Aboriginal Angel Doll Project

Indigenous Women's Empowerment Day

2007-03-15T20:43:00.000-07:00

I invite you to attend this event, share some stories and be a part of the change in how society views Aboriginal women.

Notes from Harsha Walia's email:

The Power of Women to Women Project will be hosting a press conference and community speak-out tomorrow, Tuesday March 20th, in response to the expected closure of DEWC's emergency shelter in the coming weeks.

Women of the Downtown Eastside community have been sleeping at the Downtown Eastside Women's Centre (DEWC) since November 19, 2006 because of a lack of safe and appropriate shelter and housing for women in the community. Community members, with the commitment of the Elders Council, demanded that DEWC to remain open past its regular business hours because the DEWC is the only community space for women and children that is open seven days a week, and does not have limitations on length of stay.

Averages of fifty women are using the centre each night to sleep.Women have made it clear that they believe the only real viable and dignified solution to end the cycles of violence, discrimination, substance use, poor health conditions, family separation, child apprehension, and social isolation is for government at all levels to commit to safe, secure, supported, and affordable housing for women.

Accordingly, the following demands have been put forward:

- Safe, supported, and long-term affordable housing for women be made available immediately- Welfare rates be increased 50% not just $50
- Community-based emergency safe spaces, such as the Downtown Eastside Women's Centre whose funding ends on MARCH 31, 2007, receive funding to operate on a 24-hour basis with adequate and private facilities for women- including storage, proper beds, and food.

We thank you for your support and feel free to get in touch with questions, feedback, suggestions etc.

Also, please find below further information on the crisis in women's housing.

Harsha WaliaEmail: project@dewc.ca
Tel: (604) 681-8480 x 234
Fax: (604) 681-8470

BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON WOMEN'S HOUSING

There are an increasing number of poor women, homeless women, women who are at risk of violence, and women affected by HIV/AIDS in Vancouver.

Cuts to income assistance, legal aid, women's centres, attacks on women's advocacy and support services, the lack of childcare support, rising costs of living and housing, and low-income labour all have had devastating impacts on women.

For example, with the June 2002 Employment and Assistance Act and Act for People with Disabilities, approximately 16,000 women have been removed from the social assistance in BC.

At the federal level in the past year, we have seen the lack of implementation of a universal childcare program that makes it nearly impossible for women, particularly single mothers, to seek employment.

One-third of BC welfare recipients are single-parent families, 88% headed by women.

Homelessness for many women is also an initial solution to unsafe housing and homes. These women leave their homes because of physical and/or sexual violence and exploitation. Safety and privacy are the primary concerns of homeless women.

According to the 2005 GVRD Homelessness Count, there has been an increase of 60% in the number of homeless women since the 2002 Count, with shelter beds available for no more than 50% of homeless women.

Overall, the number of homeless people has doubled to approximately 2,174 people in 2005.

It is estimated that the rate of rapid gentrification leading to the Olympics will triple the number of homeless in Vancouver. The number of people at-risk of homelessness in the region is extraordinarily high: 126,500 people at-risk of homelessness in 2001.

We believe that the cycles of violence, discrimination, substance use, poor health conditions, family separation, child apprehension, and social isolation of women are the direct result of various government policies that perpetuate conditions of poverty for women.

One such government policy- at all levels of government- is the lack of safe, secure, supported, and affordable housing for women. Despite the evidence from independent and government sources that indicate the crucial need for housing for women, governments have been slow to respond.

In fact, the opposite trend is being witnessed: Between 2003 and 2005 there was a net loss of 415 housing units for low-income singles, according to PIVOT research.

One in five open lodging house rooms in Vancouver have been sold or put up for sale since January 2006.

At the same time, many existing units are in danger of closing due to rising rental rates and deteriorating conditions.

With accelerating rates of gentrification leading to 2010, an estimated 1600 units of housing for low-income singles will be lost.

Join the women in the Downtown Eastside and Power of Women to Women Project at the Downtown Eastside Women's Centre to ensure safe, secure, supported, and affordable housing for women.

