Aboriginal - Girls Action Foundation

and culture. Many of the Aboriginal women were important members of society such as
a daughter of a Chief. Although Aboriginal women were viewed as leaders they were still
forced to assimilate to European style by giving up their traditional clothing.
During the 1800s, Aboriginal women and their Métis predecessors were important
members of society, even though sexism, racism, and discrimination were incorporated
into daily life. This was the time when Aboriginal women began to follow European
traditions and take on more domestic roles such as cleaning and harvesting vegetables.
During this time, Aboriginal women had few rights as men were considered their social,
legal, and political masters. Any rights which an Aboriginal woman possessed were
acquired directly from her husband. During this time, Aboriginal women did not have the
right to vote; to own property; or to enter into any kind of contract. This attitude was
ultimately reflected in the Indian Act, which segregated Aboriginal women from actively
participating in politics.
Through the Indian Act, Aboriginal women were denied equality. Many Aboriginal
women were denied their Indian status upon marrying a man of non status ancestry.
European economic and cultural expansion was especially devastating for Aboriginal
women. Their value as equal partners in traditional Aboriginal societies was completely
undermined. Aboriginal women were further oppressed with the creation of the
residential school system. Children attending a residential school were denied the
right to learn their language, learn their traditions and learn their culture. During this
time, Aboriginal women were denied the right to learn leadership from their mothers.
Parenting skills were never taught at these institutions. Many Aboriginal women who
attended residential schools suffered emotional, physical, and sexual abuse.
Aboriginal women remained strong leaders despite being discriminated against through
government legislation, as well, as the educational school system. Aboriginal women
began to turn back to their traditional culture and began to assume the role of equals
in their personal life, as well as in society. Aboriginal women began to take on the role
of leaders and they began to fight for their right to vote and to be recognized as legal
persons. The role of leadership did not fall in the hands of just one woman, but in the
hands of all Aboriginal women.
78 Shauna Ponask