Bernadine Harper

Tansi niwakomakanak, greetings all my relations; Bernadine Harper nitsikason, omisimaw oldest daughter to late Alex Harper (nohtawi) and late Louisa Harper (Lameman) nikawi, six younger brothers. My paternal grandparents; late Pierre Harper and late Mary Harper (Pahtayken); and maternal grandparents late Paul Lameman and late Mary Lameman (Whitstone). My family were my first greatest teachers, where they instilled our traditional values and teachings of life, grounded in ceremony; Creator’s Laws, Natural Laws, and to show utmost respect to all human-kind and creation. I do my best to live by these laws and values as we were born with them to help govern and guide our path in life.

In life’s learning journey I also obtained a Bachelor’s of Indian Social Work degree, Asset Mapping T4T, Domestic Violence Intervention training, Edu-Therapy, Kairos Blanket Exercise, ASIST Trainer, trained in The Journey, Group facilitator, Truth and Reconciliation, Traditional Parenting T4T, Medicine Wheel facilitator, land Based T4T, Indigenous Crisis Response T4T, traditional teachings (roles and protocols of ceremonies) and much more.

I was taught excellent work ethics from an early age and as a result have been fortunate to work for our nation, approximately 45 years in the frontline and management field.

My career path changed when I was elected as a Band Council June 17, 2022 and I want to express my gratitude to the people who have faith in me to be one of the leaders for our nation. In my new role as leadership, I bring with me all of the above as well lived experiences of both positive/negative, where I learned the lessons of life’s challenges and turned them into positive stepping stones which gives me Hope and Optimism.

My goal is: Advocacy, Accountability, Inclusion (sense of belonging), Transparency, Open-mind, Trustworthy, Honesty, Communication, Integrity, trustworthy etc. I will continue to work for people of our nation at a different capacity. I am thankful for our ancestors who paved a trail for us to have a better tomorrow and I honor and acknowledge them as they continue to surround us daily as we now pave the trails for our future generations to come for a better future as well.

ninanaskomaw kici mamawi otawimaw okisewatsowin kamikoya tatokisikaw

Thankful to creator for the gift of life daily.

Bernadine Harper
Councilor Onion Lake Cree Nation