Dr. Lynn Gehl

Dr. Lynn Gehl

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Peterborough, Ontario

THE TREATY / LAND CLAIMS PROCESS AND INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE HOLDER

Dr. Lynn Gehl, Algonquin Anishinaabe-Ikwe, is an Indigenist Cultural Critic, Artist, Author, and Advocate. She is well known across Canada as a critic of colonial law and policy that harm Indigenous people and the land. Her work also encompasses the celebration of Indigenous knowledge.
  • Expertise In
  • Speaker Types
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Leadership
  • Personal Growth
  • Career Development
  • Conference
  • Corporate Audience
  • Education & Teachers
  • Finance & Insurance
  • First Nation Motivational Speakers
  • Guest Panelist & Guided Q&A
  • Inspirational

DR. LYNN GEHL BIOGRAPHY

Dr Lynn Gehl, was a recipient of the 2022 Governor General’s Award in Commemoration of Persons Day. She is also the recipient of the 2023 ReconciliAtion Award from Peterborough’s Community and Race Relations Committee and the Kawartha Truth and Reconciliation Support Group.

Dr. Lynn Gehl is an Algonquin Anishinaabeg scholar, advocate, and artist. She is one of eight siblings and grew up in the projects of inner-city Toronto. Dr. Lynn Gehl was born with a congenital disability and despite several surgeries and interventions today Lynn has a vision disability that affects many aspects of her life such as reading, writing, and walking. Dr. Lynn Gehl’s grandmother’s family was removed from her home community of Pikwakanagan First Nation because of sex discrimination in the Indian Act.

Relegated to the confines of inner-city project living, growing up Dr. Lynn Gehl experienced the worst of the human condition that manifests within racism, sexism, and ableism such as violence, poverty, a lack of safety, hunger, drugs, alcohol, and forced relocation. Today Dr. Lynn Gehl’s work encompasses both hard-core anti-colonial work and the joyful celebration of Indigenous knowledge. Dr. Lynn Gehl has a doctorate in Indigenous Studies, a master’s in Canadian Studies and Native Studies, a bachelor’s in Cultural Anthropology (summa cum laude), and a community college diploma in Chemical Technology. During her graduate studies, she was both an Ontario Graduate Scholar and a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Fellow.

In her twenties, Dr. Lynn Gehl began her family oral research and archival research to have members of her ancestry entitled to Indian status registration. While her grandmother and father were eventually instated, she was denied. Lynn then turned to Canada’s court system to remedy Indian and Northern Affairs Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms violation. Through this court challenge the Department of Justice spent $1 million litigating against her on the matter of unknown and unstated paternity.

After 30 years Dr. Lynn Gehl, in her late fifties, was finally registered as a status Indian and is now in a more “central” place in her ancestral community of Pikwakanagan First Nation. While Gehl v Canada resulted in a change in the Indian Act and the “Gehl remedy”, Lynn is ambivalent about her victory in part because she understands the power that the state had over her during this time, as well as she fully understands that the genocide continues in the form of both the Indian Act and the land claims process that is imposed on the Algonquin people.

Drawing on life experiences Dr. Lynn Gehl challenges Canada’s practices, policies, and laws of colonial genocide such as the Algonquin land claims and self-government process, sex discrimination in the Indian Act on the matter of unknown and unstated paternity, Canada’s lack of policy and action addressing Indigenous women and girls with disabilities who are bigger targets of sexual violence, and the further destruction of Akikpautik / Chaudière Falls–an Anishinaabeg sacred place. As a non-production-oriented artist when Dr. Lynn Gehl feels like it, she weaves wampum belts, builds petro forms, beads feathers, creates collages, and paints.

Although due to a vision disability, Dr. Lynn learned how to read and write at a later stage in life, Dr. Lynn Gehl has four books. She also has several academic contributions in journals and book chapters; 140 community contributions in magazines, websites, newspapers, and op-eds; and 150 personal blogs. Lynn is frequently called upon as an expert by various media outlets to offer commentary on Indigenous issues. Dr. Lynn Gehl has also provided testimony to the Senate, the House of Commons, and the United Nations on the rights of Indigenous women and girls regarding unknown and unstated paternity and the matter of Indigenous women and girls with disabilities who are bigger targets of sexual violence.

Videos

Podcasts

Play

TVO Today

SBC

A Woman's Fight Against the Indian Act | The Agenda

Dr. Lynn Gehl Topic Presentations

algonquin anishinnaabeg of the ottawa river valley - an introduction.

