Audrey Siegl

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Early Life:

Hometown:

Audrey Siegl was born and raised in Vancouver, B.C., Canada. She was raised in a single parent family by her father (of East Indian and British heritage) and by her mother's family (Musqueam First Nation). After living in East Vancouver for much of her life, she moved back to the Musqueam Indian Reservation located south of Marine Drive near the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. Siegl moved back to her maternal reserve in part to reconnect with her indigenous heritage and in order to better facilitate the revitalization of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ language of her people through the Musqueam Language and Culture Department..

Siegl's mixed heritage left her feeling too white for one world and too brown for another. This experience can be marginalizing but for Audrey Siegl, it seems to have been a point of empowerment. She was brought up to be outspoken and has used her voice to bring to light many of the issues that face those experiencing discrimination and to highlight important issues.

Identity:

Audrey Siegl is a modern day warrior. She is an activist who takes on even the most reticent of opponents with her conviction and voice. She is an avid anti-poverty crusader, a resolute feminist, a traditional drummer, a musician, an artist and traditional weaver. She has raised her voice to bring to light the myriad of issues impacting marginalized peoples. She was also integral in organizing the protection of c̓əsnaʔəm (the Marpole Midden) in 2012. Siegl has has been active in the Idle No More movement and in the Oppenheimer Park tent city camp.

Activism:

Siegl is a prominent independent activist from the unceded lands of the Musqueam. She has been active on a number of grassroots environmental, social justice and political frontline movements. She has worked tirelessly to raise awareness for issues rnaging from for MMIW (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women), homelessness on the Downtown Eastside (DTES) of Vancouver, B.C., the fentanyl crisis, the impact of resource extraction and land aqcuisition on First Nations lands and Human Rights violations. Siegl has put herself squrely on the frontlines on these worthy issues, but is aware that there is danger in doing so. On February 13, 2015, Siegl experienced a microcosm of the violence that disproportionately impacts Indigenous women at the "Shutdown Canada" protest held in East Vancouver when a Vancouver Police Department (VPD) officer allegedly used his shoulder to push her drum into her face and cut her lip . Despite the possibility of arrest or danger, Siegl continues to use her voice and experience to mobilize others into action on many important issues including grassroots environmental and social justice movements, political movements, and contributes to continued awareness on the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW), housing and fentanyl crises disproportionately impacting people in the Downtown East Side (DTES) and the impact of extraction industries and their violations on First Nations (FN), the environment and on human rights .

National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG):

Siegl's own experience of being Indigenous and feeling the sting of racial marginalization is in part how she found her strong voice in activism. It is the need to bring to light society's mindset in how we not only view Indigenous people, but how entrenched the tenets of colonialism, racism and sexism make Indigenous women particularly at risk . Siegl has been a part of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls that has taken part across Canada to try to gain compassion, healing and changes in policing and awareness of these issues.

Political Aspirations:

In 2014, Siegl ran for the Vancouver City Council under COPE (Coalition of Progressive Electors) in a bid to represent her Indigenous culture, to highlight the Idle No More movement and encourage more anti-poverty campaigns to help Vancouver's marginalized citizens. Siegl's indomitable willingness to step into leadership roles is bellied by her willingness to engage in necessary social issues for the betterment of all citizens. Siegl's bid won her 19,000 votes in the November 2014 election

References:

http://www.authenticindigenous.com/artists/audrey-siegl

Brenna Temple // Community, Culture, Festivals, Social // Volume 16, Issue 11 - December 8, 2015–January 12, 2016

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