Aside from leading the Osoyoos Indian Band, Louie has also participated in Canada’s economic efforts by consulting with Jim Flaherty, federal finance minister in 2008. Louie is also the chairman of the National Aboriginal Economic Development Board for two terms and was chosen by the US State Department as one of six leaders in Canada’s First Nations to review economic development opportunities for American Indian communities. In 2004, he was given the Order of British Columbia as recognition for what he’s done for the community.
But despite being one of the hardest working First Nations leader, Louie is not a fan of the Indian Act in Canada. Sure, he’d do anything for the community but he’d rather do it his own way and not rely on lousy land deals or broken promises. In fact, he thinks the government deserves a good scolding to get it to its senses. Ironically, he reserves his “best” words of tough love for his own kind, quoted to have been saying “if your life sucks, it’s because you suck.” That’s Louie’s way of saying it’s up to you to help yourself.