Gidigaa Migizi 

(Doug Williams)

Peter Raymond

Doug is an Elder, historian, hunter, fisher, ceremonial leader, language keeper, story teller, past Chief and Director of Studies in PhD program in Indigenous Studies at TrentU, Peterborough, Ontario.

In the Winter of 2015/2016, the United Church hosted story telling at Bobcaygeon Public Library with Doug Williams and Juila Kapyrka from TrentU. Doug has a deep understanding of Indigenous history and an innate ability to communicate orally in a calm and humorous manner with an amazing ability to tell stories for long periods of time direct from memory.

From those early days Doug has been a mentor and ally with TRC Bobcaygeon and we have built a respectful relationship. TRC Bobcaygeon has had informative sessions at Kawartha Settlers Village with both Doug Williams and Anne Taylor with approximately 80 people in attendance.  TRC Bobcaygeon has held reading meetings taking stories from Doug’s book. The stories offer insights for Settlers to appreciate Indigenous teachings, culture as well as re-learning history that was never taught in the Canadian education system.

Doug has and continues to be an advocate for Indigenous Rights and Treaties. He was heavily involved with the Williams Treaty renegotiation. He reminds everyone that we are all Treaty People.