Aboriginal - Girls Action Foundation

My great-grandmother had children, which included my own grandmother, Lucille,
another Aboriginal woman who came to my mind as a leader. She is also valued in the
community, she helps everyone she is able to, and she is present at many events. My
grandmother knows nearly everyone in her community and is kind to all of them. She is
learning the Squamish language and knows how to sew and how to weave. When I think
of my grandmother I think of how traditional she is, how classic she is. While she is so
involved she is humble and loving. Lucille was caring for a sick man during his final years;
she would visit him and care for him. She did so much for him that when he passed,
he left his house to her. Today they still live in that two story red house, right on the
corner of the reserve, with a yard of long grass, plants hanging over the door and a large
wooden deck. My grandmother is also faithful to her Aboriginal roots; this is another
way in which Aboriginal women should be most admired: when they stay true to their
heritage and its traditions. Only being native on my mother’s side and not ever living
on a reserve, I don’t feel as active or involved with the Aboriginal community as I feel I
should be, and I hope to become. My grandmother is active, and she is involved, and this
compassionate commitment makes my grandmother also come to my mind when I think
of what Aboriginal women leaders represent.
Another woman who stands as a leader in my family is my cousin, Leanne. Until a few
years ago, she lived in Vancouver with the majority of our family, until she moved to
Merritt with her new husband and young adopted son. Leanne is as a leader in several
ways. Most prominently, it is because she inherited her father’s title as chief when he
passed away; I remember seeing her in traditional dress during the ceremony, strong
and the expression on her face showed how moved she was. Leanne always came off as
strong. Ever since I was young she was opinionated and social, she was open to everyone
and expressed such a confidence. She was a true Canadian as well, a hockey fanatic, both
following the National Hockey League and playing herself on a co-ed team, constantly
injured and sore from playing tough hockey every week. Leanne was always so sure;
when Leanne wanted a child, she was not left to guess and wait, she decided she truly
wanted to be a mother and she adopted her son. Leanne was daring, and now has her
son Isaac, lively, with a shock of black hair on his head and always kissing his parents and
his grandmother, always running about and starting games with those around him. When
Leanne calls him over or picks him up I see such a strong connection, I see Leanne was
right when she knew she could be a mother. Independent and strong-minded, Leanne is
84 Stephanie Wood