At a press conference at the Regina Indian Metis Friendship Center, January 22, 2001. 11AM. (photo from Global News)
Chapter Seven: The Leader of the First Nations Party of Saskatchewan
With my quest to keep Stockwell Day out of 24 Sussex over, I spent a quiet week after the election evaluating the events of the past month. I had gambled that running as a federal candidate would raise my profile- but lost the election with less than one per cent of the votes cast. I sought to raise the profile of the First Nations Party- but effectively endorsed a completely different political party that was unknown to most voters. I hoped to make lasting political ties in northern Saskatchewan- but lost my most enthusiastic party director, Leonard Iron. I tried to repair the damage done by my association with Day- but nothing would recapture the support of aboriginal students like former party president Shawn Kayseas. I had hoped my campaign would bring me and my wife closer together- but I had only done damage to my marriage while campaigning.
My preoccupation with partying left me dissatisfied socially and spiritually; The culture of hopelessness I visited in La Ronge brought on a terrible depression I would fight for years. I had never been exposed to poverty (or chosen to recognize the poverty around us) until I started the party. La Ronge existed with its own set of problems, and there was nothing I could do, I thought.
I was incredibly unhappy, and I was beginning to make unwise choices with little or no regard for the consequences. During the campaign I celebrated the birthday of my high school crush's husband at a Regina martini bar. As it turned out, volunteers from Stockwell Day's campaign were there, and we knew one prominent volunteer from high school. Not surprisingly, though, he wasn't too pleased to see me, and the frosty reception hurt my pride in front of my friends. (These friends were now struggling with whether to support me. One was even a signee of the party constitution, but she had qualms with me adopting a "radical approach.") In a desperate bid for popularity, I drained my bank account buying drinks for everyone, ultimately defaulting on my student loan payment later that week.
My nine months in politics had created huge financial difficulty in my household and frustrated my chances of employability (now that my criminal record was a matter of public knowledge). My insistence upon spending money on political expenses such as travel and promotion left me and my wife without money on many occasions. I once scheduled a meeting with FSIN vice-chief Greg Ahenakew, which required I drive from Regina to Saskatoon, where FSIN headquarters were located. After filling our sports car with gas to make it to Saskatoon, I arrived to find Ahenakew gone for the day. I scribbled a memo for him, filled the car with gas again, and drove home to Regina.
My undiagnosed bi-polar condition gave me highs which inspired lofty goals such as creating a First Nations Party in other provinces like Manitoba and New Brunswick. It also left me with suicidal lows I tried to hide from everyone. A quick fix like a political speech or family get-together kept me alive for the years until my condition was diagnosed, but until then I relied on partying and grandiose delusions to combat my depression. Short-term bursts of energy allowed me to collect signatures throughout the summer and campaign against the right-wing all autumn, but as December approached I was without any clear short or long-term goals. I doubted my ability to organize against the monied NDP and Sask Party in Regina Elphinstone- in my shortsightedness I failed to keep a record of all who had signed the petitions I handed over to the Chief Electoral Officer.
Feeling like a failure, I decided to resign the leadership of the First Nations Party of Saskatchewan. I was told some retired Indian politicians from Treaty Four were considering getting involved with the party if I would exit it. I wrote up a quick press release and faxed it out to one and all Friday, December 1st, 2000. "There are many people across this province that want to get involved ... unfortunately, for a variety of reasons, they don't necessarily want to get involved with Brendan Cross," I wrote in the release that was also emailed to many supporters across Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia. My wife and our families supported my decision. "You are young and can always return," they said.
Betty Ann Adam called from the Saskatoon Star Phoenix Saturday morning for an interview. She mentioned that she remembered me from a native journalism weekend I attended in grade eleven. I was one of eleven students from Regina driven to the Saskatoon retreat by journalist Trevor Sutter. Once there, we toured the Star Phoenix and CBC buildings, creating our own news stories with aboriginal journalists. (The journalists included Joan Beatty, now a cabinet minister in the Saskatchewan NDP government.)
My contribution to the newspaper article we helped write was a profound quote about the high native drop out rate. "There's a stereotype that native students drop out of school and when they drop out, they contribute to that stereotype and it becomes more acceptable to others." What insight! Now Betty was conducting a real interview with me and, because I trusted her, I was candid. I told her how I drove to Saskatoon to be stood up by the FSIN, and how I felt my presence was hindering growth of the party.
