Aboriginal - Girls Action Foundation

By Danielle Michelle Morrisseau
You would think that in a class entitled Student Leadership they would teach all
the recommended qualities of being a good leader. Such as being good looking,
responsible, commendable, and having a strong sense of justice. Even if those are
qualities that would make up a good leader, sometimes it goes far beyond what everyone
expects a good leader should be. Now to answer what makes a strong Aboriginal
Woman Leader, well to let you know - I wouldn’t know the answer. I wouldn’t know how
to form sentences to perfectly describe that statement because when in my life have I
ever undergone the task in which I needed to become a leader for everyone around me?
So what does Aboriginal Woman’s Leadership mean to me? Well I’ll start by saying what I
want it to mean to me in the future. As far as I’m concerned, I want to be a leader; I want
to be a role model. I’m the type of person or young lady who is forever willing to have
anybody and everybody come to her with their problems and to best of my own ability
try and help them out.
To me leadership can’t just be subjective to just either men or women. In a way, someday
I wish; the colour of skin, our religions, political beliefs, and sex didn’t divide us in the
role in which leadership should partake.
I want leadership to be more of quiet role in which change is made. The people doing the
grunt work of society to make it a better place. To realize that money shouldn’t be an
issue and that the poor, sick, and hungry need our help now more than ever.
Leadership to me is about change and progress, about contradictions that are made to
better ourselves and eventually evolve our way of thinking. To realize that any leadership
role or task in any situation is just as important as the big issues facing our culture today.
As far as Leadership in the Young Aboriginal role, I also believe it is about learning from
our elders and using both old and new beliefs to make our culture better for future
generations. As of now I realize our people are in trouble, and that help is needed out
there to preserve our culture. I see that help is needed in all communities across Canada,
Danielle Michelle Morrisseau
21