Mary Two-Axe Earley, a remarkable figure born Mary Two-Axe on October 4, 1911, was a dedicated advocate for women's rights, hailing from the Kahnawake reserve in Quebec, Canada, which is home to the Mohawk and Oneida communities.
As a result of marrying a non-status man, Earley experienced a significant loss: her legal Indian status was revoked, stripping her of her rights and privileges. This personal struggle fueled her passion to bring about change, and she devoted her life to fighting for amendments to the Indian Act, a legislation that had perpetuated gender discrimination and deprived First Nations women of their rightful place in the political and cultural fabric of their own communities.
Through her tireless efforts, Earley aimed to rectify this injustice and ensure that women were no longer excluded from participating in the decision-making processes and cultural practices of their reserves.
