Walter Perry Deiter (31 May 1916 – 7 September 1988) was a Canadian

First Nations First Nations or first peoples may refer to: * Indigenous peoples, for ethnic groups who are the earliest known inhabitants of an area. Indigenous groups *First Nations is commonly used to describe some Indigenous groups including: **First Natio ...

leader. He was the founding chief of the National Indian Brotherhood in 1968, which is today known as the

Assembly of First Nations The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) is an assembly of Canadian First Nations (Indian bands) represented by their chiefs. Established in 1982 and modelled on the United Nations General Assembly, it emerged from the National Indian Brotherhood, ...

Early years

Deiter was born on the Peepeekisis Reserve near

Balcarres, Saskatchewan Balcarres ( ); 2006 population 598) is a town located in southern Saskatchewan, Canada along Highway 10 and Highway 22, approximately 85 km northeast of Regina. Highway 619 and Highway 310 are nearby highways to this community. Nei ...

. His father was

Cree The Cree ( cr, néhinaw, script=Latn, , etc.; french: link=no, Cri) are a Indigenous peoples of the Americas, North American Indigenous people. They live primarily in Canada, where they form one of the country's largest First Nations in Canada ...

and his mother was

Saulteaux The Saulteaux (pronounced , or in imitation of the French pronunciation , also written Salteaux, Saulteau and other variants), otherwise known as the Plains Ojibwe, are a First Nations band government in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, A ...

. He attended residential schools at File Hills in

Saskatchewan Saskatchewan ( ; ) is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province in Western Canada, western Canada, bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, to the northeast by Nunavut, and on t ...

and later in

Brandon Brandon may refer to: Names and people *Brandon (given name), a male given name *Brandon (surname), a surname with several different origins Places Australia *Brandon, a farm and 19th century homestead in Seaham, New South Wales *Brandon, Q ...

Manitoba Manitoba ( ) is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada at the Centre of Canada, longitudinal centre of the country. It is Canada's Population of Canada by province and territory, fifth-most populous province, with a population o ...

, where he completed up to Grade 10. Deiter volunteered to fight in 1939, enlisting with the Regina Regiment, and completed basic training. Before he could be deployed, he was diagnosed with

tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease usually caused by '' Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body. Most infections show no symptoms, in ...

and was sent to Fort San Hospital, where he spent the next four years, where he completed his Grade 12 and earned a certificate in business administration.

Personal life

Deiter married Inez Wuttunee of Red Pheasant Cree Nation in 1951.

Career

In 1958, Deiter and his wife Inez were "the driving force in laying down the foundations for the inauguration of the Saskatoon Friendship Centre." After relocating to Regina, Deiter served as the first Indigenous president of the Regina Indian and Métis Friendship Centre from 1962 to 1967. In 1966, he became head of the

Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN), formerly known as the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, is a Saskatchewan-based First Nations organization. It represents 74 First Nations in Saskatchewan and is committed to honouri ...

and served in that role until 1968. During this time, he negotiated with then Premier

Ross Thatcher Wilbert Ross Thatcher, (May 24, 1917 – July 22, 1971) was the ninth premier of Saskatchewan, serving from May 22, 1964 to June 30, 1971. He led the Saskatchewan Liberal Party in four general elections, in 1960, 1964, 1967 and 1971. Thatcher ...

, for a five percent hiring policy of First Nations and Métis people within the provincial government. He was also heavily involved in developing the first plans for a native-controlled Native Metal Industries Ltd, which was still in operation in 1980. With his staff, Deiter helped organize the Indian Association of Alberta and the Manitoba Indian Brotherhood. Deiter was instrumental in the founding of the National Indian Brotherhood in Canada and was its first president, serving from 1968 to 1970. Deiter had a relatively conservative approach to issues around indigenous self-government, education and community development. He was replaced by George Manuel in 1970. In 1970, Deiter formed the Native Alcohol Council (he had been a member of

Alcoholics Anonymous Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is an international mutual aid fellowship of alcoholics dedicated to abstinence-based recovery from alcoholism through its spiritually-inclined Twelve Step program. Following its Twelve Traditions, AA is non-professi ...

since 1956). Deiter was elected as band councillor of Peepeekisis First nation in 1977. He also served as a consultant for the Federation of Saskatchewan Indians (FSI) in 1978. In 1978 he helped organize the National Indian Veterans Association in order to lobby the federal government for equal treatment for Indigenous military veterans. In 1980, he also served as the Southern President of the Saskatchewan Indian Veterans' Association. in 1979 Deiter was one of five leaders who made a presentation to British Parliament about the concerns of Indigenous Peoples in Canada regarding the new Constitution. Deiter was appointed as an Officer of the

Order of Canada The Order of Canada (french: Ordre du Canada; abbreviated as OC) is a Canadian state order and the second-highest honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit. To coincide with the ...

in recognition of his work towards better education and social conditions for First Nations people. He died of cancer in Regina and was buried on the Okanese Reserve.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Deiter, Walter 1916 births 1988 deaths Assembly of First Nations chiefs Officers of the Order of Canada Cree people Deaths from cancer in Saskatchewan Indigenous leaders in Saskatchewan