Anthony Johnson

Anthony Johnson

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Edmonton, Alberta

LGBTQ2S+, Two-Spirit and Diversity Expert

Anthony Johnson is a Two-Spirit Keynote Speaker, LGBTQ2S+ Advocate & ED&I Expert. Through his powerful story to bring awareness for LGBTQ & Indigenous Equality. Before moving to Canada, Anthony Johnson worked as a community outreach worker specializing in working with others on their personal challenges related to mental health, and self-identity. He also has worked as a consultant and contractor for First Nation communities for community reinvention community restoration and healing. Anthony Johnson artistic and creative ways to approach each event bring audiences new learning opportunities for them reflect on and implement in their lives.

ANTHONY JOHNSON BIOGRAPHY

Anthony Johnson (Diné) is a proud Two-Spirit, LGBTQ2S+, and Indigenous advocate, born in the Navajo Nation of North Phoenix, Arizona. Presently, he occupies the role of project consultant and coordinator at Kehewin Health Services in Northeast Edmonton, where his partner, Dr. James Makokis, runs a medical practice in the community. Their combined advocacy for LGBTQ2S+, Two-Spirit, and Indigenous people took the global stage when they won Amazing Race Canada Season 7, further fueling Anthony’s resolve to champion racial and gender equality.

Strongly connected to his traditional history of the Navajo Nation, Anthony Johnson lives by his cultural teachings through Diné values and lifestyle. This way of life shapes his daily actions and interactions. Diné refers to the people who are commonly known as the Navajo. It is the term that the Navajo people use to refer to meaning “The People” or “Children of the Holy People” in the Navajo language. Diné” is reflective of the spiritual, physical, and deep cultural connection for Anthony Johnson, representing the complex social, political, and spiritual systems that govern Navajo life. It encompasses the customs, traditions, and way of life that the Navajo people follow, including their clan system and the principle of “walking in Beauty” which is living in harmony with all living beings and the earth.

Before moving to Canada, Anthony Johnson developed a diverse skillset as a consultant, contractor, and representative in the Navajo Nation, as a community councillor and coordinator, assisting youth and families with issues surrounding identity, acceptance, and mental health. As a Harvard graduate with a B.A. in Economics and Social Anthropology of East Asia in Shanghai, China, where he became fluent in Mandarin. These educational experiences brought to light the grim injustices suffered by his people and all First Nations due to colonialism and systemic discrimination. This profound realization ignited a desire to counter such injustices, propelling him to advocate for his people and help them rediscover their cultural identity.

As a youth, Anthony struggled in his community and in Western society, understanding the challenges of growing up on a reserve and the challenges Indigenous people face in Western society. Through education and by reconnecting with his culture, and family and on a path of self-discovery, Anthony became curious about the teachings he was taught in the Western education system and the teachings that were brought to him through his Elders. This led Anthony to travel around to different nations, study the history passed on through elders and discover the truths of the impact of colonialism on many different First Nations and tribes on Turtle Island. His extensive travels around the globe have been instrumental in enriching his understanding of Indigenous cultures and fostering stronger ties with these communities and himself.

Anthony Johnson is known for his unique contributions to the art world. Notably, he has conducted a live installation and performance piece at the National Archives in Washington DC. Situated mere steps away from the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, his artwork was a tribute to Indigenous peoples, veterans, and prisoners, and a celebration of the liberating power of creativity. Anthony’s multifaceted career has seen him excel in various roles, including those of a consultant, culture documentarian, artist, podcaster, film producer, poet, photographer, community leader, project manager, fundraiser, social justice advocate, and teacher. He has been involved with many social impact start-ups, community programs and continues to dedicate himself to his people.

Passionate about cultural preservation, Anthony Johnson has dedicated his life to revitalizing Indigenous traditions and customs. At Kehewin Health Services, he’s spearheading efforts to restore traditional Cree practices. His work aims to not only preserve Indigenous history but also promote its integration into contemporary practices, thus painting a picture of a future where Indigenous knowledge is valued and employed in concert with Western medicine. Anthony’s advocacy extends beyond professional confines. He recognizes the power of storytelling in effecting change and utilizes it to instigate dialogues about racial and gender equality. His narrative encompasses his journey of self-discovery, his struggle against adversity, and his quest for cultural preservation. Through his narrative, Anthony underscores the importance of embracing our diverse identities and fostering unity to effect positive change.

