July 26, 1940 - Alexander Denny - a podcast by Stephen Hammond

Mi’kmaq leader Alexander Denny is born. Alexander Denny was born July 26, 1940 on the Eskasoni reserve of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, where he became an elder, activist and teacher of his people. At the age of 28, he was kji-keptin (grand captain) of the Mi'kmaq, and at 34, and again at 53, he served two-year terms as president of the Union of Nova Scotia Indians. Denny helped enshrine treaty rights for his people through a court challenge that, following many defeats, ended up in the Supreme Court of Canada. In 1985, the court found that the Treaty of 1752 between the governor of Nova Scotia and the chief of the Mi'kmaq Indians was still in effect, which meant the Mi'kmaqs’ hunting and fishing rights (among others) took precedence over provincial laws. Denny, perhaps reflecting on the stubborn persistence that helped push the case to the top court, joked, "I'm a pain in the ass for everyone who has a look at me." During his life, Denny traveled the world, educating others about the rights of the Mi'kmaq people. He died on December 25, 2004 in Sydney, Nova Scotia.

---

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Further episodes of Human Rights a Day

Further podcasts by Stephen Hammond

Website of Stephen Hammond