  • Virtual PresentationKeynote PresentationWorkshop SessionHalf Day TrainingFull Day Training
  • Due to Canada’s national narrative promulgated through state power gained through pilfering Indigenous land and resources  no less, many settler people and their descendants have been socialized into believing and worshipping a fiction. That being, that Canada rests on two founding nations: the British and French. This is a bold faced lie.  The reality is, that at the heart of Canada, rests the Algonquin Anishinaabeg and our traditional territory. Canada’s parliament buildings, supreme court, governor general’s residence, prime minister’s home, and most of its national galleries illegally squat on unceded Algonquin territory. This being the case while the Algonquin continue to be divided through the federal-provincial order, continue to live in squalor, and continue to be denied their land and resources in such a way that mino-pimadiziwin is not obtainable.

    Using maps and drawing from personal experience this presentation will open a window into understanding: The land and waterscapes that the Algonquin occupied at the time of European contact; Who the Algonquin were at the time of contact; The history of the French and British denial of Algonquin rights; The peace treaty relationships the Algonquin entered into with the British and how the British violated these relationships; An introduction to the Algonquin land claims process in Ontario; The continued desecration of Algonquin sacred places; And finally add commentary about the latest forked-tongue rhetoric of “nation to nation” and “reconciliation”.

debwewin journey

indigenous knowledge vs western knowledge

gehl v canada - unknown and unstated paternity and the indian act

introduction to the treaty and land claims process

allyship and reconciliation

intersectionality and indigenous women and girls with disabilities

creator's first sacred pipe (also known as akikpautik / pipe bowl falls / chaudière falls)

Testimonials

What a humbling honour and privilege to be able to read Dr. Lynn Gehl’s profound and wise contribution and take her direction regarding the vital action required of all who are committed to promoting equality and justice.

Kim Pate

Senator

Congratulations are due to Dr. Lynn Gehl for her successful challenge of the Indian Registrar’s refusal to allow her to be registered under the Indian Act. The refusal was based on the fact that because Lynn could not prove who her paternal grandfather was or that he was entitled to be registered, she could not be registered. The Court of Appeal for Ontario found that requiring her to prove the unprovable (the name of her ancestor) was unreasonable and that there was circumstantial evidence showing that he was ‘likely’ an Indian and a member of the community. On that basis she had established all she could or needed to, and it was unreasonable of the Registrar to demand more. The...

Murray Sinclair

The Honourable

Dr. Lynn Gehl is at the cutting edge with her concepts and ideas. She is on a journey and she documents it well.

Lorelei Anne Lambert

Dr. Lynn Gehl embodies essential Indigenous wisdom, bravery, and responsibility in her work to dismantle the systems of colonial oppression. Her work serves as a beacon in a network of pathways for our people to make their way home.

Wendy Jocko

Chief
Algonquins of Pikwàkanagàn First Nation

A remarkable monument in Indigenous struggles with the Colonial Crown.

Dr. Veldon Coburn

Algonquin
Institute of Indigenous Research and Studies, University of Ottawa

We were so, so grateful to have you join us. You are a gifted speaker. I hope your travel home went well and I look forward to meeting again!

Lindsey Kirby-McGregor

Program Manager Indigenous Relations - Indigenous Relations Branch
City of Ottawa

Articles & Media

Persons Day: The Indigenous Famous Five Contingent

SBC

View
Muskrat Magazine

Greg Macdougall

What is Debwewin (Heart Knowledge)? Lynn Gehl's Claiming Anishinaabe
View

Books

GEHL V CANADA - CHALLENGING SEX DISCRIMINATION IN THE INDIAN ACT
GEHL V CANADA - CHALLENGING SEX DISCRIMINATION IN THE INDIAN ACT
A follow-up to Claiming Anishinaabe, Gehl v Canada is the story of Lynn Gehl’s lifelong journey of survival against the nation-state’s constant genocidal assault against her existence. While Canada set up its colonial powers—including the Supreme Court, House of Commons, Senate Chamber, and...
Claiming Anishinaabe: Decolonizing the Human Spirit (2017)
Claiming Anishinaabe: Decolonizing the Human Spirit (2017)
Denied her Indigenous status, Lynn Gehl has been fighting her entire life to reclaim mino-pimadiziwin--the good life. Exploring Anishinaabeg philosophy and Anishinaabeg conceptions of truth, Gehl shows how she came to locate her spirit and decolonize her identity, thereby becoming, in her words,...
The Truth that Wampum Tells: My Debwewin on the Algonquin Land Claims Process (2014)
The Truth that Wampum Tells: My Debwewin on the Algonquin Land Claims Process (2014)
In commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the Treaty at Niagara, The Truth that Wampum Tells offers readers a first-ever insider analysis of the contemporary land claims and self-government process in Canada. Incorporating an analysis of traditional symbolic literacy known as wampum diplomacy,...

