Duke Redbird Original Artwork- Frameless

Duke Redbird

Duke Redbird (born 1939) is an Indigenous Canadian poet, journalist, activist, businessman, actor, and administrator. He is best known as a key figure in the development of First Nations literature in Canada.

An Ojibwe from the Saugeen First Nation in Southwestern Ontario, he became a ward of the Children's Aid Society at just nine months of age after his mother tragically died in a house fire. Raised predominantly by white foster families, Redbird began writing as a way to cope with the anti-Indigenous racism he faced in schools.

Career Highlights:

• 1960s Spoken Word Artist: During the mid-1960s, Redbird launched his career as a spoken word artist, performing at folk festivals, coffeehouses, and on theatre tours across Canada.
• Editor of The Thunderbird: He became the editor of The Thunderbird, a native newspaper.
• Activism: Redbird was a determined organizer of protests and frequently spoke on native rights issues.

A celebrated Indigenous visionary, Duke Redbird is also an established public intellectual, poet, broadcaster, and filmmaker. He is highly sought after as a keynote speaker.

As a multidisciplinary artist, Redbird brings an Indigenous lens to modern art and design. His work has significantly contributed to the emergence of a vibrant Indigenous presence on the contemporary cultural scene.

Duke Redbird's outstanding contributions to culture, literature, and human rights have created a lasting legacy that stretches far beyond his work in Canada.