Gail Guthrie Valaskakis, Chippewa, 1939-2007
Her academic career focussed on Northern and Aboriginal
media and communications. She was Professor Emeritus of Concordia
University, where she served as Dean, Faculty of Arts and Science.
She was a founding member of the first post-secondary institution
for Aboriginal students in eastern Canada, Manitou College, and
helped create the Native Friendship Centre of Montréal.
She has served as chair, president or board member many organizations
including the Aboriginal Healing Foundation, Aboriginal Mental
Health Network, the CIHR Institute of Aboriginal Peoples Health;
the Native North American Studies Institute; the Centre for Research-Action
on Race Relations; and the National Film Board. She received a
National Aboriginal Achievement Award in 2002 for contributions
to Aboriginal communications. A longer biography appears in
Native Leaders of Canada.
