Harlan Pruden

Who is Harlan Pruden?

Harlan Pruden is a First Nations Cree scholar and activist.

Born northeast Alberta, Canada, Pruden is a member of the Cree Nation. He grew up on the Beaver Lake First Nation; however; is a member of the Saddle Lake Indian Reservation in Alberta and moved to New York City in May 1995. He came out as gay at age 17. After committing himself to sobriety almost 24 years ago, Harlan became the first person in his family to attend college. Pruden now devotes his life to First Nations community organizing and progressive causes.

In addition to serving on the board of for the American Indian Community House’s Board, he co-foundered the NorthEast Two-Spirit Society, where he devotes much time and energy to revitalizing traditional cultural values, culture and ceremonies for two-spirit urban Native Peoples. He also is a co-chair of the National Native HIV/AIDS Coalition, one of the first national efforts within the HIV/AIDS field to include all of the two-spirit organizations and groups in the United States.