First Nations woman gets ambassador post

A member of the Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation has been named Canada’s ambassador to Vietnam.

Deborah Chatsis, 48, stopped in Regina during the long weekend to visit relatives. She’s on her way to the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi to take up her post, the latest in a string of international assignments.

"I’ve been spending time with my brother, sisters and families in Regina," she wrote in an email to The StarPhoenix.

"I stopped over en route to Vietnam so I could spend time with them before leaving."

Chatsis’ parents, now deceased, hailed from the Ahtahkakoop and Poundmaker First Nations. She was born in British Columbia, but the family moved back to Saskatchewan when she was young. She received a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering and bachelor of law degrees at the University of Saskatchewan. She went on to obtain a master of laws degree from the University of Ottawa, and an international law degree from Harvard University.

"My parents always stressed the importance of family, education and doing your best," she wrote.

She worked as a law clerk with the appeal division of the Federal Court of Canada before joining the Department of External Affairs and International Trade in 1989, according to a Government of Canada biography. Chatsis has been assigned to work in Ottawa, Nairobi, Beijing, Bogota, Miami, Geneva and New York City.

She also worked in Canada on the residential school survivors’ Truth and Reconciliation Commission and was "instrumental" in establishing the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, according to a Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) citation.

Chatsis, 48, is one of 26 people or organizations being honoured Sept. 13 at the First Nations Circle of Honour awards. The annual event, organized by the FSIN, takes place next week in Regina.

"The First Nation Circle of Honour Awards has become an institution of outstanding achievement that recognizes First Nation people in Saskatchewan," FSIN Chief Guy Lonechild said in a statement. "Many of the recipients have made valuable contributions to their First Nation communities, the province and the country. This is very, very encouraging for the future of our people."

The FSIN offices of Education and Health & Social Development initiated the Circle of Honour Banquet and Awards in 1998.

Other winners include:

– Russell Gardipy of the Beardy’s and Okemasis First Nation. He is a fifth generation thoroughbred horse trainer who has finished as one of the top-ranked trainers in North America for the past three years. Gardipy and his wife have four children and currently live on the Beardy’s and Okemasis First Nation.

– Male citizen of the year is Arthur Anderson of the Gordon First Nation. Anderson served in Germany twice as a paratrooper on peacekeeping missions. He also served in Cyprus and Africa. In total, he served 29 years with the Canadian Forces.

After his discharge, Anderson attended the University of Saskatchewan, completing degrees in theology and Native Studies. He has spent 22 years working as an Anglican priest to try and bridge the gap between First Nations and non-First Nations cultures.

– Female citizen of the year is Patsy Roberts-Head of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band. Roberts-Head has worked with the band for more than 35 years. Beginning her career as assistant to the welfare clerk, she currently holds the position of director of administration. She has been instrumental in developing a band emergency fund program, raising money to assist La Ronge Band members in crisis.

– Oliver Cameron of the Beardy’s and Okemasis First Nation. He has been the director of labour force development for the Saskatoon Tribal Council for more than 24 years. During the years, he has demonstrated a deep commitment to employment and training opportunities for First Nations people, both on and off reserve. Cameron co-ordinates many traditional First Nations ceremonies.

– The Cumberland House Cree Nation. In 2009, the First Nation located in northeast Saskatchewan engaged in a project, in partnership with the FSIN, entitled, Mapping Lake Sturgeon Habitat on the North Saskatchewan River Using Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge from Cumberland House Cree Nation, according to the FSIN citation. Tapping into traditional knowledge that included a long history of sturgeon fishing by the Cree Nation, the project is gathering data regarding critical habitat.