Manuel, George

MANUEL, George, Secwepemc (Shuswap) activist (b 17 Feb 1921, Neskonlith; d 15 Nov 1989, Kamloops). Raised by grandparents, he attended Kamloops RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL until he fell sick with tuberculosis at age 12. He worked as a busboy, fruit picker and logger and, inspired by Andrew PAULL, got involved in aboriginal politics as an organizer. From 1970 to 1976 he was president of the National Indian Brotherhood, now the Assembly of First Nations, and led the organization in its activist role. He was a tireless worker who travelled the world, promoting the concept of a "Fourth World" of indigenous peoples, and brought international attention to Canada's FIRST NATIONS and ABORIGINAL RIGHTS issues. Manuel's book The Fourth World: An Indian Reality appeared in 1974; in 1975 he became founding president of the World Council of Indigenous Peoples, a position he held until 1981. Largely self-educated, he received an honorary degree from UBC and was made an officer in the Order of Canada in 1986. His son Robert (1947–98) led the UNION OF BC INDIAN CHIEFS in the 1980s. See also SECWEPEMC.