Russ Mirasty LLD

Although best known as the first Indigenous Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan, the Honourable Russ Mirasty also made a lasting impact in policing and community service. A fluent Cree speaker, Mr. Mirasty, a member of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band, has contributed a lifetime to public service, leadership and community engagement.

Born and raised in La Ronge, he grew up immersed in Woodland Cree culture and northern life. His deep connection to community, coupled with the values instilled by his family, laid the foundation for a lifetime of service. He is particularly grateful for the influence that his grandparents had and continue to have on his life and worldview. They lived a very traditional lifestyle and spoke only Cree.

After graduating from high school in La Ronge, he attended the University of Saskatchewan (USask) before joining the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in 1976.  He was one of only two Indigenous cadets in his troop. Over the course of a distinguished 36 year career, he lived in seven provinces, worked in every province and territory and participated in an exchange with the Northern Territory Police Service in Australia. He attained the rank of Assistant Commissioner and was the first Indigenous Commanding Officer for a province. In this role he was responsible for overseeing hundreds of police officers, civilian members and support staff. His leadership was marked by a commitment to supporting those providing policing services, respectful policing, strong relationships and mentorship of young officers. He had a keen interest in the recruitment of Indigenous people into the RCMP.

Mr. Mirasty retired from the RCMP in 2013 but his public service continued. He worked with his First Nation as the Executive Director. He participated and contributed to numerous provincial initiatives and committees including: the Provincial Advisory Group on Poverty Reduction, the League of Educational Administrators, Directors and Superintendents, the McDowell Foundation and the Community Knowledge Alliance. He was the co-lead on the province wide Student First Engagement Process which served to inform a new provincial K-12 education strategic plan. He also worked with the provincial government as the Executive Director of First Nations and Metis Relations and Northern Affairs in the Ministry of Government Relations.

In 2019 he was appointed as the Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan and served as the Queen’s then King’s representative, fulfilling constitutional and ceremonial duties with dignity and compassion. He focused on themes of reconciliation, youth empowerment and engagement and often spoke of the importance of education and cultural pride.

Mr. Mirasty concluded his term in 2025 and left behind a legacy of integrity, service and leadership.