2006-12-21T02:00:00.000-08:00

So, it's 2:01 AM. I am still awake, the night before the big "Candle Light Vigil". I always get nervous whenever I do a big doo, and this is no exception.

I really tried to be calm and collected about this event. There are thoughts going through my mind right now, which make it very hard not to be frazzled. First, the questions to which there are no answers. Like, who will show up? Will this reach to a great audience - for that is what the idea of raising awareness is to accomplish. I would hate to think that 10 people will show up, or worse - no one.

Second, will the speakers show up? If the speakers did not show up but the audience did - then that would be somewhat easier.

Ahhh, my life has been very busy with this project, as with my other projects. I believe in what I do and trying to get others on board, you just never know. I sometimes do question my involvement - for it has been asked of me already - what right do I have?

Again - I will answer this question, with one simple fact, that being born an (obvious) Aboriginal women - a First Nations Cree women from Sturgeon Lake, Alberta - I was born into an oppressed position. I did not know this growing up, and it was so easy to not see it. I was not privileged, and yet I am very privileged.

I only have to think of my sister. She is dying, of colon cancer. She is suffereing horribly. And on Monday she called me with a heart wrenching plea for help. I hated to hear her talk like that, and for the life of me - there was little I could do.

Is this what "others" think of Aboriginal women when they are confronted with the pleas of Aboriginal women? The problems are so big and so huge, that when you hear the plea for life, for dignity, for respect, how can you solve this problem?

I will never forgive those who treated my sister poorly, for she has not received respect, nor given dignity. I hate that she is viewed as less than those who were treating her, and if this is her last chance at life, it breaks my heart to think there was nothing I could do.

What I wanted to do, was to get to Alberta, and I wanted to tape her on my video camera. Why? Because (when) she does die, I want her to tell her own story, to be able to voice her pain and anguish to those who did not listen to her. I want to expose those in society who saw her as a "druggie" or a "street person", and only remember her identity with contempt.

If they only considered what she went through. The burden she was given was never a fair trade for her participation in society, when she did not ask for this, and she did not deserve this, and she is being unfairly judged by this.

For my sister, my lovely, beautifuly sister Cynthia, I love you. Everything I do in this struggle is for everything you gave me, which at this point, seems more than what I am able to give you in return.

To all the baby Aboriginal girls being born, privileged or not, who are automatically given this burden by their identity, is what I want to change. I carry in my heart the love I have for my sister who is loved, and with the life she has and the life she didn't have, I put foward a vengence
for some retribution for a better memory, more understanding, more empathy.

Gloria

Since June 2006

2006-12-13T14:06:00.000-08:00

The work continues. I am now at UBC. I hated it for the first month. I felt totally out of my element. I thought for sure this is what I wanted, that this was the path for me. Things are a bit better, where I am not so lost and confused, but neither do I have any strong committment to UBC.

I got some of my fellow students in my Women STudies class to help me organize a film premier called "Highway of Tears" with Amnesty International. Wait. I forgot to add that this summer I worked doing some incredible things.

First - I worked at Postive Women's Network. This organization deals with HIV/AIDES positive women. I worked as a "Retreat Organizer", which was coordinating a three day retreat for the Aboriginal women members.

I had a great time, and from what I read (completed retreat evaluation forms), the women also had a great time. I had participation from the Aboriginal community with guests coming in to share stories and laughter and song. I continue to see these "positive" women in the work that I do, and pray for each that they continue to find the strength to survive day to day. However, the one thing that became so apparant, was that survival also include some laughter. My goodness, how sad it was that there is not enough laughter in the day.

I am guilty of this also, where I become so ingrained in my deep thoughts on how to attack the many different concerns, that I forget to laugh.

Second, I also worked the Canadian Jewish Congress. Which I am glad I did. You cannot know for sure anything until you know for sure (pretty wise of me huh?). I do support the Jewish Community on many different issues but not on everything. And since I do not want to get into a political rant about this particular subject, I would rather leave it be.

