This past weekend, Garden River First Nation lost a very active and outspoken member of its community.
Musician, political activist, and First Nations treaty rights advocate Tyrone Souliere lost his battle with cancer on Sunday, May 22.
In advance of last year’s federal election, Souliere founded Rally The First Nation Vote, a local movement which eventually spread across Canada gaining wide-spread support and national media attention.
His goal was to educate leaders and encourage all eligible Indigenous citizens to cast their ballots in an effort to remove the Harper government from office.
“A lot of the work that he did to move that cause and educate our community members, he did pretty much out of pocket. He was very humble about that,” Garden River First Nation Chief Paul Syrette told SooToday. “But he really believed in the cause and the need for First Nations to be together to remove the Harper government from office.”
On a number of occasions, Souliere was invited by chiefs and representatives to speak to Provincial Territorial Organizations, and met with both then-Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau and NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair.
“I believe he was very instrumental and very influential in convincing First Nations people to vote,” Chief Syrette said. “Traditionally, the number [of First Nations voters] in federal elections was not high statistically speaking. But there was such a need with a number of omnibus bills that were being presented, Tyrone took up and championed that cause to challenge the Conservative government.”
“The results are what we’re living with today. Can we attribute all of it to Tyrone? No. But certainly he was one of the major players in championing that cause for all First Nations.”
Chief Syrette said Souliere’s health challenges “never slowed down his heart and his desire to help make his community better.”
Souliere previously served as a Garden River Band Council member, challenging his own chief and council to be more accountable.
And this past September, he ran for Garden River First Nation Chief against Paul Syrette.
“We shook hands, he was a gentleman, and we never had any hard feelings,” said Chief Syrette. “He was certainly an important member of our community.”
As a talented and dedicated musician, Souliere was an active member of the Sault and area's music scene performing most recently in Mojo and 5ive Below Zero.
Friends and bandmates gathered last month at the Water Tower Pub to support Souliere as he underwent cancer treatment.
Ty One On raised more than $1,300 to assist him with day-to-day expenses.
Memorial arrangements for Tyrone Souliere have been posted here.