Aboriginal - Girls Action Foundation

What does Aboriginal Women’s Leadership mean to me?
12 Audrey Armstrong
By Audrey Armstrong
It means that you are a strong and confident woman who has been through a tough
life and survived to talk about it. A woman who can share that story with us so that
we may learn and grow from her experiences. If you are successful and happy in what
you do then I look up to you. Hardworking, honest and humble women are who I look
up to. I honestly do not look up to people who have been born into privilege. To me
I don’t think that being born with a silver spoon in your mouth makes you a leader. A
true leader is someone who is not afraid of being different, and not afraid to get down
on the level of someone who is down and out. Being a true role model is someone who
has had to work for everything that they have, and overcoming huge obstacles such as
drugs, alcohol, street life etc. Being able to relate to young women and share the story
of your life is what makes you a leader. That is what makes a person want to change. If
you are able to share your story with young women who are in trouble is what makes
you a leader. You never know whose life you may be changing just by sharing your story.
Some girls are able to see that, ‘hey, if you can do it, why can’t I?’ That’s pretty much
how I am able to succeed in my life right now. I have always looked up to strong women,
not only Aboriginal but of all races. Any woman that was born into a hard life and have
worked hard and are successful today are worthy of my admiration. I have always told
myself, I will be someone; I will make something of myself. And someday I can share my
story with young women. And I do. I work with youth and I tell them my story, I am not
ashamed of what I have been through in life, I am a strong person and I have survived to
talk about it. I have hit a few speed bumps along the road, but really, who hasn’t? Above
all I am proud of who I am.
I come from a background of having a single mother who has struggled with drugs
and alcohol but has been sober for quite some time now and I am so proud of her.
Noreen Velma Jimmy grew up in Turtle Lake, Saskatchewan and her life was not easy.
She has had to work hard for everything she has gotten in life and she did her best to
raise her 6 kids. I remember her going to school and working when I was a kid, and
that is inspirational to me because as a single mother myself, that is exactly what I do.