
While many know and love Jeannette Corbiere-Lavell, less is known about Yvonne Bedard. Most know it was in 1973 when Jeannette’s and Yvonne’s cases were heard together in the Supreme Court of Canada. While I have had the pleasure of both meeting Jeannette and the pleasure of her company, I have always wondered where Yvonne was and what she has been up to all these years. Through social media I was able to connect with Linda Ense − the Executive Director of the Native Women’s Centre Hamilton, a local of the Ontario Native Women’s Association − who is Yvonne’s niece. Through this process I was able to facilitate a relationship between Yvonne and Mallory. It was simple, I implored, “You must interview Yvonne, as we all want to know about her journey as an advocate for Indigenous women’s human rights as well”. Needless to say, it worked out and Mallory was able to record both mine and Yvonne’s struggle to gain Indigenous women’s human rights. Jeannette’s as well.
Please like and share this Black Face Blog.