Myra Cree

Myra Cree OQ
Born	(1937-05-27)May 27, 1937 Kanesatake, Quebec
Died	October 13, 2005(2005-10-13) (aged 68)
Citizenship	Mohawks of Kanesatake
Occupations	radio and television presenter
Organization(s)	Movement for Justice and Peace at Oka-Kahnesatake
Television	Le Téléjournal
Spouse	Jacques Bernier
Children	4
Parents	Grand Chief Ernest Cree (father) Georgiana Johnson (mother)
Awards	National Aboriginal Achievement Award in the Media and Communications (2006) • National Order of Quebec (2010)

Myra Cree OQ (1936 — 13 October 2005) was a Canadian television presenter, radio personality, and author.

In 1975, she became the first woman and first Indigenous person to anchor Radio-Canada's Le Téléjournal. In 1990, at the height of the Oka Crisis, she founded the Movement for Justice and Peace at Oka-Kahnesatake. In 1995 Cree became a member of the National Order of Quebec.

Early life

Cree was born in 1937 on the Oka-Kanesatake First Nation reserve. Her father was Grand Chief Ernest Cree, and her mother was Georgiana Johnson. Cree grew up in a trilingual household, speaking English, French, and some basic Mohawk.

Career

In 1960, after working as a teacher for two years, Cree began working as a radio host at CKRS-Jonquière. She then moved to working in television at CHLT-TV in Sherbrooke, Quebec.

In 1973, Cree began working hosting at Ici Radio-Canada Télé, and in 1975 became the first woman and first Indigenous newsreader on Le Téléjournal.

Personal life

Cree married lawyer Jacques Bernier in 1963. The couple had four children. In 1969, Bernier and Cree were involved in a car accident which killed Bernier. In 1970, Cree began living with then partner Solange Gagnon, a scientific journalist. In 1990, Cree came out as gay in an interview with La Presse.

Death

Cree died on 13 October 2005 at the age of 68 after a battle with lung and bone cancer.