Related Speakers

Rick Denley

Rick Denley

Personal & Business Growth through courageous leadership & Change | Peak Performing Leaders | Author

Featured

Speaker Topics

  • Business & Corporate
  • Business Growth
  • Business Leadership
  • Business Management
  • Change Management
  • Emotional Intelligence
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Excellence & Success
Rick Denley, a Leadership visionary, change catalyst, and growth expert. With over three decades of experience leading Fortune 500 companies like...
Dr. Mitchell Abrams

Dr. Mitchell Abrams

Physician, Social Architect & Educator and Expert on Energy, Work Life Balance, Health & Wellness

Featured

Speaker Topics

  • Adaptability & Agility
  • Burnout Prevention
  • Business & Corporate
  • Business Growth
  • Business Leadership
  • Business Management
  • Change Management
  • Diversity & Inclusion
Dr. Mitchell Abrams is a Physician/Radiologist, social architect, educator, TEDx speaker and expert on work-life balance, health and wellness, and...
Mark Breslin

Mark Breslin

Canadian Comedy Icon - Unleashing Laughter and Wisdom, Renowned Public Speaker, Entrepreneur, Author

Featured

Speaker Topics

  • Business Leadership
  • Communications
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Humour At Workplace
  • Influence & Negotiation
  • Leadership
  • Mindset & Goal Accomplishment
  • Peak Performance
Mark Breslin is a true visionary in the Canadian comedy scene and has left an indelible mark on the entertainment industry. Born and raised in...
Keren Taylor-Hughes

Keren Taylor-Hughes

Former CEO - Agile Change Advisor & Transformation Expert

Featured

Speaker Topics

  • Adaptability & Agility
  • Alliances & Partnerships
  • Business & Corporate
  • Business Growth
  • Business Leadership
  • Business Management
  • Business Technology
  • Business Transitions
Keren Taylor-Hughes is an agile change advisor & business leadership strategist with a passion for implementing sustainable organizational change....
Gail Taylor

Gail Taylor

Expert in Levelling-Up - Unlocking Human Potential for Optimal Performance and Well-being

Featured

Speaker Topics

  • Adaptability & Agility
  • Addictions & Substance Abuse
  • Change Management
  • Emotional Intelligence
  • Excellence & Success
  • Happiness & Positivity
  • Health & Human Performance
  • HR & Corporate Culture
Gail Taylor is a multifaceted individual whose life journey is a testament to the extraordinary power of reinvention and embracing new passions at...
Paul Karvanis

Paul Karvanis

Happiness and Performance Coach – Happiness, Impact and Performance, Worklife Balance, Leadership

Featured

Speaker Topics

  • Burnout Prevention
  • Health & Wellness
  • Leadership
  • Peak Performance
  • Personal Growth
  • Work Life Balance
Paul Karvanis is a highly successful former lawyer turned Certified Professional Coactive Coach. Through his venture, Leader Rising, he offers...
Dr. James Makokis

Dr. James Makokis

Two Spirit Doctor - LGBTQ2S, Indigenous, Diversity & Inclusion Expert

Featured

Speaker Topics

  • Accessibility
  • Addictions & Substance Abuse
  • Bullying At Work
  • Burnout Prevention
  • Collaboration
  • Cultural Diversity
  • Disability
  • Diversity & Inclusion
Dr. James A. Makokis is a Nehiyô (Plains Cree) Family Physician from the Saddle Lake Cree Nation in northeastern Alberta and the recent winner of...
Anthony Johnson

Anthony Johnson

LGBTQ2S+, Two-Spirit and Diversity Expert

Featured

Speaker Topics

  • Accessibility
  • Addictions & Substance Abuse
  • Bullying At Work
  • Communications
  • Cultural Diversity
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Emotional Intelligence
  • Employee Engagement
Anthony Johnson is a Two-Spirit Keynote Speaker, LGBTQ2S+ Advocate & ED&I Expert. Through his powerful story to bring awareness for LGBTQ &...
Amazing Two Spirit Couple