"Cross alienated many powerful Saskatchewan Indians by criticizing the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, something he did after the organization ignored his attempts to contact them on behalf of the party he was trying to form. Cross said he was angered that as an Indian, supposedly represented by the FSIN, the FSIN refused to return his almost-daily phone calls for three months," Betty wrote. The fact that only three of seven director positions and four of seven executive positions were filled was included in the article run on Monday.
My resignation was carried on the Canadian Press newswire ("leaving the future of the… party in question"). My brief political career was summarized, which included burning Stockwell Day, my criminal record, and my involvement with the Saskatchewan Party, the Canadian Alliance, and the Canadian Action Party. These aspects of my "whirlwind six months of political activity," along with the slurs of ministers Belanger and Goulet became the focus of Fraser Needham's La Ronge Northerner article "Cross says he has no regrets." A parting criticism from Jason Bear of Saskatoon's Aboriginal Education and Voter Registration Drive was also included: "He had so many antics and a bit of a past. Indian people don't see past and present as different. We have talked about it (Cross' resignation) a little bit. The party could be considered to help our cause. It could be used as a platform to launch issues," Bear was quoted as saying.
Reaction to my resignation was subdued, however. A lot of people felt the First Nations Party was my baby, and my resignation would leave the party without a familiar face. I argued that leadership would present itself and, if not, the time obviously wasn't right. "Brendan, the time will never be right. You must continue out of necessity," I was told by a University of Regina professor I saw on a weekly basis. He saw how direction-less I was over the next few weeks and urged me to consider my achievements before throwing in the towel completely.
Party president David Clinton told me I WAS the First Nations Party. I promised him I would remain involved and encouraged him to consider stepping up to the plate. He said there was only one leader of the First Nations Party and it was me.
Leadership didn't materialize. I talked with the political animals I knew, and they all passed the torch back to me. Nobody was confident they could breathe new life into the party if I believed I couldn't. I inquired about the Treaty Four Indian politicians and was told they would now only consider getting involved if I remained! I met former Metis Nation of Saskatchewan president Martin Aubichon at a wedding; He said the Metis people were watching me very closely to see whether I would reach out and include them in the party. I decided I would contact the coordinators of the Indian Metis Friendship Centers in Regina, Saskatoon, Prince Albert, North Battleford, and Fort Qu'Appelle with offers to fill the board of directors. Once I had a full party executive, I could leave them to determine how to find a new leader.
My depression was again having negative effects on my psychology and decisions. While half-heartedly looking for a job I never found, I was spending more and more time partying. For my wife's birthday, we met friends at a Regina dance club to drink the night away. While it might have been a good time for Jeff and Paul Lowey and our university friends, my wife, my sister, party director Chad Eros, and I had babies at home. I was developing a habit of neglecting my children to party every night at whatever bar was most popular. My judgement was poor when I was under the influence.
By the time my 25th birthday arrived on January 15th, I was partied out. I hadn't found a job and was becoming more and more irritable due to the negative consequences of my self-destructive lifestyle. My marriage was suffering and any highs I used to get while in politics were now replaced with hopelessness and empty weeks on my calendar. Again, my U of R professor friend urged me to consider the sense of purpose I experienced while leading the First Nations Party, and reconsider my decision to walk away. Volunteers from the Indian Metis Friendship Centers filled the board of directors, and the new party executive was encouraging me to return.
My final decision was affected by two telephone conversations I had with two people from opposite ends of the country. The first was with Don Moses from Merritt, British Columbia, who was organizing a First Nations party in his province. Don told me he was sad to hear I had resigned because my determination encouraged him to create an official party in British Columbia. After much planning, their founding convention was coming up at the end of the month, and Don invited me to be the keynote speaker. His supporters were excited about the opportunity to meet the Leader of the First Nations Party of Saskatchewan! Don's friend, aboriginal Liberal Senator Len Marchand had even offered to billet me for the weekend.
The second call was from Brad Chapman in Toronto. Brad was a four-time Progressive Conservative Party Director of Election Campaign Operations involved in Joe Clark's successful 1979 campaign to become Prime Minister. (Brad became Chief of Staff for Environment Minister John Fraser.) Brad was convinced the First Nations Party would revolutionize Saskatchewan politics, and he had his eye on the big picture. My frustrations with the growing pains the party was experience was only temporary he would argue. With statistical projections suggesting half of the province's population would be aboriginal by 2020, Brad made a bold prediction- Within twenty years the First Nations Party of Saskatchewan would be government. He volunteered to come to Saskatchewan to help organize riding associations as soon as the party could afford him.