However, they created an opportunity, allowing me to research a book they were presented with, which was disturbing to my core. It was regarding one man's rant about First Nations/Aboriginal people, particularily, in British Columbia. Do not forget, there were many, many Aboriginal women who were killed in BC, and this one man created 10,000 copies of his flith, tainting others with his ilk. I still have no idea what to do with this book, but something will be done in the near future. I continue to support the Jewish Community on many issues. Within their own "Jewish" community, there is not 100% consensus on all issues, so I know it's with respect that they accept my thoughts.

Ok, so, the retreat went fabulous. I started school at UBC. I organized the film premier for "Highway of Tears", and now I am working at BC Women's Hospital organizing the Candle Light Vigil (see poster below). There were lots of other things, but that is a generalized view of my life. Unless you want to know about my kids, who are fabulous!

They are little sprites, full of life and mishieviousness, which makes me smile. My eight year old is a wise old man, who feels others emotions and takes them on as his own. Since he was a baby, he was so nurturing, and in preschool, understood that people had emotions which he was somehow able to "see". My five year old reacts to situations like he was experiencing it himself. The most recent film, Superman, there is a scene where a mom, dad and a young boy get stuck on a boat which goes under water, he broke down and started crying so hard. I didn't know this was in the movie, and was a bit angry at myself for letting that into his mind. But, we talked about it, and this is just how he is. He cries at sad cartoons (in bad attempts at being funny). They are both so much like me.

I hope to see as many people attend this Candle Light Vigil. But will be happy if at least 100 people show up.

*sigh*

The work continues...................................

Candle Light Vigil

2006-12-13T13:40:00.000-08:00

Woman's War Cry

2006-06-27T11:56:00.000-07:00

Angela Sterritt was a young woman who made a presentation yesterday as part of the First Nations Program within the World Peace Forum 2006. Another woman was Annita McPhee who's passion showed with her clear, very concise, unrehearsed presentation of colonization and it's war like effects.

I did not get Annita recorded - but I damn sure wish I did. It's hard not to get angry when you hear the injustices from such insight, said and given with such conviction.

These were Angela's words:

I would like to thank the Musqueam People and their ancestors for having me on their territory Today. And I want to thank the organizers of this event for inviting me to speak today. It is an honor to be here today. Hamy’ya.

Today we come together to embrace in the idea of peace, but we also come together to embrace in opposition the current forces of colonization, racism, classim, sexism, and agism.

We embrace in oppostion the violence inflicted on us and the occupation of our lands.

Some people may think this globalization is a new threat that has ravaged the lands and lives of many, but to us, to indigenous people, it is nothing new, it is colonization that has expanded, developed, and exploited more.

In all the world we see injustice, we see war, we see greed. This is what we want to end. We want to reclaim our freedom. Peace. How can we imagine peace when our territories are occupied by a foreign and violent government that began its stay on our lands with the fearfull idea that they needed to oppress us in order to make their place in society.

Claiming that they did not conquest us but came to a peaceful understanding, set out the type of war the canadian government has waged on us for the last 200 years. A war that has attempted to kill indigenous people through cultural genocide, assimilation, massive sexual and physical abuse, isolation, genocide, imprisonment and criminalization.

The legacy of this occupation, and imposition of the Canadian judicial system on Indignous lands and people is shameful as we see the high number of Indigenous peoples in the prison system, beaten, bruatalized, raped and killed by police forces and as we see an over-representation of Indigenous children in the wardship of the ministry and homeless. Indignoues youth who escape the iron hands of the Canadian judical system continue to be oppressed on their own traditional territories through environmental and economic racism.

Youth who stand up for their rights are targeted and criminalized. Indigenous youth, in particular girls are victims of contemporary Canadian society which views them as disposable. This has become more and more evident with the growing number of murdered and missing Indigenous girls along hwy 16 and more generally across Canada. This state of violence against Indigneous women, men, youth and children is a deadly serious issue that we, indigenous people are tackling nationally.

