Highlights

The items of interest below have been hand selected as possible starting points to browse the Ruth Gorman Curated Archive. Choose an item below and visit the linked terms in the each description to explore related records or themes in Ruth Gorman's life and work.

This map was annotated by Ruth Gorman to show places where she gave speeches during April - May 1981. These speeches were likely part of her work advocacy work in the time period leading up to the Canadian Constitution Act of 1982. Related items can be found by exploring the New Constitution collection, other items related to women in politics, or other items related to her speeches.

In this both handwritten and typed recounting of her experience in the Hobbema case, Ruth Gorman outlines how members of the Cree Nation requested her continued representation for the Hobbema case and how the case unfolded. Users can read Gorman's typed version of this handwritten essay by scrolling to page 38 of this record. In a similar style to this record, Ruth Gorman wrote many reflections about her advocacy work, involvement in politics, and other areas of her life. 

While Ruth Gorman was a powerful figure in Indigenous Rights advocacy work, and local and national politics, she experienced challenges in her personal life which she sometimes reflected upon in written form. In this handwritten essay, Gorman reflects on her role as a wife, mother, and woman in a "man's world" and the challenges that come with being "Born a Woman".

Many of the newspaper articles found in this collection exclude Indigenous voices. In this particular record (1958), the first article is written by James Gladstone,  the first Indigenous person appointed to the Senate, while the second article is written in response by another Indigenous man, John Serres. Each present opposing views, underlining the complexity of Indigenous rights issues and the wide variety in opinions. 

In this handwritten essay, Gorman describes the history of the Canadian government's use of Scrips which were certificates or vouchers redeemable for land or money. The issuance of scrips to Indigenous Peoples in western Canada created opportunities for the government to evict Indigenous Peoples from their reserves and use these Indigenous Lands for commercial use. The threat of eviction for the Cree First Nations People in Maskwacis, Alberta is what sparked the fight for land rights in the Hobbema case.

Please note that this document contains culturally sensitive content and uses terms that visitors to this archive may find harmful.

In this letter, Gorman raises her concerns of the impact of the Trudeau government on Western Canada. Particularly, she worries the new Constitution Act will hurt Alberta economic interests. Part of the proposed changes are making French and English official languages. Gorman is troubled that this may mean less career opportunities in the federal government and crown corporations for the majority of Albertans who are not bilingual.