CHIPPEWAS OF THE THAMES COMMUNITY STORY - Cottfn

Women will be empowered and have opportunities to develop their potential
Not only will women be supported to pursue their educational and career goals, they
will also encouraged and given the opportunity to achieve their potential in all aspects of
their lives—mental, emotional, physical and spiritual.
Women will play strong leadership roles
Women will be an inspiration to those around them, including young people (and
especially girls and young women), their peers and other members of their families and
the community as a whole. For some women this will mean taking on formal roles such
as being the Chief, for others it will mean becoming a visible role model of health and
success in whatever field of endeavour they pursue. The community context will inspire
women to see a wide range of options that they can pursue.
Women’s lives will be free from abuse
Women will be treated with respect and dignity. No matter what their circumstances,
women will not experience abuse of any kind, whether sexual, physical, psychological or
spiritual.
Women will live according to the values of the Seven Grandfather Teachings
On the whole, Chippewa women continue to be very caring, strong, compassionate
and loving. These strengths are a foundation for building a vibrant future, in which the
lives of women will be guided by life-preserving, life-enhancing values and choices. They
will be free from harmful life patterns such as alcohol and other drug abuse. They will
feel empowered to choose the opportunities they wish to pursue rather than pressured
into specific roles or ways of living that are harmful to themselves or others.
Women will be wise and effective mothers
The transmission of harmful life patterns from one generation to another will stop.
Children will be healthy, well nourished, receive the education they need to become
productive and healthy adults, and grow up in a climate that fosters healthy values and
morals. Boys will grow up understanding how to respect their mothers, sisters, aunts and
grandmothers and as adults will become respectful fathers, uncles and grandfathers.
Since both men and women are responsible for raising children, they both need to play
their roles respectfully, just like a bird can only fly if both wings are equally strong.
Chippewas of the Thames Community Story
October 2011
29