Manitobans line up to pay their respects and sign a book of condolences for Elijah Harper at the Manitoba Legislature in Winnipeg, Monday, May 20, 2013. Harper was the Manitoba politician who blocked the Meech Lake constitutional accord in 1990. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods
May 20, 2013 - 12:31 PM
WINNIPEG - Hundreds of people lined up this afternoon to pay their respects to Elijah Harper, the Manitoba politician who blocked the Meech Lake constitutional accord in 1990.
Harper's body is lying in state inside the provincial legislature and people patiently waited to walk by the open casket, which was draped with a Manitoba flag and a chief's headdress.
Harper's family members stood nearby, accepting condolences.
Derek Nepinak (NEE'-pih-nack), grand chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, says Harper showed other aboriginals it was okay to stand up and say no to powerful people.
Margaret Pollock brought her nine-year-old niece to show her someone she considers a role model and an important player in aboriginal history.
Harper died Friday at the age of 64.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2013