Former chief fought to improve life in north
As a young man, Harry Cook left northern Saskatchewan to continue his education and pursue a career in welding.
But it wasn’t long before he and his wife missed home.
They moved from Regina to La Ronge in 1978 and Cook dedicated himself to improving life for members of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band.
He started his work as the band’s housing co-ordinator. At the time, many of its buildings lacked water and sewage — something that changed dramatically over the next two decades as Cook served as councillor and, later, as chief for 18 years.
When he spoke with StarPhoenix freelancer Doug Cuthand after announcing his retirement in 2005, Cook said getting proper infrastructure with water, sewage and electrical services in the band’s six communities was one of his biggest accomplishments during his time in office.
He also oversaw the building of schools in all communities.
Cook has been lauded for his business accomplishments and was named to the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business’ Hall of Fame in 2007. As chief of Lac La Ronge Indian Band, Cook was president of Kitsaki Management Limited Partnership, which owns or manages more than a dozen companies involved in everything from trucking to catering. The company employs hundreds of people, many of whom are Lac La Ronge Indian Band members.
In addition to his work with the Lac La Ronge Indian Band, Cook spent nearly 20 years as a board member for Cameco, one of the world’s largest uranium producers, and helped the company build relationships with northern stakeholders until he stepped down in 2009.
He continues to serve as a senator with the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations.