Dr. Duke Redbird, Elder, Poet, Human Rights Activist, Educator, and Artist
With a legacy stretching back to the 1960s, Dr. Redbird is a pillar of First Nations literature in Canada and has practiced a number of art disciplines, including poetry, painting, theatre, and film. He was a trailblazer throughout the 60s and 70s, giving voice to Indigenous people at major institutions and folk festivals across the country. In the 90s, he broadcast arts and entertainment news on City TV.
Duke's most recent collection of poems, simply titled “POETRY” was published in 2020. In 2023, he contributed and performed on the Sultans of String album, “Walking Through the Fire”.
This year, Dr. Redbird was appointed Elder and Wisdom Keeper to the Technoscience Research Unit (TRU) and to that Acceleration Consortium at the University of Toronto. He is also a visiting professor at St. Michael's College, University of Toronto.
In 2022, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Law from his alma mater, York University, where he also holds a Master's degree for Environmental Studies and Political Science. He received an honorary doctorate from the Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD) University in recognition of his leadership in the development of the first Indigenous Program of Fine Art.
He occupies the position of Elder, consultant, and Artist in Residence at the Urban Indigenous Education Centre at the Toronto District School Board. He is also an Elder with the Gardiner Museum, The City of Toronto, Luminato Nuit Blanche, Our Voice is Power, and Taking IT Global.
