Sylvia Maracle

Dr. Sylvia Maracle (Skonaganleh:ra) is a Wolf Clan member from Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory who has resided in Toronto for over 50 years. She was Executive Director of the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centre (42 years), Founding Co-Chair of the Ontario Aboriginal Healing and Wellness Strategy (10 years & 10+ years as a Committee Member), Board Member of the Canadian Centre for Addictions and Mental Health Board (3 years), President of Native Child and Family Services (10 years), President of the Native Women's Resource Centre (10 years), Founding Board Member of Legal Aid Ontario (7 years), Founding Chair of Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services (25 years), Executive Member of the National Association of Indigenous Friendship Centres (4 years), current member of the National Housing Council (4 years) and Chair of National Committee of the 2SLGBTQQIA+ People in response to the MMIWG National Action Plan (3 years).Dr. Maracle lead the development of the Aboriginal Health Policy for Ontario in 1994. She lead the effort to secure legislative exemptions for Indigenous Midwives in the Regulated Health Professions Act in 1991 so they might practice in accordance with traditional knowledge and not be required to be members of the College of Midwives of Ontario. She also secured Indigenous exemptions in the Tobacco Act in 2006 and ongoing legislation for use of tobacco for cultural and spiritual purposes.Dr. Maracle was honoured with Doctor of Laws from Guelph, York, Trent and Queen's Universities. She was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada and received a Public Service Award from Inspire.