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.
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.
