Public Speaking

Educated in both Worlds. Outspoken. Unapologetic. Indigenous Woman.

Book Joan for your next event.

Joan Jack has survived attacks and faced discrimination in her life for two reasons:

  1. She’s a woman.

  2. She’s Indigenous.

Despite being perpetually attacked because she speaks her mind, Joan’s heart continues to grow in response.

Joan grew up in the Berens River First Nation. She had to leave home at 13 years old in order to attend high school in Winnipeg.

Indigenous women need to grow up fast to survive.

Joan has 30+ years of experience in Indigenous Governance and Law, supporting her in her mission of education and activism for indigenous causes.

Joan has served as counsel for several First Nation Governments in Manitoba as a part of the assertion of their sovereignty within the context of the White Law. She was also the first lawyer to file a National Day School Class Action.

She’s also been a post-secondary instructor and guest lecturer for courses such as:

  • Aboriginal Law

  • Introduction to Native Studies

  • Oral History, Indigenous Peoples and the Law

Quotations

“Our way of life is based on the understanding that it is the journey (not the destination) that holds wisdom from which we can learn. These different worldviews result in systemic discrimination.”

“We must first resolve the conflicts within ourselves as a key step in resolving conflicts with our fractured families and communities.”

“We had to normalize violence to survive, but now we are each awakening to our own trauma triggers and how we are hurting others with our trauma responses.”

Activism

Joan has been protesting since her teens. In the 80s, she was a part of creating an organization called the Indigenous Women’s Collective of Manitoba. During that same period, she worked with other Indigenous women to create the OWN (Original Women’s Network) of Manitoba that still operates today.

In 2012, Joan rode as a Treaty Freedom Rider led by Chief Norman Bone, Treaty 2 and Chief Derek Nepinak, Treaty 4. Over 4 days, the riders transported coals from the Sacred Treaty Fire to over 40 communities. It rained 9 out of 11 days.

In 2016, Joan supported Chiefs Bone and Nepinak through the Road to Niagara from Winnipeg to Niagara Falls to attend the Assembly of First Nations. Again, the ride represented an assertion of sovereignty over Indigenous lands, with riders carrying the message that sovereignty lives in each of us.

Then Joan rode from Winnipeg to Vancouver with the Treaty Freedom Riders in 2018 to arrive at the Assembly of First Nations annual general assembly to bring attention to the survivors of Day Schools in Canada.

Most recently, in 2019, Joan road with other Indigenous women riders in the Medicine Wheel ride across North America. Alongside a Cree woman from Alberta, Joan rode for 54 days and travelled over 17,000km.

The ride brought attention to the misogynist genocide facing Indigenous Women in Canada, the United States and Mexico.

On Dec. 12th 2020, Joan received the inspired thought to create a private Facebook Group called #DeadlyKookoms. Her group has grown to 20,800 members and is now open to #DeadlyAunties as well. The Indigenous women in her group are consistently active at the rate of 70%.