Close Photo of the Insignia of a Member of the Order of Canada. // Photo courtesy of the Governor General of Canada.
Order of Canada appointed UCalgary Elder in Residence shares wisdom
“Systemic discrimination is like COVID. It is like a virus. It hurts people, it kills people, it’s unhealthy. And if that’s the society we want, that’s what we have. We must find a vaccination for systemic discrimination. We must heal this planet. We must heal as people.”
Doreen Spence, better known as Grandmother to many, is a Cree Elder in Residence at the University of Calgary, and was recently appointed to the Order of Canada. Her impressive and heartfelt activism and advocacy work has encompassed her entire life for 83 years, and she still continues to strive towards a vaccination for systemic discrimination. Her work has resulted in her winning many prestigious awards, including the Chief David Crowchild Memorial Award, YWCA Women of Distinction Award, Alberta Human Rights Award,