We Are All Treaty People
with Harold Johnson
Harold Johnson is a wonderful storyteller and we are excited to have him as one of our series speakers sharing his eloquent view, on behalf of a people, on what treaties between First Nations and governments represent. Topics will include the justice system, reconciliation of laws, political divisions, resources, taxation, assimilation, leadership, sovereignty, the Constitution, youth, and relations between next generations.
“Kiciwamanawak, my cousin: that is what my Elders said to call you. You have a treaty right to occupy and use this territory. You received that right when my family adopted yours.”
Harold Johnson
Harold R. Johnson is the author of five works of fiction and five works of non-fiction. His most recent books are:
- Cry Wolf: An inquiry into the true nature of a predator
- Peace and Good Order: The Case for Indigenous Justice in Canada which was shortlisted for a Shaunessy Cohen Prize for political writing
- Clifford and Firewater: How Alcohol Is Killing My People (and Yours), which was a finalist for the
Governor General’s Literary Award for Non-fiction
Born and raised in northern Saskatchewan, he was a member of the Canadian Navy and worked at mining and logging before graduating from Harvard Law School. He managed a private practice for several years and then became a Crown
prosecutor. Johnson is a member of the Montreal Lake Cree Nation. He is now retired and lives on his family trapline with his wife, Joan.