The government claims that canada is a peacful country with a vast track record of human rights and environmental standards. Other countries have talked about canada as the ElDorado or the paradise of the world. But welcome to a world where poor indigneous women and girls are forced into the sex trade due to extreme poverty and forced to give up their children because they cannot feed them. Welcome to the reality, much different than the claim of peace. There are more children in the ministry today then the totally number of indigneous children in residential school.

This ugly face of colonization rears its head more forcefully today and it is the indigneous women and girls that bear the brunt.

The colonial government that committed atrocities against our people, put us on reserves, in residential school, and committed genocide are the same government that continues to set racist social policy in an attempt to keep us locked up, locked up in state abuse, locked up in fear, locked up in prison, locked up in beaurocractic systems and locked up in poverty.

The war on indigneous women and children in canada is like the war waged on all other nations of the world, if they keep us locked up they can take our rights, take our land, and take our traditional roles. Keeping us caged, also works to produce a symbol of the arbitrary ability of the federal government ofCanada to repress the legitimate aspirations to liberation of indigenous peoples within its claimed boundaries.

To quote Gail K. Horii of the Strength in Sisterhoodsociety “Too many Aboriginal youth, women and men languish in penitentiaries, prisons, jails, remand centers and holding cells across this country and in this province. Too many are brutalized by policing agencies. To consider that finding respite from concrete cells -- to take comfort in a ceremony of elders is further punishable by shackling is beyond vindictiveness. It is cultural genocide at best. This is only one example of many in which the colonial forces that be, continue to suppress our constitutional right to self-determination, our human rights and our right to be free without colonial molestation. More recently the solicitor general has began talks about the building of further prisons for our people, the so called “segregated jails”. We see this further accommodating of Indigenous people in prisons as contradictory to so called efforts to lower the number of Indigenous people in jail. It is ourgoal to free our people from this racist and oppression system not make the prison system more“Aboriginal friendly”. Simialrily, the youth jail has recently boasted of its use of “aboriginal” art in the youth jail. Is the use of the art an attempt to make the prison institution more culturally relevant toIndigneous people? This is sick. The entire prison system needs to start spenidng its resources on dealing with its systemic racism instead of making the prison more accomadating for Indigneous people. When will the police admit the wrongs.

To quote Gail K. Horii of the Strength in Sisterhoodsociety again “It does not go unnoticed by the international community how this government has quickly seized and copied the totems and artwork ofAboriginal, Metis & Inuit cultures, how freely this government utilizes these assets to promote beautiful British Columbia while they lock up and brutalize their First Nations’ peoples”. She continues, “If a face of every missing Aboriginal youth and woman and a face of every Aboriginal, Metisand Inuit person behind bars accompanied every CoastSalish, every Haida, every Metis symbol and every“inunnguaq” published from now until 2010, perhaps then, this government would be shamed enough to treat every arrested and incarcerated Aboriginal, Metis &Inuit person with dignity, with respect and would grant them equal rights before and under the law".

In some Indigenous communities, in what is know called Canada, children’s bodies are covered with sores from contaminated water sources(Kectewan and Kanawake for example). Other youth see their sacred sites being bulldozed in order to make way for development (Skwek’welk’welt, Cayoosh Creek). More and more corporations are entering our communities and ignoring the national laws that our people have fought relentlessly for decades. Youth that challenge destructive corporate operations such as logging, mining, pipelines and dam projects on their territories are forced on the very margins of societies.

To silence Indigenous people, and to create divisions among us, corporations offer programs and sponsorships to Aboriginal organizations, bands, and individuals. This is an attempt to ‘even out’ their unethical and devastating practices. So corporations like Weyerhauser, Shell Canada and Encana corporation, who are responsible for destroying a number of Indigenous communities give money to the Aboriginal Achievement Awards and other organizations and work to co-opt the support of Indigenous people who have critiqued and resisted their destructive activities and developments.

