Description
Mildred Poplar, Vuntut Gwichin First Nation, was born in Old Crow, Yukon Territory in 1936. She was amongst the first group of executive directors with the Friendship Center Movement and worked with Indigenous communities in education, before being hired to coordinate the education portfolio at the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) in 1978. Poplar coordinated the southern train of the UBCIC's Constitution Express, and she went on to be the assistant to four UBCIC presidents until she retired in 2000. She has actively shared the UBCIC's land claim positions by holding lectures and educational workshops at schools, colleges, universities, and public programs. She also co-chaired two water rights conferences. As a member of the Native Council of the Anglican Church of Canada, she attended many international conferences, including the first international gathering of Indigenous Peoples at the United Nations in New York. Mildred lives in Kanata, Ontario with her daughter.
With sharp wit and insightful prose, Mildred C. Poplar reveals the inner landscapes of a dedicated group of people advocating for the rights of Indigenous Peoples in British Columbia, through personal, political, social, and spiritual anecdotes.
Part memoir and part chronicle, this first-hand historical account tells the true story of the political struggles and legal actions of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) to protect Aboriginal Title, Rights and Treaties during the Patriation of the Canadian Constitution between 1978 and 1989. From a childhood in Northern Yukon, to a memorable job interview in Prince George, to demonstrations on Parliament Hill under police scrutiny, this book underscores the humanity and strength of the activists who have fought for the inherent rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Audience: Ages 16+.