Roddy Blackjack (c. 1927 – death announced on May 2, 2013) was a Canadian

elder An elder is someone with a degree of seniority or authority. Elder or elders may refer to: Positions Administrative * Elder (administrative title), a position of authority Cultural * North American Indigenous elder, a person who has and tr ...

and former Chief of the Little Salmon/Carmacks First Nation of the Yukon Territory. He also served as an executive elder of the

Council of Yukon First Nations A council is a group of people who come together to consult, deliberate, or make decisions. A council may function as a legislature, especially at a town, city or county/shire level, but most legislative bodies at the state/provincial or natio ...

and "elder in residence" at Yukon College. Blackjack is considered an early architect of the Yukon Land Claims agreement. In 1973, Blackjack traveled to

Ottawa Ottawa (, ; Canadian French: ) is the capital city of Canada. It is located at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River in the southern portion of the province of Ontario. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the core ...

as part of a delegation of Yukon First Nation leaders. He presented Canadian Prime Minister

Pierre Trudeau Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau ( , ; October 18, 1919 – September 28, 2000), also referred to by his initials PET, was a Canadian lawyer and politician who served as the 15th prime minister of Canada The prime mini ...

with documents and other paperwork which would form the basis for the eventual Yukon Land Claims agreement. Blackjack died in early May 2013 at the age of 86. His death was announced on May 2, 2013.

References

1920s births 2013 deaths Indigenous leaders in Yukon First Nations activists 20th-century First Nations people 21st-century First Nations people Tutchone people {{Yukon-politician-stub