Both Don Moses and Brad Chapman felt it was important that a First Nations Party candidate run in the yet to be announced Regina Elphinstone by-election, the party's first test at the ballot box. They said giving up would send a terrible message to aboriginal people all over Canada. Even if only a handful of people ended up voting FNP, it would be a start. Brad said my young age would allow me to build the party person by person for years, if not decades, in the elections to come. Eventually we would win seats. Eventually we would be government. The sooner we began, the sooner that day would materialize.
Brad reminded me that it was my dream that created the party, and it would be my leadership that would inspire others to follow. As a leader, I needed to be the first candidate to run and lose, but others would follow my example. I was still hesitant to commit to such a long road. I prayed someone would volunteer to lead the party in my absence, and I leaned towards announcing a leadership contest to fill the position. I felt bad, though, that I wouldn't be the one to run in Regina Elphinstone, my very own riding. I knew I would regret passing up the opportunity.
I talked to my wife and looked at my options. The founding convention of Don's party in B. C. was a week away, and I could arrive as the founder of the First Nations Party of Saskatchewan, or the leader. Another candidate could be found for Regina Elphinstone, but I would live the rest of my life wondering how I would have fared in the by-election. My wife told me I could always bow out after the by-election, or any time for that matter, and if I truly felt passionate about the future of the party, she would support any decision I would make.
I decided to hold a press conference on Monday, January 22nd, 2001 at 11 A. M. where I would announce my intentions. Jeff Lowey helped me write my speech- the first time I used a text in front of the media. Unfortunately, Jeff was called in to work that morning and I was left to organize the press conference alone.
The Regina Indian Metis Friendship Center allowed me to hold the press conference in their boardroom, and I arrived shortly before eleven and photocopied my speech for reporters. Close to a dozen reporters and cameramen were there, and a couple of them helped me arrange two flags behind me. (I borrowed a Canadian and Saskatchewan flag from my mom's church, which made my announcement, look more official.) At eleven I was ready to begin my speech.
I began by chronicling the history of the party, and thanking party president Dave Clinton and his wife, secretary Trudy Clinton, for their valuable moral support. I mentioned that the idea of a First Nations party was developing in British Columbia. I acknowledged that my leadership was sometimes controversial, and it was reaction to such controversies that affected my decision to resign in December. However, nobody was willing to assume the leadership, although criticizing my mistakes was not beyond them. "In the absence of any serious contenders for party leader or any firm commitment from outspoken critics of my own leadership, I have decided to continue from where I left off. I am committed to leading the First Nations Party of Saskatchewan into the next general election, including the by-elections in Regina Elphinstone and Saskatoon Riversdale."
Reporters were following my speech on paper, and the room fell silent as I announced my return. I ended my speech with a bold statement. "I know why I was created, and I look forward to participating in the writing of history." Once finished, I fielded questions from reporters. The first question was "How do you respond to criticisms that suggest you are a one-man party?" I replied that people can criticize all they want but must recognize that it was my leadership that persevered in signing up 2,500 "members," although I estimated a current membership of "about a thousand." When asked why the party seemed to have stalled, I explained how some aboriginal groups felt the party eroded the sovereignty of First Nations by participating in a "foreign" government, ultimately submitting to the Crown. I added that a Meadow Lake law firm had even registered the name "The First Nations Party of Saskatchewan," which prevented me from incorporating the party as a legal entity with the Corporations Branch.
I pointed out that even in the midst of such adversity, I was successful in filling the party executive with volunteers from the province's Indian Metis Friendship Centers (IMFC). The director of Regina's IMFC was present and agreed to talk to reporters. I thanked him for the use of the facility before doing individual interviews with CTV's Nelson Bird and some French reporters. One by one, the reporters left, so I packed up the flags and headed home myself. My wife was happy the press conference went well and was pleased with how the event was reported on the news- mentioned quickly with tape of my announcement.
The following day found me promoting the party to a group of volunteers at Ivy Kennedy's Women of the Dawn counseling center. Kennedy was busy planning the First Nations Achievement Awards banquet, to be held in Saskatoon on the weekend. She invited me to attend, but I had already committed to speak in British Columbia. I helped her sell a few tables for the awards while my son ran around entertaining the busy volunteers. They were also busy organizing for NDP attorney general Chris Axworthy's leadership campaign that was also taking place on the weekend. Add to that Ivy Kennedy's campaign for a seat on city council and you could see why I named the place "politics central!" I drafted an FNP press release endorsing Kennedy in the civic election.
