Chief George Manuel (1929-1989) is recognized as the most significant leader of the world's indigenous peoples in the 20th century. Chief Manuel won this distinction for his courageous stand against the Canadian government's efforts to arbitrarily confiscate Indian lands according to the 1969 "White Paper" policy issued by then Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. As the President of the National Indian Brotherhood and later the President of the World Council of Indigenous Peoples, Chief George Manuel led a world wide reawakening of Fourth World peoples to work together to protect their lands and their way of life against capricious states' governments, trans-state corporations and other forces intent on destroying Fourth World peoples.

Ms. Rosalee Tizya, a long-time assistant to Chief Manuel, political strategist, researcher and community organizer from the Yukon in Canada was appointed by the Center for World Indigenous Studies Board of Directors to become the first occupant of the Chief George Manuel Chair for Fourth World Politics established in honor of Chief Manuel shortly after his death in 1989. Ms. Tizya has continued to honor Chief Manuel's vision and political achivements in this important position.

Ms. Tizya is the former Executive Director of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs and former Director of Research for the Canadian Royal Commission on Self-government. She is a member of the Vandu Kutchin and resides with her son Christian in Vancouver, BC Canada.

If you wish to contact Ms. Tizya send a message, but she may not get back to you very soon since she spends a great amount of her time working "out in the bush" where she is undertaking applied research under the Community Trauma Study.