Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm to Speak at Southampton Dinner Raising Funds for RCMP Racism Case
Author and publisher Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm speaks on truth-telling at an August 13 dinner raising funds for Lake Babine First Nation's case against the RCMP.
SUBMITTED
A fundraising dinner in Southampton on Thursday, August 13 will feature author, publisher and poet Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm speaking on Reconciling Through Truth-Telling.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m. at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, 248 High St., Southampton. Dinner is local food, including Robichaud’s fish, seasonal vegetables, bannock, homemade pies and local ice cream. Tickets are $75 and cover dinner and the evening’s discussion. The Southampton Cultural Heritage Conservancy has partnered on the event.
Tickets may be purchased by e-transfer to aura.robinson8591@gmail.com or at the door. Organizers ask that people RSVP so they can prepare enough food.
Akiwenzie-Damm, of the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation, is an assistant professor at the University of Toronto. Her books, and books from her publishing company Kegedonce Press, will be available for purchase. Raffle prizes will also be offered.
She will be joined by her sons Gaadoohn, a writer, visual artist and electronic music producer, and Kegedonce, a visual artist and interpreter at the Cape Croker Park Visitor Centre, who begins studies in experimental animation at OCAD University this fall.
Akiwenzie-Damm is in the area for the world premiere of Petrichor, a spoken word and music composition with string quartet by Akiwenzie-Damm and Frank Horvat. It will be performed Friday, August 14 at 6 p.m. at the Cape Croker bandshell during the Neyaashiinigmiing Traditional Powwow, as part of Music on the Bruce.
Funds raised will go toward legal costs incurred by Lake Babine First Nation members in northern British Columbia, who took the RCMP to the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal alleging racism during an investigation into historical abuse. They filed in January 2017.
In March 2026, the Tribunal found eight counts of racism in the RCMP investigation. In April 2026, the RCMP applied to the Federal Court for judicial review of the Tribunal’s decision.
Three complainants and other survivors have died since the case was filed in 2017. The remaining survivors are preparing for the Federal Court.
Submitted by Laura Robinson
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