The ward Kennedy was aiming to win corresponded with the Regina Elphinstone constituency I lived in. I had already decided to start campaigning in every polling area in preparation for the by-election call. With limited funding, my campaign materials were limited to photocopied pamphlets I could drop off in peoples' mailboxes. My "door-knocking" campaign was anything but. My confidence was pretty low, so I settled to chat with people as I saw them, bumping into many on their front porches. Because of the extremely cold January weather, my door-to-door campaign consisted of literally running around the blocks in my neighbourhood for about an hour each evening. I soon ran out of pamphlets to deliver and decided to continue once the by-election was called.
Until then, I would be taking my crusade to British Columbia. On Friday, January 26th, I hopped on the bus to Kamloops, where the All Nations Party of British Columbia's inaugural convention was scheduled. It was a long bus ride, an entire day, so I packed "The History of Philosophy" and Time's "Millenium Collector's Edition," which dealt with the most influential people of the twentieth century. I got to spend time with Ghandhi, Martin Luther King, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and the Kennedy's- not to mention Soren Kierkegaard, Immanuel Kant, and Rene Descartes. By the time I got to Kamloops I was full of inspiration, even prepared to die for my cause.
Don Moses met me at the bus station and we drove to his home and I met his beautiful wife. Don had a beautiful home and a beautiful family. After an hour of visiting we all retired for the night.
I slept late Saturday morning, but Don had made arrangements for his wife to pick me up at eleven and drive me to conference center, a former residential school building on their reserve. When we arrived, I met Vi Manuel, one of the lead organizers of the conference. Vi introduced me to many people, including her uncle, Chief Art Manuel. Chief Manuel had considered running against Stockwell Day in the Okanagan-Coquihalla by-election that made Day the Official Leader of the Opposition the past summer. Chief Manuel glanced quickly at me when Vi mentioned who I was, then quickly removed his glasses for a better look. I approached him and we introduced ourselves. "Wow," Vi would comment later. "I've never seen my uncle do a double take like that before!" I guess my reputation preceded me, whatever it was.
We all took part in a luncheon of chili and bannock before taking our places for the main speeches in the auditorium. I stood at the back of the room as Don Moses was introduced and the agenda for the afternoon was laid out. Media slowly filed in, setting up their microphones and cameras as Don turned the floor over to other speakers. A couple of reporters asked me whether it was the leader of the First Nations Party of Saskatchewan speaking, so I introduced myself and told them I would be speaking shortly. The topic on stage became very specific concerning the logistics of a campaign, and the reporters waited patiently.
After about thirty minutes, I noticed the cameramen were packing up, and I intervened. I wrote a quick note to Don Moses saying I would be ready to speak at his signal. Don was sitting on the stage with other party officials and he passed the note on. Soon enough, the speech on organizing tactics was over and I was introduced. There were about one hundred people in attendance and I had no notes with me, but I already knew what would be the focus of my speech.
"I want to talk about liberation movements from the past. The First Nations Party is a liberation movement with the goal of liberating aboriginal people from British rule," I began. I continued by talking about Moses, who was brought up in Pharaoh's household. Of course, he eventually returned to his people, the Hebrews, and led them out of slavery into freedom, their own nation. I talked about Jesus, who also was seen by the Israelites as their liberator from Roman rule, only to be killed as an insurgent. I mentioned Joan of Arc (who I share a birthday with), and told how she rallied her French army to battle against the British. For her bravery she was rewarded by being burnt at the stake.
My next hero was Gandhi, who also battled the British in India, eventually forcing them to hand over rule of India to the Indian people. Likewise, Martin Luther King led his people out of segregation into equality with Americans who voted and "determined their own destiny."
"Our Creator smiles upon people who take control of their own destiny. The Creator has not forgotten us. The Creator never forgets his people."
I said that First Nations involvement in the established parties is doomed to fail. "Why be involved in parties whose ideologies came out of Britain?" I asked.
Of course, there would be leaders who betray their people by accepting "bags of gold" from the Crown. "We all know leaders like that in our own communities," I suggested. Delegates agreed vocally throughout the crowd when I mentioned that. It only served to encourage my fervor.
"The First Nations Party will sweep through Canada, and even though we may not win or form government, we will be contributing to our liberation. Moses never formed a government. Jesus never formed a government."
"And you know what all the leaders of these liberation movements have in common?" I asked. "They were all killed!"
