Ellen Gabriel facts for kids

Ellen Gabriel (born 1959), also known as Katsi'tsakwas, is a Mohawk activist and artist. She comes from the Kanehsatà:ke Nation and is part of the Turtle Clan. She is famous for being the official spokesperson during the Oka Crisis. The People of the Longhouse chose her for this important role.

Growing Up and Learning

Ellen Gabriel was born in 1959 in Kanehsatà:ke Nation, Quebec. From a young age, she loved art. She grew up in the 1960s and 1970s. During this time, she saw many movements for peace and women's rights. These events made her interested in becoming an activist.

In May 1990, she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. She studied Studio Art at Concordia University. In 2021, Gabriel finished a one-year program in Documentary filmmaking. She studied at the New York Film Academy.

Her Work

Ellen Gabriel started her career as an art teacher. She taught at the Kanehsatake Language and Cultural Center. From 1992 to 2000, she worked as an illustrator. She also helped create school lessons for an immersion school. She taught art to students from grades 1 to 6. She also made educational videos. These videos shared traditional Iroquois legends and local stories. They were for the school's lessons in Kanehsata:ke.

In 1993, a film called Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance was released. Ellen Gabriel was an important part of this documentary. From 2001 to 2004, she worked at McGill University. She was the coordinator for the First People’s House.

After that, Gabriel became the president of Quebec Native Women Inc. (QNW). This organization is in Kahnawake, Quebec. She held this role from March 2004 to December 2010. During this time, she spoke up for the rights of Indigenous women. She especially worked on issues related to the Canadian Indian Act. This included changes from Bill C-31. She shared concerns faced by Indigenous women with government groups. These included standing committees and National Assembly committees.

Gabriel also served on the board of the National Aboriginal Health Organization. Here, she helped organize workshops. These workshops discussed how colonization affected Indigenous peoples, especially women. As president of Quebec Native Women Inc., Gabriel connected with other groups. She worked with Indigenous and non-Indigenous organizations. She also wrote articles about important issues for Indigenous peoples.

She continued her career as a technical consultant. She has worked at the Kanehsatà:ke Language and Cultural Center since November 2011. In this job, she helps make the Kanien’keha language stronger in her community.

After studying at the New York Film Academy in 2021, Gabriel became a freelance documentarian. She makes films about nature, other artists, and everyday life. Her film When the Pine Needles Fall won awards. It tells the story of how the 78-day standoff began. This was between the police and the community during the Oka Crisis in 1990.

Her Activism

In March 1990, Gabriel joined a movement. People were protesting the expansion of a golf course in Oka, Quebec. This protest grew into what is known as the Oka Crisis. To make people aware of the crisis, she traveled around the world. She visited places like The Hague, Strasbourg, and Japan.

On May 19, 2009, Gabriel gave a speech. This was at the eighth meeting of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

From July 11 to 15, 2011, she gave another speech. This was at the fourth meeting of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

On May 7, 2013, she spoke about Bill S-2. She gave a speech to the Canadian House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women.

Gabriel is currently a member of the Steering Committee for Indigenous Climate Action.

Awards and Recognition

Awards for Film

• Selected at the American Indian Film Festival 2022
• Honorable Mention at the Tokyo Film Awards 2022
• Best Short Documentary at the LA Independent Women Film Awards 2022
• Best Student Film Kanatenhs for When the Pine Needles Fall, from the Melbourne Independent Film Festival 2022
• Best Student Short Kanatenhs for When the Pine Needles Fall, from the Sydney Indie Short Film Festival 2023

Awards for Indigenous Activism

• Golden Eagle Award from the Native Women's Association of Canada, 2005
• International Women's Day Award from the Barreau du Québec/Québec Bar Association
• Jigonsaseh Women of Peace Award, 2008

See also

• Mohawk Warrior Society
• Kahn-Tineta Horn
• Waneek Horn-Miller
• United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues