Aboriginal - Girls Action Foundation

victims of racism, sexism, and violence. In their Aboriginal families they had respect as
the “givers of life”, and they contributed to the family. However, in society they were
degraded and abused. According to a Canadian government statistic, Indigenous women
are five times more likely than other women of the corresponding age to die as the result
of violence.
The need for Aboriginal women’s leadership is very important, to assist in healing from
the vilification experienced over many years. Aboriginal women need to have their
rightful place as equals, not only as an Aboriginal person, but as an Aboriginal female.
As Aboriginal women, we need to generate positive changes in the future of women’s
leadership.
There are many vibrant, motivated, successful Aboriginal women today, striving
for what they deserve. Today, Aboriginal women are receiving education and
obtaining careers in which they play vital roles not only in their own communities,
but throughout mainstream society. We are stepping up, and letting our voices
be heard. There are many influential Aboriginal women out there, both past and
present, who have, and are, impacting Aboriginal females like myself to keep
pushing forward.
Some of the legendary Aboriginal women that I have heard about have done some great
things for themselves, for Aboriginal people, and for Canada.
� Jean Cuthand Goodwill, a member of the Cree First Nations, was a nurse, who went
on to help establish the ‘Aboriginal Nurses Association of Canada’.
� The Honourable Nellie J. Cournoyea, an Inupiak woman, became the first Aboriginal
woman government leader in Canada. She was elected to the Northwest Territories
legislature in 1979.
� Jeannette Vivian Lavall, an Ojibway woman, challenged the inequalities to the Indian
Act. She fought to get changes made in relation to women losing their status when
“marrying out”, while men do not lose theirs, but gain it for their wives and children.
In 1985, the Bill was amended.
Kristy Normore
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