JUNE 8, 1905

CREE RALPH STEINHAUER BORN—THE FIRST ABORIGINAL LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF ALBERTA

Born at Morley, Alberta, then part of the Northwest Territories, Steinhauer, beginning in 1923, became active in numerous farm development and business organizations.  For 34 years, he served as Councillor and for 3 years as Chief of the Saddle Lake Indian Band.  He served at different times as President or Board Member of the Indian Association of Alberta, Alberta Indian Development Corporation, Alberta Indian Development Systems Limited, Indian Eskimo Association, and the Federal Indian Economic Development Authority.  In 1974, on advice of Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau, Steinhauer was appointed Lieutenant Governor of Alberta.  He served until 1979.  He received the Canadian Centennial Medal (1967), Medal of Service of the Order of Canada (1967), appointment as an Officer of the Order of Canada (1972), several honorary doctorates, and named a Knight of Grace of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem (1975).  Steinhauer died at Edmonton on September 19, 1987.

Source:  “The Honourable Ralph G. Steinhauer, 1974-1979, Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Internet Wayback Machine.  Retrieved 5/8/2020, https://web.archive.org/web/20150718102035/http://www.assembly.ab.ca/lao/library/lt-gov/steinhau.htm
Photo:  The Government of Alberta, undated.  Permissive Use. Source:  Timeline - LG (lieutenantgovernor.ab.ca)