Aboriginal - Girls Action Foundation

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personal, clearly came from the heart and it probably took a lot of courage to put
thoughts to paper, and send it to someone you didn’t know!
And after a thorough consent process and final shared editing - you have in your hands
nothing short of a masterpiece.
At the Native Youth Sexual Health Network we know that community based leadership
comes from culture, resistance to ongoing colonization and oppression, and through showing
real support to ALL community members in many different ways. These strong Indigenous
women absolutely give new meaning to this concept that often marginalizes, ignores and
erases our experiences. They put Indigenous women back in the centre of it all - creation,
family, community and our individual lives. It is clear to us that the young Indigenous
women present here do not see leadership coming from only elections, band councils, or the
government. They see it in themselves, their peers, their families, and so much more.
Through our work across North America and during this process we have come to
understand that our expressions of ideas and emotions are so much more complex
and beautiful than even English allows us to show. Films, photos, spoken word, poetry,
painting and storytelling - all are here and create a connected picture of Indigenous
women’s leadership on this land. They speak about traditional roles before colonization
began, how it continues and the creative ways we are finding to understand and
implement those roles now - something we feel is absolutely central to addressing the
challenges we face as Indigenous peoples.
For those who are worried about the next 7 generations - don’t. Clearly, we are in good
hands if these women continue to be leaders. Please read on to see what we mean!
Note about language and self-determination: Reducing stigma associated with the many life
experiences that Indigenous young women face is important and very personal. For us, it’s all
about supporting people and communities in ways that make sense to them, including how
people identify themselves and the decisions they make about their own bodies and spaces.
We know that words have impact, and every day is about taking responsibility for both our
words and actions. We encourage readers to think critically about the words we use and
continue to redefine them to reduce stigma, build our strengths and speak our truths.