Russ Diabo

NENQAYNI co-founder Trevor Mack sits down with Russell Diabo, renowned Mohawk land defender and policy expert, to discuss the political/legislative history of Canada and indigenous relations, Aboriginal Title & Rights, ‘Land Code’, and the future of valuing spiritual and material information for our communities and cultures.

Joseph Russell Diabo, born on December 25th 1955, is a son of a Kahnawake Mohawk Iron Worker, and is a member of the Mohawk Nation at Kahnawake. Married for 30 years to Joanna Anaquod (Mother Cree/Saulteaux, Father (Delaware/Saulteaux) Treaty #4, Sask.) they have 5 children between them. His wife Joanna has 3 children from a previous marriage, known widely as the Podemski sisters of film; music; television and theatre. Russell’s son Nahum Diabo is the grandson of Mike McKenzie, one of the founding Chiefs of the Indians of Quebec Association. Nahum’s wife Naomi Sarazin, is the granddaughter of Clive Linklater, a strong advocate teacher and political advocate of native rights for six decades. His daughter Monique works at the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres (OFIFC) and formally a longtime dancer and cultural educator with the Kehewin (Cultural) Dance Troop based out of Alberta. Russell and Joanna are the proud grandparents of six grandchildren, ages 4 to 16, with Stryder Diabo-Tailfeathers (Kainai First Nation-Blood Tribe, Alberta) being the oldest.