Aboriginal Speakers Series: “Nothing About Us Should Be Said Without Us”

Presented by Co-sponsored by Department of Anthropology, Office of Aboriginal Education and First Nations Student Services

Speaker: A public lecture by Rose Henry, Aboriginal Activist and Homelessness Advocate

Rose Henry is a First Nations activist and educator of social justice issues that effect all of our communities.  She has been advocating for social justice throughout her life ranging from trying to effect positive changes within the foster care and health care systems to fighting racism and economic impairment.
Rose’s ancestral roots are from the west coast. She grew up next door to her mother's community of Sliammon. Rose spent the first eight years of her life in the children hospital, then was one of the lucky ones who moved into one foster home for the next ten years; until she aged out of the foster care system. This was the closest to normal of family living that she has ever experienced. From there, Rose went on a slippery downward spiral that caused her to end up on the streets of Calgary for about five years. During this time, “it was the hardest way to learn about the injustice of life. After the birth of my child I decided that I didn't want my child to grow up the way I did and that I was going to do my best to make the world a little better for the next generation”.
Rose has been described as a protester, anarchist, First Nations Spokes Person, homeless advocate and professional agitator for waking people's social conscience.
Rose says, “I am just a person who is awake and cares about the world and is more then prepared to do the necessary work to improve the quality of life for all nationalities”.