In his current role at Kehewin Cree Nation, Anthony Johnson focuses on revitalizing traditional Cree birthing practices, medicines, and ceremonies, all in alignment with the Cree 7 Stages of Life philosophy. An avid believer in transformative adventure, Anthony is of the conviction that achieving harmony between mind, body, and soul is integral to effecting change. As a budding filmmaker and podcaster, he leverages the power of storytelling to facilitate healing, spread awareness, and champion the cause of racial and gender equality.

Videos

Podcasts

Play

Cultural Surival

Shaldon Ferris(Khoisan)

Cultural Survival: Telling our own stories
Play

Marilyn Denis has a podcast

Marilyn Denis

Every child matters

Anthony Johnson Topic Presentations

breakding down barriers: unifying allies

  • Virtual PresentationKeynote PresentationWorkshop SessionHalf Day TrainingFull Day Training
  • Anthony Johnson, a renowned social justice advocate, delivers an enlightening discourse on the contemporary challenges facing First Nations communities in Canada and offers a transformative path forward. Johnson dissects the enduring legacy of the Indian Act of 1876, a federal law that continues to dictate the lives of Indigenous peoples. This law, together with the profound repercussions of colonialism and the residential school system, significantly affect Indigenous peoples’ access to essential services, including education, healthcare, clean water, and housing.

    Drawing on the rich precolonial history of Indigenous people, Johnson highlights their sophisticated knowledge systems and practices related to land systems, sciences, mathematics, politics, health, and food security. He emphasizes how these systems nourished a sustainable way of life for thousands of years before European settlers arrived. Against this historical backdrop, Johnson brings into sharp focus the bleak statistics that shape the present reality of Indigenous communities. He discusses the dismal graduation rates among First Nation students, the threat to Indigenous languages, high suicide rates among First Nations youth, and the unsettling water crisis that plagues many communities.

    Anthony blends researched knowledge on the socio-economic and environmental challenges wrought by corporate irresponsibility, government policy the systems of oppression. Johnson argues that these global threats compound the issues that Indigenous communities face, exacerbating their struggle for economic and social equality. Throughout his discussion, Anthony Johnson urges us to deviate from our current trajectory. He advocates for the cultivation of unity, compassion, and forgiveness to counter the divisive and oppressive systems that persist. By fostering a shared perspective on social change and advocating an equality-centred approach to the human experience, Johnson contends, we can reorient our reality to align with our collective purpose.

    This presentation offers an inspiring blueprint for dismantling systemic oppression, bridging social divides, and paving the way for a more equitable and inclusive future. Johnson implores us to understand and accept our shared responsibility to our planet, each other, and ourselves. Through this acknowledgement, he believes, we can bring about transformative change.

two-spirit diversity - race, gender, sexuality and unconscious bias

the life of a modern day warrior: two spirit and indigenous resiliency

newfound identity: the journey within

dinÊ enlightenment: embracing indigenous wisdom for personal growth and collective progress

500 years of colonialism: a borderless history

reclaiming culture and reinstating hope: partnerships, economic growth, and innovation

stonewall rights: policy, influence, movements and lgbtq2s+ equality

indigenous wisdom for modern challenges: embracing traditional values for a sustainable future

indigenous empowerment through economic development

reclaiming roots: nurturing mental wellness and healing

anthony johnson social imapact - custom presentation topics

anthony johnson first nation - custom presentation topics

Anthony Johnson travels from Edmonton, Alberta & delivers customized and tailored keynote speeches, presentations, workshops and training sessions. on the topics enlisted below. These services are designed for a variety of audiences, industries, and event types and event formats.

