefenbaker, PC, CH, QC was the 13th Prime Minister of Canada, serving from June 21, 1957, to April 22, 1963...
in January 1958, two years before Status Indians won the right to vote in Canada and pressed for Aboriginals to be enfranchised. He sat as an "Independent Conservative" until he retired from the Upper House in March 1971.
External links
- Indian Association of Alberta review of the IAA's history with attention to Gladstone's role in the organization.