Madeleine Redfern, mayor of Iqaluit, visited York University recently to give a guest lecture to students from the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS). Speaking to a capacity crowd gathered in the Junior Common Room of McLaughlin College, Redfern, who is a lawyer by training, spoke about migration, inclusion and identity issues experienced by the Inuit community of Nunavut.

Born in Frobisher Bay (now Iqaluit) in 1967, Redfern was elected mayor of Iqaluit on Dec. 13, 2010. She holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Victoria in conjunction with the Akitsiraq Law School. Following graduation, Redfern served as the first Inuk law clerk at the Supreme Court of Canada, under Justice Louise Charron.

An outspoken member of the Iqaluit community as a social justice advocate and businessperson, Redfern has dedicated much of her 20-year career to advocating for the needs and values of Inuit and Aboriginal peoples. Her work and passion has taken her to varied roles within both non-governmental and government sectors, in northern and southern Canada. Redfern is a founding member of the Wabano Aboriginal Health Centre and a past president of Tungasuvvingat Inuit Community Centre, both in Ottawa; a co-ordinator with Iqaluit Restorative Justice; a former secretary-treasurer of the Inuit Non-Profit Housing Corporation; and the Inuit representative on Kagita Mikam, an Ontario-based centre for Aboriginal employment

From left, Professors Antonio Torres-Ruiz and Saeed Rahnema, Mayor Madeleine Redfern, LA&PS Dean Martin Singer, and Professors Haideh Moghissi and Merle Jacob

The talk, which was organized by the Department of Equity Studies in LA&PS, was co-sponsored by the Office of the Dean of LA&PS and the Trudeau Fellowship. In addition to her topic, Redfern talked about her experience as a prominent Inuit public figure and her role as the executive director of the Oikigtani Truth Commission.

Redfern spoke to a capacity crowd of students, faculty and staff

The talk was opened by Professor Merle Jacob, chair of the Department of Equity Studies. LA&PS Dean Martin Singer provided welcoming remarks, and York equity studies Professor Saeed Rahnema introduced Redfern and chaired the question and answer session.

Redfern’s lecture, which took place on Oct. 20, was followed by a reception. The Iqaluit mayor was then given a tour of York’s new Aboriginal Student Centre.