The Role of Metis Women in the Nation Today

“As Métis, we value the contributions of our grandmothers in our culture. Women are the very heart and strength in supporting our children, our elders, our families, communities and our Nation.” …April McLean-Collart; 2006 http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca/news_releases_2005-2009/2006CS0035-001235.htm

This is a fine sentiment and one to which we can all agree in spirit. Does the Metis Nation value our contributions as Metis women? Is our place one of honour and respect within the Nation and does that reflect in our reality as Metis women? I would argue that sadly it is not and does not. No one can argue that the role of Metis women is as Ms. McLean-Collart forwarded; as Metis women we are pleased and honoured to act in this traditional role of strength and support. Where the spirit falls short of the reality is in the systemic misogyny all too apparent in the Nation today. It was only in 2007 that the Metis women of BC were given a voting presence on, and acknowledged by, the board of directors.
11.1 Draft Resolutions #1 – Friendly Amendment to Draft MNBC Electoral Act
Following the reading, moving and seconding of Draft Resolution #1, in response to a point of
order, it was confirmed that the proposed amendment was to the draft Electoral Act, which had
received first reading and would be considered for adoption later at this meeting.
It was MOVED (Annette Maurice) and SECONDED (Kelley Wolfenden)
WHEREAS pursuant to Article of 12 of the Constitution of the Métis Nation British Columbia
(MNBC) the elected representative of the Métis Women's Secretariat is a member of the MNBC
Board of Directors; and
WHEREAS pursuant to Article 29 of the MNBC Constitution the elected President of the
Women's Secretariat is a member of the MNGA; and
WHEREAS Articles 37 and 41 of the MNBC Constitution provide for the election to an office of
the Métis Women's Secretariat; and
WHEREAS Article 38.1 of the Draft Electoral Code provides that a recount is available for a
Candidate for the office of Métis Women's Secretariat and the procedure in subsequent provisions
of the Electoral Code expressly or impliedly applies to the position of the office of Chairperson of
the Women's Secretariat.
www.mpcbc.bc.ca/pdf/2007AGM_minutesdraft.pdf

Where did the systemic misogyny prevalent in our Nation today come from? In 1870 an Act was raised to encourage assimilation. This Act was called An Act to Encourage the Gradual Civilization of the Indian Tribes in the Province and to Amend the Laws Respecting Indians. This Act set up a procedure to "enfranchise". The arrival of Europeans to North America forever changed the lives of Aboriginal peoples. In all pre-contact Aboriginal societies, women had different social roles from men but were equally respected and even revered. With the Europeans came entrenched gender-based biases that deeply and negatively affected Aboriginal women and their roles in their communities.

Gender-based discrimination toward First Nations women was formalized in 1868, when legislation was enacted decreeing that Indian status could only be passed through the male line. As a result, when a First Nations woman married a non-Indian man, she and her children lost their Indian status and their entitlement to many benefits. In the case of Metis women, this process was accomplished during colonization and ostracizing Metis women; who up until the "White" women arrived were a necessity for trade, sustenance and in many cases survival. Changes to the Indian Act in 1869 allowing bands to enfranchise Indian women who married out (creating the process for defining "Indian" and legitimacy through descent of the male line only), the Battle of Batoche and the Scrip process begun in 1871 in Treaty #1 saw the Metis Nation being directly attacked by the Federal government. This was the beginning of the Metis Nation being "enfranchised" from the Indian Act and beginning the process that resulted in Metis People seeing themselves as The Forgotten People of Canada. It wasn't until 1982 that the Metis Nation was once against recognized as an Aboriginal People of Canada. However, the damage was done and the effective entrenchment of divide and conquer is our largest hurdle in these modern times.

This gender-based discrimination was used as a technique of assimilation until 1985, when changes to the Indian Act, known as the Bill C-31 amendment, were finally implemented-the result of a challenge launched in 1971 by Jeannette Corbiere Lavell, an Ojibwa activist. The success of that challenge permitted reinstatement of the First Nations women and children who had lost their status.

Let this brief history lesson serve as a reminder for us all that without the First Nation women (your and my grandma’s and great-grandma’s) our colonial and immigrant fathers “married” there would be no Metis Nation for men to lead. We have all become complacent about the very real misogyny that exists within the Metis Nation today. I beseech the Metis women of British Columbia to inform themselves on the issues at hand. Let’s ask the hard questions not only of ourselves but our leaders. Which of our current leaders lobbied to have the voice of the Metis women and the Metis youth silenced at the board level in British Columbia? Which current provincial and federal leaders have publicly stated that Metis women will never have a voice at the negotiation tables? I would like to take this opportunity to remind my Metis sisters that we control over ½ of the vote…that’s right Metis women comprise 53% of the Metis population. Let that strength in numbers reflect at the MNBC election booth in September 2008. Make an informed decision and allow your vote to create a better future for our children, our elders, our families, our communities and our Nation.


Celebrating Metis Women Past and Present
Aboriginal women are dynamic members of this country’s fastest-growing demographic, comprising just over half of the 1.3 million Aboriginal peoples of Canada. Many of their stories, past and present, are inspiring. First Nations, Inuit and Métis women have made and continue to make outstanding contributions to the fabric of this country. But most of their achievements have gone unnoticed, omitted from many history books. In fact, their efforts are all the more impressive given the obstacles they face due to discrimination, poverty and violence-harsh realities that began with colonization.

Like Ms. Lavell, many Métis women have worked hard-and continue to do so-to bring about positive social change across Canada and around the world. The process is slow and many challenges remain, but their efforts are creating better lives and greater opportunities for women, their families and their communities. Through the oral tradition, First Nations, Inuit and Métis knowledge, culture and history are shared and passed on to succeeding generations. It is a Nation wide tragedy that this historical misogyny and division is being revisited today by the very leaders in whose hands the future of Metis women and our children rest.

Let’s take a brief look at the inspiring stories of a handful of Metis women of achievement:

Victoria Belcourt Callihoo (1861-1966) chronicled her life on the Prairies, from her early years as a young Métis woman, witness to the first treaties in western Canada, the decimation of the buffalo herds and the establishment of Alberta as a province.

Olive Dickason (born 1920) is a Métis writer and oral historian of Aboriginal life. She is a Member of the Order of Canada and a recipient of the First Nations Lifetime Achievement Award.

Maria Campbell (born 1940) is a groundbreaking Métis author, playwright and filmmaker. The heart wrenching 1973 classic, Halfbreed, illuminated the Métis experience for readers of all ages and established her reputation worldwide.

Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond (born 1963) is a member of the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation and a Harvard graduate. In 1998, she became the first treaty Indian and the first Aboriginal woman to be appointed to the Saskatchewan Provincial Court.

These are but a few of the Métis women of foresight, courage and compassion whose stories are igniting our collective imagination.
http://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/dates/whm/2006/brochure_e.html


Links of Interest to Metis Women
Stolen Sisters
www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/AMR20/001/2004
Emerging Voices of Metis Women
http://www.metismuseum.ca/media/document.php/01269.pdf
Titameg’s Children
http://www3.yt.sympatico.ca/serena/index.htm
A Metis genealogy site that records the thousands of Metis descendants of one Indian woman.
MNBC Metis Women Representation
http://www.mpcbc.bc.ca/womens/womens.html
National Metis Women Representation
http://www.metisnation.ca/women/index.html
Native Women’s Association of Canada
http://www.nwac-hq.org/