One Chief’s Thoughts on Solutions

Oki. My name is Leroy Paul Wolf Collar. My Blackfoot name is Sako Opakiiyi which means, “Last to break camp” I am from Siksika Nation, born and raised on the reserve.

My background consists of 30 plus years of leadership, management and governance experience and expertise, which I gained in the capacity of a former Chief, Councilor, Manager, and Consultant.

I graduated from the University of Lethbridge, where I convocated with a BA (Major in Native American Studies – 2016). I am currently enrolled in the Master of Education Program at the University of Calgary – Werklund School of Education, Interdisciplinary Studies Pomiikapi: Niitsitapii Approaches to Wellness.  

In January of 2020, I published my book titled “First Nations Self-Government: 17 Roadblocks to Self-Determination, and One Chiefs Thoughts on Solutions” I wrote my book to inspire up and coming First Nations leaders who want to increase their knowledge about leadership, management and governance. 

Too often, we have newly elected leaders who have little to no political and management experiences find themselves in challenging situations because they soon learn shortly after they are inaugurated as elected Chiefs and Councilors that they have limited powers as sovereign leaders of their own communities because, under section 91(24) of the Canadian Constitution, Parliament assigned the federal government exclusive jurisdiction and authority over Indians and lands reserved for Indians. This means that the federal government uses the Indian Act to manage and control First Nations peoples and their Indian reserves. 

I also share some truth and realities about First Nations community governance systems at the political and administrative levels because we have elected leaders and managers who lack leadership and management competencies to carry out their duties effectively.

This system of governance can be toxic at times because these elected leaders and managers often practice favouritism, nepotism, workplace bullying, personal vendettas, lateral violence, etc. 

Many of our people in First Nations communities experience family violence, suicide, alcohol and drug abuse, high unemployment, and homelessness etc., making it extremely difficult to live in. In other words, we live in a state of dystopia – an undesirable place that’s filled with toxic people and a toxic environment.

To get to a place of utopia, a place of peace and happiness with healthier and safer communities and quality of life equal to ordinary Canadians, we need to change how we elect our leaders, and we need to change the way we govern ourselves. Our leaders must be healthy (mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually) and educated (culturally and academically). 

As Indigenous peoples, we need to be concerned about the federal government’s assimilation plans under the Indian Act. For example, Canada created a fictitious Indian under the Indian Act’s Indian Registration, where the federal government determines who is eligible to be a status Indian. The government’s objective is to gradually bring Indigenous peoples to the point of extinction when they reach a zero percent blood quantum. A person with zero percent blood quantum will no longer have access to ‘Reserve Lands‘ and ‘Treaty and Aboriginal Rights.’ 

Many of the stories which I will be sharing will mostly come from my book. However, I will also include new knowledge from my academic studies and any news happening at the regional, national and international levels, such as the UNDRIP Bill C-15.

The question I often ask myself is, “How did we as Indigenous peoples move from being Sovereign Nations into Indian Bands under the Indian Act?” Our elders often tell us that our ancestors, who were signatories of the treaties, never gave up our inherent right to self-government. The Indian Act was the federal government’s hidden agenda because it was never mentioned during the treaty negotiations.

I hope you enjoyed my Introduction as my first blog on my new website.

To better understand my upcoming stories, I encourage you to purchase my book, which I will be referring to from time to time as I write. Thank you.

Sako Opakiiyi