Ask an Elder: Indigenous and Immigrant Reflections on Canada’s History of Genocide

A part of Museum of Toronto's Ask an Elder series with Elder Duke Redbird, a participant reflects with Duke on Canada's history of genocide.

Museum of Toronto hosted “Ask an Elder”; an opportunity people to engage with, ask questions of, and learn from Elder Duke Redbird’s perspectives.

We wanted to share a session with you today in which Elder Duke Redbird is asked about reckoning with Canada’s history of genocide as an immigrant on stolen land who has lived experience with genocide in other parts of the world.

Ask an Elder was a series that was a part of Wigwam Chi-Chemung, a past exhibition put on by Museum of Toronto and Elder Duke Rebird. Participants’ questions could pertain to things such as Indigenous culture, Indigenous history, Toronto’s waterfront, etc. No question was too big or too small (or too simple or complex).

DUKE REDBIRD

Elder Dr. Duke Redbird is an established Indigenous intellectual, poet, painter, broadcaster, filmmaker and keynote speaker, he brings his breadth of cultural knowledge and artistic practice to the benefit of a global audience. Dr. Redbird was instrumental in the implementation of innovative multimedia, technologies and beyond, bringing an Indigenous approach to art education that was rooted in his pioneering work at OCAD University. Dr. Redbird’s legacy stretches far beyond his work in Canada. His art has been exhibited and his poetry has been published and translated in anthologies around the world.

Since 2014, Dr. Redbird has been the Indigenous Arts Consultant for the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) and is the Artist in Residence at the Urban Indigenous Education Centre.

In November Duke will deliver a keynote to faculty and students at MIT in Boston, where he will speak about the creative influence of the Indigenous lens and technology.