Testimonials

Anthony Johnson is an incredible speaker that is truly passionate, knowledgeable, and inspiring about his causes. He recently presented to us on LinkedIn and at Microsoft’s Indigenous ERG about economic opportunity, environmentalism/sustainability, and the importance of retaining culture for Indigenous communities in front of an audience of 90 people. I would highly recommend Anthony Johnson for talks of all groups and sizes, as his personal approach is relatable, authentic, and honest.

Kristine Yuen

LinkedIn

Anthony Johnson was an amazing speaker. He was so engaged and passionate about the topic and that encouraged you to do/be the same. His slideshow was provocative and was a great history of the LGBTQ2S+ community. His examples resonated with me as the aunt of a transgender person.I highly recommend this session!” The event was a huge success.  The subject matter was really timely and well received by everyone we have spoken too. Senior management felt like the speakers were really speaking at their level and offered some practical perspectives on how to adjust to address the issues and concerns we know that exist.

Transport Canada

Anthony Johnson gave both a historical context and a personal context. I would have liked to see more of the personal/emotional side of the story, as well as something motivational that the audience can do to help others or ourselves on our journeys. It was a very well-prepared and organized presentation, and I enjoyed how the presentation looped back around to Anthony’s story.

Webinar Participant

I don’t expect a copy of a presentation from this session because of how personal the message was, and it was a powerful message. I have disabilities that would make this very difficult to share with colleagues or even apply to my own situation without some form of the key message from the speaker. My interest in certain topics is peaked but where do I find information? It is great at the moment, but how do I take something of the moment with me to share or even re-experience to provide hope outside of the live moment? Even references to movies, books, music, or anything help the powerful message to live on and have life after the moment.

Government of Canada

A very introspective person that tells a story of his personal growth and exploration, which also caused me to have my own self-reflections on the subject matter that was presented and also on my own personal growth.  Great presentation. What a presentation!  Without your authentic approach to these important issues and topics, these breakthroughs would not be possible. Thank you for challenging each of us to be more aware of our biases so we can be a better ally to minority groups. Thank you so much for sharing your story and speaking to team and we would all like to express our appreciation for your inspiring presentation. Your depth of understanding, your vulnerability in sharing your...

Farm Credit Canada

The speaker was absolutely fantastic, I am not a fan of the amazing race so I didn’t expect the presentation to have been centred around one of the participants but I was absolutely blown away by the speaker, the media was a perfect complement to his stories, he was so passionate and well versed and really brought the challenges so many people face right front and center. I consider myself to be very proactive and I still had so much to learn. I also loved how he was so kind… Even when speaking about his trauma and the intergenerational trauma, the story wasn’t one of hate and revenge, it was one of hope, love and peace while moving forward toward a better future together,...

LGBT Non Profit - Toronto

Articles & Media

No Dotours

Edify

While The Amazing Race was an opportunity to challenge themselves physically and mentally, the couple — who identify as two-spirit, an Indigenous term that refers to a person who identifies as having both a masculine and feminine spirit — saw it first and foremost as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring awareness to the complex issues affecting Indigenous communities. TRENDING 1 Best Restaurants 2023 2 Property of the Week: The Cliff on Quesnell 3 Best Overall Restaurants 4 Soft-Food Diet, Week 6 of 12: Shiawase Ramen 5 Best New Restaurants Macewan University BB.Oct2023 Macewan University LB.Oct2023 Racing as team Ahkameyimok, a Cree word that roughly translates to “keep going,...
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Books

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How to book Anthony Johnson for an event?

Anthony Johnson keynote speaker is an expert presenter and has a wide range of experience speaking to a wide variety of audiences and organizations. Anthony Johnson delivers keynotes, workshops & training sessions. They may also host or emcee events. Hire Anthony Johnson from Edmonton, Alberta for your event to inspire the audience to take action and make change in their work and their lives. Your workplace will benefit from our keynote speaker and their keynote talks and speeches will shift the mindsets or behaviours for the audience members in Canada. 

Interested in booking Anthony Johnson for an event?

