First Nations Activist Lisa Monchalin to Speak at CWU May 16

Professor, speaker and author Lisa Monchalin is speaking at 7 p.m. May 16 at Central Washington University about the mistreatment of indigenous people in North America. Her presentation, “The Criminalization of Indigenous Peoples: Continued Colonization, Sexualization and Legal Manipulation,” will be held in the Student Union and Recreation Center (SURC) 137B. The event is free and open to the public.

Monchalin provides insight into the unjust treatment of indigenous peoples. After receiving a full athletic scholarship for rowing to Eastern Michigan, Monchalin earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees before going on to earn her Ph.D. at the University of Ottawa. She is of Algonquin, Metis, Huron and Scottish descent and became the first Aboriginal woman in Canada to obtain her Ph.D. in criminology. Monchalin’s understanding of indigenous peoples is informed both by her personal experience and scholarly research. She is a strong advocate for reducing victimization and preventing crimes. Monchalin celebrates her culture with song and dance, singing and drumming on a compilation CD of indigenous music and dancing with the Butterflies in Spirit dance troupe.

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