Mary Two-Axe Earley

Mary Two-Axe Earley, born on October fourth, nineteen eleven, was a prominent Canadian activist known for her unwavering commitment to women's rights and indigenous rights. A member of the Mohawk and Oneida nations from the Kahnawake reserve in Quebec, her life took a pivotal turn when she lost her legal Indian status after marrying a non-status man. This personal experience ignited her passion for advocacy, leading her to challenge the discriminatory practices embedded in the Indian Act.

In nineteen sixty-seven, Two-Axe Earley played a crucial role in founding the Equal Rights for Indian Women organization. Her efforts culminated in a significant submission to the Royal Commission on the Status of Women, where she highlighted the injustices faced by First Nations women. Her activism continued to flourish, and in nineteen seventy-four, she co-founded the Québec Native Women's Association, further amplifying her voice in the fight for equality.

Two-Axe Earley's courage was on full display at the International Women's Year conference in Mexico in nineteen seventy-five, where she confronted her band council's attempts to evict her from Kahnawake. This bold stand garnered national and international attention, solidifying her status as a leading figure in the struggle for indigenous women's rights.

Her tireless advocacy bore fruit on June twenty-eighth, nineteen eighty-five, when the Canadian Parliament passed Bill C-31, amending the Indian Act to eliminate gender discrimination. Mary Two-Axe Earley became the first woman to have her Indian status restored, paving the way for thousands of other First Nations women and their descendants to reclaim their legal and cultural identities. In twenty twenty-one, her remarkable journey was captured in the National Film Board's documentary, 'Mary Two-Axe Earley: I Am Indian Again.'