Google Doodle celebrates Mohawk activist Mary Two-Axe Earley

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CBC News: Google doodle pays tribute to Indigenous women’s rights advocate Mary Two-Axe Earley

Monday, June 28, 2021

Indianz.Com

The late Mohawk activist Mary Two-Axe Earley, who fought for the equal treatment of Native women in Canada, is the Google Doodle for June 28, 2021.

Two-Axe Earley, who was from Kahnawake Mohawk Territory in Quebec, was stripped of her federal Indian Status based solely on her gender and the race of the person she chose to marry. Her efforts led to a repeal of the discriminatory practice through Bill C-31 on June 28, 1985.

#DidYouKnow? In 1985, the Indian status of thousands of First Nations women and children was restored thanks in part to Mary Two-Axe Earley, a Kanien’keháka (Mohawk) woman from Kahnà:wake.

Learn more → https://t.co/kYocxDmcP4 #GoogleDoodle by guest artist @mohawkotsisto pic.twitter.com/5GoWyYCDaW
— Google Doodles (@GoogleDoodles) June 28, 2021

“One week later, Two-Axe Earley became the first woman to have her Indian status reinstated,” Google notes in its writeup of the Doodle.

“The Bill was effective April 17, 1985, but the movement for sex equality continues today,” the writeup continues.

Mohawk artist Star Horn created the Google Doodle of Two-Axe Earley. Both hail from Kahnawake.

“We both come from the same community,” Star Horn says in the writeup. “My personal experience was that her story was not taught in school nor anywhere else.”

“For me to have such a small part in helping bring her impactful story to the world, in a visual way, is an honour,” the artist states.

In a separate Google blog post, Mohawk filmmaker Courtney Mountour expands on the significance of Two-Axe Earley’s efforts, which led her to create a documentary about the legendary activist. “Mary Two-Axe Earley: I Am Indian Again” tells the story in Mary’s own words.

“Mary garnered the support of influential political figures and women’s rights activists,” Mountour writes in the blog post, which is also translated into Mohawk. “She led with love, compassion and persistence, something that I see so many of our women carrying with them as they continue this crucial work for sex equality.”