Ellen Gabriel
1959-
Turtle Clan Member and Indigenous Human rights activist, Gabriel was wellknown when she was chosen by the People
of the Longhouse and her community of Kanehsatà:ke to be their spokesperson during the 1990 "Oka" Resistance; a 78 day standoff
to protect their traditional territories from the expansion of a golf course.
Excerpt from CBC Interview, November 16,2018
“As Indigenous people who have been in the invisible so-called minority in Canada, we’re good targets.
It’s not just us experiencing it now, but the multigenerational experiences that sort of make us feel more defiant, and say, well,
you know, we’re used to how you treat us…
You know, these problems are not problems that we’ve created — these are problems that have gone under the status quo of imperialism ... that if we stand in
the way of Canada’s prosperity, we’re dispensable.
When government ... only listens to the corporations, not only are Indigenous people in trouble, but the society as a whole is in trouble because we are all experiencing
climate change. So let’s work together.”
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