Coronation Medals for 4 Kahnawakero:non

4 Kahnawakero:non were honoured last evening with the King Charles III Coronation Medal for their work in advancing Indigenous rights and culture. Quebec Lieutenant Governor Manon Jeanotte, who is Mi’kmaq, handed out the awards at Concordia University. Eastern Door Founder Kenneth Deer, as well as former Ohén:ton Í:iente ne Ratitsénhaienhs Kahsennenhawe Sky Deer were among the recipients:

“There’s been such a colonial past and all of these negative things that have happened to our people, but I’m trying to forge forward and see what kind of things we can change now as a result of what we’ve learned and what’s happened. This recognition comes to people right across the country and if they’re going to start to recognize the efforts of our people starting to make strides and be out there and visible and making impacts, whether it’s a colonial institution that’s recognizing it, the fact that our people are being recognized I think is something that should be acknowledged.”

Treena Wahsontiio Delormier was also awarded a medal. She is the Scientific Director at KSDPP and an associate professor in nutrition at McGill:

“It’s hard to toot our own horn because as Kanien’kehà:ka we are taught that humility is really respected. It was a recognition for the work that I do in research that addresses helath food security and nutrition, food systems and also the way I do my research which includes community through participatory research.”

Sedalia Fazio was also awarded a Medal last night:

“When I realized who it was that nominated me and what the process was before we were all selected, I was kind of proud, because this comes from the Montreal urban Indigenous community who I have been working with for 30 something years. So, it was bittersweet.”