Prominent Indigenous executive, cultural specialist, and broadcaster joins Plenty Canada.

Karl Dockstader.

​FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Appointment signals enhanced support for Indigenous arts, education, and public discourse.
 
January 12, 2023
 
From its Six Nations Bureau office, Plenty Canada is pleased to announce the hiring of Karl Dockstader as an Advisor for Indigenous Content, Culture, and Protocol. Karl, who is well known in the Niagara Region, brings to the position a wealth of knowledge and experience in Indigenous organizational management, visual and media arts, and cultural protocol and practice.His involvement will strengthen an already capable and successful team while extending outreach and engagement.
 
“We’re delighted that Karl has come on board,” said Tim Johnson, Plenty Canada senior advisor. “I’ve long thought that his superpower is his humility, which serves as a translucent facade behind which resides deep intelligence, creativity, integrity, and wisdom. In this organization we also consider functionality and positive personality traits as being essential qualifications. In this regard, Karl’s palpable love of his family, community, and Bear Clan Oneida culture, along with his inquisitive nature and voracious quest for learning, make him a true value-add for our team.”
 
As a self-described “Friendship Centre baby,” Karl had the honour of serving as executive director of the Niagara Regional Native Centre, which followed years of front-line community work with Fort Erie Native Friendship Centre. He is an advocate and activist for grassroots initiatives who is unafraid to take bold stances on matters that affect Indigenous peoples, and has used art and communication, including podcasting, to support community achievement goals.
 
Karl is perhaps best known for co-hosting the hit Indigenous-themed radio program One Dish, One Mic that airs in Niagara, London, Windsor, and Hamilton. He is also a Bell Media radio news rotating talk show host on 610 CKTB’s The Drive airing weekdays from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. In addition to radio broadcasting Karl has done TV work with CTV News Channel, appeared as a regular panellist on the politics show CTV Power Play for the 2021 to 2022 season, and done a variety of freelance work, generating CBC and Canadaland bylines.
 
“Karl Dockstader is an outstanding communicator and leader,” said Walter Sendzik, former mayor of the City of St. Catharines. “Though his work with his radio program One Dish, One Mic, Karl has established himself as a leading voice on Indigenous issues within Canada. In Niagara, Karl is a leader, knowledge keeper, and community builder. He has worked on numerous projects that have brought a strong sense of awareness and inclusion of First Nation peoples in our shared communities.”
 
In his advisory capacity Karl will produce and host Plenty Canada webinars that will focus on a range of Indigenous issues spanning culture, language, and current events to matters of the environment including the existential crisis that is climate change. He will also represent the organization at Plenty Canada programs, events, and meetings, as well as attending events hosted by other partner organizations. And he will be on call to receive and answer inquiries of a general nature where his insights and recommendations will prove invaluable.
 
“Karl’s knowledge of his Oneida culture brings a great deal of expertise to our work as we roll out projects in the region dealing with Indigenous-led conservation, Indigenous education, and all manner of Indigenous cultural expression,” said Larry McDermott, Algonquin elder and executive director of Plenty Canada. “Many of our graduate students from our Leadership in Conservation program with Guelph University, for example, have praised Karl regarding his contributions in providing Haudenosaunee cultural representation. He is very skilled and will have a significant influence on our work.”
 
Contact:
 
Tim Johnson
[email protected]
519-774-2014