Dan and Mary Lou Smoke
Dan and Mary Lou Smoke are an exceptional couple based in London, Ontario, who have built a reputation as respected teachers, activists, writers and broadcasters committed to their community, and to social justice. Mary Lou is a member of the Ojibway nation and the Bear Clan, and is originally from Blind River, Ontario. Dan is a member of the Seneca Nation of the Iroquois Confederacy, and is originally from Six Nations of the Grand River Territory. He is a member of the Killdeer Clan and a lifetime member of the Onondaga Longhouse.
Dan and Mary Lou Smoke at CHRW Radio Western, 1994 and 2018 (photo courtesy of Molly Miksa)
Together, Dan and Mary Lou have worked tirelessly to advance Indigenous rights, encourage healing, and build cross-cultural understanding both in southwestern Ontario and across Canada. In the early 90s, they embarked on what would become one of their most enduring and impactful projects when they began hosting Smoke Signals, a First Nations radio program on CHRW, Western University’s campus radio station. Smoke Signals is still on the air today, and has been recognized by the National Community and Campus Radio Association as Canada’s longest-running Indigenous campus radio program.
This site was created to pay tribute to Dan and Mary Lou Smoke, and to highlight their work as activists, journalists and teachers both at Western University and in the broader community. It will also provide public access to some of the historical audio recordings of the Smoke Signals radio program, which are currently being archived by the Smoke Signals Radio Archive Project.
More about Dan and Mary Lou's work:
Awards and Honours | Community Involvement | Teaching and Media
Note: Language and terminology is ever-evolving. The Smoke Signals project reflects this reality and acknowledges that it is an ongoing work in progress. Some terms and keywords may not be as accurate or accepted today as they were when they were first used. We have done our best to stay true to the historical record while still being respectful and responsive to these changes.
We welcome feedback! If you have questions and/or comments, please feel free to email our current project lead:
- Paulette Rothbauer, FIMS