Chief Roy Whitney
He was afraid to go into the water, like many six-year-olds. But Roy Whitney's sister, Marilyn, was having none of it. His eldest sister picked him up and threw him into Fish Creek. “That's the only way you're going to learn.”
That “sink or swim” incident foreshadowed Chief Roy Whitney's future career. At age 21, he entered politics as a councillor for the Tsuut'ina Nation; for a good portion of the past 36 years, Whitney has represented the people of Tsuut'ina as its leader.
“I didn't grow up wanting to be chief,” says Whitney, who says his pride in his culture and love of his fellow Tsuut'ina people was instilled in him early in life by several of his female elders, all of whom he called granny. His parents, Roy and Monica, “also taught me the importance of hard work.”
Over the past year, Whitney's hard work and passion have borne much fruit, including the opening of the Tsuut'ina Costco and the long-anticipated southwest portion of the ring road that winds through 10 kilometres of Tsuut'ina land. They were preceded just a few years earlier by the Grey Eagle Resort and Casino and a new sports complex — all part of a multibillion-dollar commercial, entertainment and business park plan.
Such initiatives have provided jobs for many of his fellow band members. “It's created our own ability to support ourselves, to achieve our autonomy,” Whitney says.
It has also built bridges between Tsuut'ina and their Calgary neighbours.
“Who we are as Tsuut'ina people are ingrained in these developments,” he says. “And our new ring road will lead the Tsuut'ina people into the future.”
As for his own future plans, the indefatigable sexagenarian — who over the decades has worked with several Calgary mayors and federal and provincial politicians — has no plans to slow down.
When he does, though, the father of four daughters and grandfather to five says he'd like to return to his ranching roots on the reserve that predates Fort Calgary.
“I miss having cattle around,” he says. “That's on my bucket list for when I'm older.”