Descendant

In a sign of the times, a descendant of a renowned Canadian native statesman has become the first aboriginal member of the National Energy Board. After eight years of battles that repeatedly slowed down Canada’s northern natural gas pipeline project and amid signs the conflicts are spreading, aboriginal relations are emerging as a government and industry priority. Strater Crowfoot — a former Siksika (Blackfoot) chief whose great-great grandfather, Chief Crowfoot, a Canadian counterpart to Sitting Bull in the American West, led high plains tribes of hunters and warriors to open southern Alberta for peaceful settlement by signing Treaty 7 in 1877 — joined the NEB this month.