Bunibonibee Cree Nation chief remembered as kind, compassionate leader

Bunibonibee Cree Nation Chief Richard Hart is being remembered as a kind and compassionate leader after news of his death was shared by community members and Indigenous leaders on Saturday. 

Bunibonibee Cree Nation member Sheila North, the former grand chief of Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO), found out about Hart’s passing on Saturday morning. 

“It’s been a sad day, very sad day,” North said, adding members of the community in Oxford House, Man., located about 580 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg, are feeling shock and sadness. 

“Chief Hart was a very compassionate and kind person,” she said, describing him as happy and “always hopeful.” 

“He was very respectful to everyone and you could tell that he really valued his time with family and really cherished his family, even though he was busy with work.”

North said Hart worked tirelessly for the community when residents were forced to evacuate for nearly a month in the summer of 2024 due to an out-of-control wildfire. Hart stayed behind to coordinate everything, North said. 

“He did it with patience and grace and with respect for everyone. I think a lot of us saw … the compassion and the love he had for his community, his people and his family during that time,” she said. 

North said Hart hadn’t been feeling well when she texted with him less than a week ago. 

MKO said in a statement posted to social media on Saturday that Hart was a “respected and compassionate leader” who “dedicated his life to serving and uplifting his Nation.”

“His voice, wisdom, and leadership strengthened Bunibonibee Cree Nation and the many organizations and initiatives he contributed to throughout Manitoba,” MKO said of Hart, who had served as the organization’s executive director. 

The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs said in a statement that Hart led Bunibonibee with “humility, care, and an unwavering commitment to the well-being of his community.”

“His leadership was marked by integrity, steady guidance, and a deep respect for the people he represented,” AMC said, sharing condolences with Hart’s family and the wider community. 

North said Hart had “was a good example of what a leader should be.”

“He really did give a lot of himself to his community and he will be missed.”