Lillian Shirt

Lillian Shirt (born Lillian Piché; March 2, 1940 – July 18, 2017) was a Cree women's rights activist from Saddle Lake Cree Nation in Treaty 6 Territory, Alberta, Canada who was known for her political initiative against the discrimination towards Indigenous women and their inadequate access to housing, employment, and human rights.

Activism

In 1969, Shirt protested on the grounds of Sir Winston Churchill Square outside Edmonton City Hall after she and her children were unjustly evicted from their apartment following a change in ownership.[1] With nowhere else to go, and no landlord willing to rent to her, she set up a tipi for her and her 4 children to live in view of the mayor's office. During the protest, which lasted 12 days, she was joined by several others who set up tents and an additional tipi.[2][3][4]

The protest earned national media attention.[5][6] In an interview, Shirt explained that, along with housing discrimination, there were other reasons for her protest including child welfare, increased opportunities for education, and a need to address alcohol abuse in Indigenous communities. Shirt met with Edmonton Mayor Ivor Dent and Alberta Premier Harry Strom to outline the social injustices the Indigenous women in her community were facing and was promised that programs would be put in place to address these issues[7] and the province's plan for welfare housing began.[8]

In 1973, among several demonstrations, Shirt was also active in the protests again the ruling in the Lavell case where a group of Indigenous women staged a demonstration in front of the legislative buildings in Edmonton to protest the Lavell decision and demand equality, not only for Indigenous women, but for Indigenous peoples as well.[7]

Shirt went on to become one of the pioneer Indigenous activists of her time, establishing the Alberta Native Peoples Defence Fund, now commonly known as the Alberta Litigation Fund, and contributed to the organization of the Sacred Circle program at Prince Charles Elementary School, launching an initiative to teach Cree language in schools. Shirt also helped found the organization Indian Rights for Indian Women,[9] along with Mohawk right's activist Mary Two-Axe Earley, and fought to address the sex discrimination in the Indian Act, ultimately ending with the passing of Bill C-31 in 1985.[10]

Death

Shirt died at age 77 on July 18, 2017. She was survived by her 6 children, 31 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren, and her numerous traditionally adopted children and grandchildren.[11]

References
  1. Shirt, Lillian; George, Corinne; Carter, Sarah (2016-12-05). "Lillian Piché Shirt, John Lennon and a Cree Grandmother's Inspiration for the Song "Imagine"". Active History. Retrieved 2020-10-16.
  2. MacDonald, Alex (1969-05-31). "Woman sets up teepee to protest housing bias". Edmonton Journal. p. 1. Retrieved 2020-10-16.
  3. "Cabinet decides today on future of teepee". Edmonton Journal. 1969-06-24. p. 49. Retrieved 2020-10-16.
  4. "Three tents join teepee protest". Red Deer Advocate. Canadian Press. 1969-07-03. p. 2. Retrieved 2020-10-16 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Erects Teepee Outside City Hall: Mother Confronts Edmonton Authority". The Globe and Mail. 1969-05-31. p. 4.
  6. "Cree woman believes injustice in housing - pitches a teepee". The Gazette. Canadian Press. 1969-06-02. p. 37. Retrieved 2020-10-16 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. George, Corinne. “‘If I Didn’t Do Something, My Spirit Would Die:’ Grassroots Activism of Aboriginal Women in Calgary and Edmonton, 1951 - 1985.” University of Calgary, M.A. Thesis, 2007.
  8. “Province’s Plan for Welfare Funding,” Edmonton Journal 7 July, 1969, 4.
  9. McMaster, Geoff (2018-12-07). "Was John Lennon's "Imagine" inspired by an Alberta Cree grandmother?". Folio. University of Alberta. Retrieved 2020-10-16.
  10. Laforest, Mary Jo (2010-07-31). "Aboriginal women still fighting for rights 25 years after law enacted". GuelphMercury.com. Retrieved 2020-10-16.
  11. Grace Gardens. “Online Tribute for Lillian SHIRT.” Grace Gardens Funeral Chapel, 18 July 2017, www.gracegardensfuneralchapel.com/obituary/lillian-shirt/.
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