Fellowship honours Zachary-Deom

The late Christine Zachary-Deom was a force in fighting for the rights of Onkwehón:we women - particularly those in the field of archaeology. Two years on from her passing, a fellowship has been established in her name, with the goal of inspiring other women conducting research for the Onkwehón:we Project, a collaborative project focused on cultural and political heritage.

“Aside from being a strong advocate of Kahnawake’s rights, Christina was a strong advocate of women and of women’s empowerment,” said Gerald Taiaiake Alfred, who is the director of the project. “She was an advocate for the role of women traditionally in our society and in our community, and we wanted to recognize that.”

Zachary-Deom was instrumental in the early days of the Onkwehón:we Project, a research initiative that was announced last year. The project, which is funded by a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) Partnership Grant, aims to enhance the information available to researchers, communities, and the general public about ancestral Iroquoia, bringing together and digitizing data to be analysed within a collaborative and decolonial framework to make it as accessible as possible.

Over 70 Indigenous and non-Indigenous researchers are involved, specializing in areas including traditional ways of being, archaeology, history, bioanthropology, linguistics, archival studies, and museology, across 44 partner institutions. Those include Indigenous councils, universities, museums, archival centres, research groups, government administrations, nonprofits, and private companies from North America and Europe.

The $25,000 Christine Zachary-Deom Memorial Fellowship will support Onkwehón:we women participating in the project.

Katsitsahente Cross-Delisle, who is a member of the selection committee for the fellowship and a member of the steering committee for the project, was a mentee of Zachary-Deom’s, and she said she’s hopeful about how the fellowship could encourage other Onkwehón:we women to continue pursuing education in the field.

“I’m really proud, because something Christine always wanted to do was support Indigenous students, and especially women, because at the time she went to school it was hard for women to go to school, and she knew the trials and tribulations that came with it,” she said. “It’s really heartwarming to see that we’re still honouring her in the best ways we can.”

Zachary-Deom was a key figure in Cross-Delisle’s own journey to pursue work in archaeology.

“She was super influential, because there wasn’t really anyone else who was really interested at a professional level in archaeology here,” Cross-Delisle said.

“She was always working behind the scenes, trying to secure our rights and make sure our voices were heard. She was influential, not just by showing me on the scholarly side what going to school brings, but also in teaching me to hold onto your culture and bring it with you on that journey.”

Zachary-Deom’s daughter, Lauren Deom, is glad the fellowship will support more generations of women leaders.

“My mother was an example of someone who didn’t allow anything to get in the way of her goal. She was a determined person, and she helped a lot of young women to continue pursuing her goals,” Deom said.

“It’s a great feeling to know that this provides opportunities for other young women to pursue their goals, because she definitely was a fantastic role model who showed that hard work gets you where you want to be.”

The fellowship is open to women who are members of one of the Six Nations of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy (Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, Tuscarora), the Wendat Nation, or the Wyandotte Nation, who are undertaking or intend to undertake graduate studies at one of the Onkwehón:we Project’s partner institutions.

“Anyone who knew Christine knew that she was very outspoken. She was an activist and she was assertive in terms of promoting our perspectives as Kanien’kehá:ka,” Alfred said.

“I’m hoping that the person who takes up this fellowship is inspired by that and recognizes that the only reason we have these things going on and that the reason these changes are being made is because of that approach and that courage to be a person that challenges.”

The full criteria and application package for the fellowship can be found online - more information can be found by contacting [email protected]. The application deadline is Friday, May 29, with results of the fellowship to be announced at the end of June.

[email protected]