Meet Joyce Jonathan Crone

Joyce Jonathan Crone is a Mohawk humanitarian, advocate, and cultural influencer of the Turtle Clan, Haudenosaunee of Six Nations of the Grand River. Grounded in her philosophy that change requires new ways of knowing, being, and doing, Joyce built a distinguished 33-year career as an educator, consultant, and curriculum developer—earning honors such as the Barrday Teaching Award of Excellence and the YWCA Women of Distinction Award. As President and Founder of Hope Arises Project Inc., she channels her passion for community and equality into leading Indigenous educational workshops, hosting radio programs like Smoke Signals, and championing global humanitarian efforts from Haiti to Nunavut.

Additionally, Joyce is the subject of the award-winning short documentary Red Girl Rising. The film highlights her work as a Mohawk matriarch and community leader in Huntsville, Ontario, showcasing her dedication to cultural reclamation, Indigenous education, and bridging gaps toward reconciliation.