"But that's how important the right to determine their own destiny was." Never before had I given such an impassioned speech. I suddenly viewed the First Nations Party truly as a liberation movement, not just a political party. One day, aboriginal people would rule their own land, elected legitimately through the Canadian electoral system. People began to cheer. "One day, we will rule Saskatchewan! One day, we will rule British Columbia! One day, we will rule Manitoba and New Brunswick!" I proclaimed. "Just like Nunavut."
I even promised to be in Burnt Church, N.B. the next summer for a new round of lobster wars between native fishermen and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
"Gandhi said the world will see the injustice of British oppression through the pain of the Indian protesters who were killed and harassed after peaceful protests. Here in Canada, the government will see the injustice of British-style government determining our fate by the pain aboriginal people experience- the pain of depression, the pain of hopelessness."
I strongly urged Don Moses to consider re-naming his All Nations Party "The First Nations Party of British Columbia" so we could lay the groundwork for the creation of a First Nations Party of Canada. (The suggestion inspired no resulting name change.) Upon mentioning a federal party, I brought my passionate speech to an end and stepped off the stage to well wishers who approached me with encouragement. Vi Manuel told me that as I spoke, numbers of attendees approached her registration desk and bought memberships.
I was interviewed by a few reporters and summarized my liberation movement speech. When challenged on whether mainstream Canadians would get involved, I alluded to the aid blacks received in the sixties. "It's like the civil rights movement in the United States… Their sole reason was to represent the social issues of the black population. But they had the assistance of many others."
The interviews over, I sought out Don Moses to evaluate my speech and find out what was next on the agenda. Don congratulated me and told me that, after a break, he and a group of lawyers would be drafting a party constitution. He asked if I had a copy of our party's constitution with me, and I suddenly felt very intimidated. (I drafted the FNP constitution, which was all of three pages long, but I was no lawyer.) I told him I didn't have a copy with me but was confident his lawyer friends could produce something sufficient. I was so impressed to see that the All Nations Party had the support of Chiefs, Elders, lawyers, and professionals. Part of my depression came from the fact my party in Saskatchewan hadn't yet attracted such support.
As Don and his legal team worked on the constitution, I hung out with Vi and made plans for the evening. I felt that dinner, a movie, and dancing should be on the agenda, and I soon recruited a small group of partiers to join me. A number of these young people didn't drink but would join us for the entertainment anyway. We all packed into automobiles and headed to downtown Kamloops, where we ate and took in a movie. We found a local dance club where some of us drank and some of us danced. I drank and was soon wandering around the bar trying to make friends, but soon enough we were heading home where I crashed at the Moses household until the next morning.
Or afternoon, I should say. My habit of taking a drink when it was available was detrimental to my health. My drinking would remain out of control until years later, so I'd be sleeping off hangovers for years to come. This further triggered my bi-polar condition and led to outrageous behavior and terrible choices. Even after I was diagnosed bi-polar and was prescribed anti-depressant and anti-psychotic medication, I'd still entertain alcohol until I landed in jail a couple of times. I am sober now and I encourage others to consider sobriety, too. I am encouraged by the sobriety of FSIN Chief Alphonse Bird, American president George W. Bush, and former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, who all had to kick the habit before reaching their goals in politics.
When I finally awoke Sunday, I was informed that Lorne Calvert had won the leadership of the Saskatchewan NDP and would be our next premier. I watched CBC Newsworld with Don and his family, and reoriented myself. I had expected Chris Axworthy to win, but I liked Mr. Calvert and knew people from Moose Jaw who knew him from his days as a United Church minister.
News of the All Nations Party was also being carried on Broadcast News and Don and his wife were pleased to see his quotes on the newswire channel.
After eating a nice lunch, we were off to the convention center again where the constitution was being finalized, and Don presented me with the gift of a hand-made drum and gloves I wore for years. I had no gift to reciprocate, but Don assured me none was expected. The convention ended soon after, and I headed with Vi to her apartment to watch documentaries and eat pizza.
I was scheduled to bus back to Regina the next day, and the prospect of sitting in a bus for more than twelve hours seemed too much. I approached Don and asked whether he could purchase airline tickets in exchange for the reimbursement of my bus tickets from Saskatchewan. He agreed and his wife booked me a flight back to Regina the next day.
Don's son drove me to the airport Monday afternoon and I was off to Calgary and Regina. I was glad to get back home and meet my wife and kids at the airport. I had arrived just after supper and my wife told me the media had been calling all afternoon asking whether I would be running in the by-election. "What by-election?" I asked. New NDP leader Lorne Calvert had announced the date of the Regina Elphinstone by-election that afternoon. My chance to be the first FNP candidate had finally come.