Are you looking to hire Anthony Johnson for your event? Anthony Johnson Edmonton, Alberta is a dynamic and engaging speaker that offers audiences researched content paired with expertise and a dynamic speaking ability. Anthony Johnson is also a Canadian corporate consultant and coach and facilitates workshops and training sessions for a corporate audience. Anthony Johnson is an expert keynote presenter and speaks on wide variety of topics. Hiring a great speaker for your event is important and working with a thought leader like Anthony Johnson from Speakers Canada's roster will engage audiences into the content of the presentation to bring awareness and a fresh perspective for their approach to their work and their lives. Book Anthony Johnson to educate, motivate and activate the audience through an interactive and entertaining presentation at corporate meetings and gatherings.

Known as a popular key note speaker in Canada, Anthony Johnson creates life changing experiences for the participants with practical insights and strategic advice they can implement right after the session. Working with a one our leading expert speaker like Anthony Johnson from Edmonton, Alberta offers organizations a fresh perspective to assist the people of the organization. No matter if it is a government, association, or business crowd, Anthony Johnson is a perfect speaker for your event. Through unique practical insights for trending topics and years experience speaking to different organizations, Anthony Johnson focuses on changing individuals to make better decisions at work and their lives. No matter if you are holding an in person or virtual event, having an influential speaker such as Anthony Johnson will engage, motivate, and activate the audience to make a change in their lives and inspire action for results to meet organizational goals. Your workforce will benefit from Anthony Johnson's presentations and speeches, with measurable results set to shift the people of the organization and core direction of the company. Book Anthony Johnson speaker for your annual general meeting, conference, summit, or convention in Canada.

How much does it cost to hire Anthony Johnson for a keynote presentation or virtual event?

Anthony Johnson is an expert professional key note speaker with a lot of experience speaking and delivering engaging talks to organizations and audiences in Canada. Each of Speaker Bureau Canada's talent have different ways to assess their fees, and Anthony Johnson speaker fee ranges depending on the size of the audience, event format (in person or virtual), event location, and if the organization booking them is a non profit, association, government department/government agency or business/corporation. The speakers we work with are flexible with their fees, and it is important for us to learn more about your event before we approach them, as it is our role to work for you, and to help you find a speaker within budget. 

Please contact Speakers Bureau of Canada and provide us with your event details so that we can contact Anthony Johnson to check availability or confirm the pricing and associated costs to hire a great speaker like Anthony Johnson for your event. As Anthony Johnson's agent and as a Canadian top speaker bureau and talent agency for speakers, we are able to propose each event opportunity from each host organization's behalf to try to help you get in touch with Anthony Johnson and confirm them for your in person or online meeting/event. We can also provide and advise on the booking process and potentially negotiate their fee. Speakers Canada is a client focused speaker agency, and we work for you in finding good speakers for your team meetings and booking processes.

Anthony Johnson Disclaimer

Speakers Bureau Canada assists companies and event planning teams seeking to hire talent like Anthony Johnson for speaking engagements, virtual meetings, conference appearances, training sessions and workshops facilitations. Our Canadian speakers bureau does not claim to exclusively represent Anthony Johnson, however they are represented by Speakers Canada, and we work with them closely for their Canadian speaking opportunities and bookings. As Canada's top speaker bureau, we represent Canadian motivational keynote speakers and professional guest speakers that will be available on your upcoming events date and location that are withing the budget. Our talented bureau speaker booking agency can help find business speakers or celebrity speakers that aligns with each organization, audience, event theme and the topic themes you hope for the speaker to address in their presentation. 

When SBC receives a request to book Anthony Johnson we provide you with their speaker fees, travel costs and check their schedules. We work closely with the host organization's event planning team and the speaker to handle the logistics and to relay or negotiate associated costs. Our talented team members then will work with our talent directly or their agent/manager/assistant to confirm the Canadian speaker fee and travel expenses, so that event planning teams can receive an official quote for the speaker appearing at the event. Speaker fees and travel costs vary per speaker and our role is to contact Anthony Johnson about your event, after we have connected with the event organizers to learn all the event details and/or conference program. Each booking request is unique since session durations and audience sizes can vary which may affect the speaker's fees. If you are looking to hire Anthony Johnson, we recommend filling out the booking request form so a booking agent from Speakers Bureau Canada can get in touch with our talent to help you coordinate with your team to engage the speaker for a successful event.