Amazing Two Spirit Couple

Indigenous & LGBTQ2S Experts | Amazing Two Spirit Couple | Winners of the Amazing Race Canada

Featured

Speaker Topics

  • Accessibility
  • Addictions & Substance Abuse
  • Alliances & Partnerships
  • Bullying At Work
  • Business Leadership
  • Business Management
  • Change Management
  • Collaboration
Indigenous & LGBTQ2s+ advocates, The Amazing Two Spirit Couple, "Team Ahkameyimok" and winners of the Amazing Race Canada Season 7. Together, they...
Janice Makokis

Janice Makokis

Indigenous Rights Advocate | Legal Scholar | Consultant

Featured

Speaker Topics

  • Cultural Diversity
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Gender Equality
  • Inclusive Leadership
  • Indigenous
  • Leadership
  • Leadership & Change
  • Mindset & Attitude
Janice Makokis is an Indigenous Legal Rights Scholar, Advocate and Consultant. Janice Makokis currently holds a joint position between the Yellowhead...
Hon. Marion Buller

Hon. Marion Buller

First Nation and Indigenous Rights advocate, civil, criminal and human rights lawyer & retired judge

Featured

Speaker Topics

  • Cultural Diversity
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Excellence & Success
  • Gender Equality
  • HR & Corporate Culture
  • Inclusive Leadership
  • Indigenous
  • Leadership
The Honourable Marion Buller, C.M., is a keynote speaker and human rights advocate who was the initial First Nations woman appointed as a judge in...
Laval St. Germain

Laval St. Germain

Mountain Climber, Airline Captain & Extreme Global Adventurer

Featured

Speaker Topics

  • Adaptability & Agility
  • Burnout Prevention
  • Business & Corporate
  • Business Leadership
  • Business Management
  • Change Management
  • Collaboration
  • Disruption Management
Laval St. Germain is an expert at turning dreams into goals into reality. As an airline captain turned mountaineer and adventurer, Laval is the only...

How to book Dr. Lynn Gehl for an event?

Dr. Lynn Gehl keynote speaker is an expert presenter and has a wide range of experience speaking to a wide variety of audiences and organizations. Dr. Lynn Gehl delivers keynotes, workshops & training sessions. They may also host or emcee events. Hire Dr. Lynn Gehl from Peterborough, Ontario 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 Dr. Lynn Gehl for an event?

Are you looking to hire Dr. Lynn Gehl for your event? Dr. Lynn Gehl Peterborough, Ontario is a dynamic and engaging speaker that offers audiences researched content paired with expertise and a dynamic speaking ability. Dr. Lynn Gehl is also a Canadian corporate consultant and coach and facilitates workshops and training sessions for a corporate audience. Dr. Lynn Gehl 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 Dr. Lynn Gehl 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 Dr. Lynn Gehl 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, Dr. Lynn Gehl 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 Dr. Lynn Gehl from Peterborough, Ontario offers organizations a fresh perspective to assist the people of the organization. No matter if it is a government, association, or business crowd, Dr. Lynn Gehl is a perfect speaker for your event. Through unique practical insights for trending topics and years experience speaking to different organizations, Dr. Lynn Gehl 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 Dr. Lynn Gehl 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 Dr. Lynn Gehl's presentations and speeches, with measurable results set to shift the people of the organization and core direction of the company. Book Dr. Lynn Gehl speaker for your annual general meeting, conference, summit, or convention in Canada.

How much does it cost to hire Dr. Lynn Gehl for a keynote presentation or virtual event?

Dr. Lynn Gehl 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 Dr. Lynn Gehl 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 Dr. Lynn Gehl to check availability or confirm the pricing and associated costs to hire a great speaker like Dr. Lynn Gehl for your event. As Dr. Lynn Gehl'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 Dr. Lynn Gehl 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.

Dr. Lynn Gehl Disclaimer

Speakers Bureau Canada assists companies and event planning teams seeking to hire talent like Dr. Lynn Gehl for speaking engagements, virtual meetings, conference appearances, training sessions and workshops facilitations. Our Canadian speakers bureau does not claim to exclusively represent Dr. Lynn Gehl, 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 Dr. Lynn Gehl 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 Dr. Lynn Gehl 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 Dr. Lynn Gehl, 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.