Ovide Mercredi

Ovide William Mercredi (born January 30, 1946, in Grand Rapids, Manitoba) is an Aboriginal Canadian politician. He is Cree and a former national chief of the Assembly of First Nations.

Mercredi attended the University of Manitoba and graduated with a degree in law in 1977. While a student he became president of the first Native Students’ Association formed in Canada. He was elected regional chief of the Assembly of First Nations for Manitoba in 1989. Mercredi had specialized in constitutional law, and became a key strategist for the assembly during the time of the Meech Lake Accord constitutional reform discussions. He also had a strong leadership role in resolving the Oka Crisis.

In 1991, Mercredi was elected national chief for the Assembly of First Nations. During this first term, he played a major role in the Charlottetown Accord constitutional discussions. He was re-elected to this position in 1994, and served as national chief until 1997. As chief, Mercred