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 60's & 70's 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 Sultan's 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 the Acceleration Consortium at the University of Toronto. He is also a visiting professor at St. Michaels College, University of Toronto.
In 2022 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Law from his Alma Mater, York University where he also holds a Masters 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 as Elder, consultant and Artist in Residence to the Urban Indigenous Education Centre at the Toronto District School Board. He is also and Elder with The Gardiner Museum, The City of Toronto, Luminato, Nuit Blanc, Our Voice is Power, Taking IT Global.
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