The Law of Betterment - Ovide Mecredi,  Misipawistik Cree Nation

 Ovide Mercredi is Cree, born in the northern community of Grand Rapids, Manitoba, in 1946.  A graduate of the University of Manitoba’s Robson Hall Faculty of Law in 1977, he practiced criminal law and later specialized in constitutional law as an advisor to Manitoba Chiefs.

In 1989, Ovide was elected Regional Chief of the Assembly of First Nations for Manitoba and appointed a Manitoba Human Rights Commission member. He became a key strategist for the Assembly during the Meech Lake Accord constitutional reform discussions.
He had an active leadership role in helping to resolve the Oka Crisis in 1990.
On June 12, 1991, Ovide was elected National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, a role he held for two terms from 1991 to 1997, where he represented a diverse group of people who embraced differing traditions and, at times, represented conflicting interests. During his first term, he led the negotiations for the First Nations in the Charlottetown Accord. In his efforts to find consensus for policies and foster unity, he spent much of his time traveling across Canada to meet people and learn firsthand their aspirations.

He served his community as Chief of Misipawistik Cree Nation from 2005 to 2011 and acted as a counsellor for three years after his terms as Chief. Ovide became the first chancellor of Manitoba's University College of the North in 2007. He was selected in a traditional manner as the National Spokesperson for Treaties 1 to 11 from 2006 to 2014. For his work as an advocate of non-violent methods for change, he was nominated by the Government of India for the Gandhi Peace Prize. He has received honorary law degrees from Bishop’s University, St. Mary’s University, Lethbridge University, Athabasca University, Cape Breton University, The Law Society of Ontario and The University of Manitoba.

In 2005 he was awarded the Order of Manitoba.  Ovide became an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2022 to recognize his advocacy for Indigenous people in Canada. He served on the National Board of the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Winnipeg Art Gallery board.

Ovide is advocating to help transform health services for those living in the 49 communities of Nishnawbe Aski Nation in Northern Ontario.