Born in Kahnawà:ke, QC, Mary Two-Axe Earley was a Kanyen’kehà:ka Clan Mother and political activist who challenged and helped change laws that discriminated against Indigenous women in Canada.

In 1876 an amendment to the Indian Act meant that Indian status was determined by male lineage. This amendment meant that Indigenous women who married non-Indigenous men lost their status and, with it, their land, treaty and property rights. 

Mary Two-Axe helped to raise awareness of this issue and the impacts loss of status had on Indigenous communities. In 1974, Mary Two-Axe  helped create the Québec Native Women’s Association, and in 1985, after years of hard work, another amendment (Bill C-31) passed, leading to her and many other Indigenous women having their Indian Status reinstated. Indigenous women finally regained rights that they had been previously denied. In honour of her work, she was awarded the Governor General’s Award.

Author: LEARN/RÉCIT

References: Indspire and The Canadian Encyclopedia

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