First Person Radio hosts Laura Waterman Wittstock and Richard LaFortune (with Andy Driscoll) talk with Clyde Bellecourt and Chief Terry Nelson of Roseau River Anishinabe First Nation Tribe of Manitoba, Canada.

Clyde Bellecourt is a founder of the American Indian Movement in 1968. The Movement was founded in Minneapolis and although it became a worldwide activity, Clyde stayed and lived in Minneapolis, to make permanent change right here in his own local community. He has worked in education from the start of Heart of the Earth Survival School in 1972 to the present. He deeply believes that education is the key to the success of the Indian community. That has been his consistent message. The Clyde H. Bellecourt Scholarship Fund has awarded $222,687 in 22 college scholarships to both graduate and undergraduate since 2005 to American Indian students who are studying in the fields of Education, American Indian Studies, or Indigenous Languages.

Chief Terry Nelson of Roseau River Anishinabe First Nation Tribe of Manitoba, Canada, and was elected national Chief of Canada’s Assembly of First Nations in 2009, has led the fight for a settlement over Indian lands surrendered in 1903. He is also warning both Canadian and American Indian Country of the damages sure to come from a pipeline connecting the expensive – and feared – tar sands oil extraction projects in Northern Alberta.

Together, Nelson and Bellecourt discuss the real history of their countries, especially the usurpation of lands and resources as well as the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples – signed by Canada (finally) last November, more recently by President Barack Obama, making the the US the last resister to finally sign on to that resolution..

Mr. Bellecourt has traveled to many countries in the world, notably the United Nations Conferences in Geneva on Indigenous people; Ireland to develop culturally based schools that teach the native language; Germany to work with groups interested in studying American Indian culture and the political issues being faced by Indians in the United States; several Central and South American countries in coordination with the International Treaty Council; and within the United States, to reservation areas where he was called for help by elders and families.

Clyde Bellecourt regularly meets with a large number of community members in the American Indian and other communities of color, particularly when issues arise. Frequently called upon to mediate, represent, or conduct discussions or conflicts between groups, he carefully gathers the information on the issue, gains an understanding of the core demands or understandings and goes forward to negotiate or represent a minority view that is not being heard by authorities. The information can include documents, phone conversations, re-telling of what each side is saying, and an analysis of the best way to proceed.

As for Terry Nelson, here is an article written two years ago:

WINNIPEG – OTTAWA – An outspoken and controversial Manitoba chief is throwing his name in the race to replace outgoing Assembly of First Nations national chief Phil Fontaine.

Roseau River Anishnabe First Nation Chief Terry Nelson told the Free Press he will formally announce his candidacy Friday morning in Winnipeg.

Nelson said he will run on a platform to end dependence on Ottawa and turn instead to international investment in economic development for first nations in Canada.

“You can’t expect the governemnt will finance economic development on reserves,” said Nelson.

He said he’s already spoken with various parties in the U.S., China, and other countries who appear interested in working with Canada’s first nations.

Fontaine, a Manitoban from Sagkeeng, will announce this afternoon he will not seek re-election after three terms at the helm of the AFN.

Nelson said he has nothing but respect for Fontaine but said the chiefs in Canada are ready for more action.

Nelson is himself a controversial figure, known to take hardline approaches to negotiations including blockades.

Nelson last week was returned to the helm of his own band following a bizarre electoral period that required Indian and NOrthern Affairs Canada to step in.

In March, two different chiefs were elected in Roseau River in two separate elections and both claimed victory. INAC set the results of both aside and called another election but it had to be postponed because Roseau River was evacuated due to spring flooding.

The election was finally held May 27; Nelson won.