Diefenbaker Honoured Today

Tuesday, February 08, 2011 at 15:31

The man who gave the vote to First Nations people is being honoured today.

An award has been named after the late John Diefenbaker.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lawrence Cannon, made the announcement today.

The John Diefenbaker Defender of Human Rights and Freedom Award will honour individuals and groups who have shown courage in defending human rights.

Cannon says Diefenbaker was chosen because of his tenacity in that area.

In addition to giving First Nations people the right to vote Diefenbaker also appointed the first Aboriginal person to the Senate, who was James Gladstone in 1958.