So this makes it difficult for is to educate youth and create an awareness about how corporations suppress our rights, and devastate our lives and land, and violate constitutional and human rights. While the government locks up our people and perpetuates oppression and demonstrates their colonial occupation on Indigenous lands, corporations work with that government to pollute minds and life onIndigenous lands.

There is hope, we have to come together and not get sucked up into the divisions or into individualistic notions of power.

Although the issues above are vast, we understand that all are linked to a colonial legacy that governments and corporations work to continue today. We know that through networks, campaigns and actions, change will come - slowly but step by step, if we are strategic, surely.

Each of the campaigns I discussed were initiated and carried out just by one or two people and the force of movement behind each has been immense, we plan to meet with different Aboriginal organizations who have received corporate sponsorship in an attempt to get them to seek and receive ethical sponsorship.

On the prison front, we have received support from pockets of people, every day and the movement to change that system is growing. It is never a hopeless situation; we just need to keep on moving, exposing injustices and building support in order for the movement and change to continue. I have heard some say you cannot change the system or people, but that’s what we have been doing and will continue to do.

Peaceful Art

2006-06-25T10:16:00.000-07:00

This was a huge event! The Peace Walk, led by the Indigenous People of this land, which I didn't get on print. However, these pics were part of the procession, thousands of people took to the streets!

I liked pic #2...for it was my own artistic view of societies apathy. I shouldn't expect that everyone would march - for however big it was - this is a city of almost 3 million people, and I would guess to say that only about 0.0001 percent of the population showed up??? Maybe even less than that, i'm no mathematician. This poor woman - out to enjoy her day of lazing about in the sun, has provided the model for socieites apathy. I doubt she will ever know.

I don't even want to tell you what the artist said about the huge phallus. I am curious to know if anybody has their own thoughts of her artwork?

Fun times.

Graduation

2006-06-21T12:44:00.000-07:00

Today, June 21st, 2006, I picked up my first University Degree, I mean, it's really I half of a degree, since it's an associates, but stilllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

I had my two boys with me and they were none too pleased to have to be with me always (they wanted to run around the place, which they did...) ....but they were a couple of sweet kids and we had many things to do that day, after this graduation, which they did and they did well, I was very proud of them.

Sooo, now that I am at this point in my life, I feel like I have established a good foundation on which to go forward with. I do know what my plans are, and once I am complete, will be a momentous occasion. I have it in my sight what is my goal, and to be truthful, I'm glad. I don't have to guess so much about what plans I have to make for the future. I like plans, even if they don't work out, it's a starting point.

One half of a degree - one half more to go, and then........................................................?

That will be continued.

G

Gladys Radeck

2006-06-20T23:26:00.000-07:00

June 20th, 2006 these pics were from tonight where I spent the evening with Gladys Radeck and her family at her home. Her newest grandchild, Meleeka or Angelica - whatever they decide - was born this very morning. I was invited to join their welcoming feast of take out chinese food (everyone was super tired from staying for and up for the long long delivery process), which the chinese food was absolutely incredible. I gobbled down a whole plate full of yummy food.

I was super amazed at how quick this young woman of 17 was in and out of the hospital and tonight, was at home joking with the family, and being - well 17. Her and her partner were very happy, and looked very cute getting all snuggly.

Gladys was involved in a human rights case against Tinseltown and their Security Company against Natives and Handicap individuals. Gladys uses a prosthetic, which an old one has been turned into a funky backyard design - I had to take the picture! Gladys won her case and has been responsible for forcing some cultural sensitivity training for those responsible.

I don't want to minimize by saying something glib - like "good show" Gladys - or "about time". I do not know the kind of ill treatment Gladys received, for she was forcibly removed from the premises while on her way to get a starbucks coffee.

The story this woman has to tell, is of a life full of many such trials and tribulations. She is very sensitive to the treatment received by others, under any circumstances, and she has proven that she is not afraid to make a call on it if she feels her Charter rights have been infringed in any way.

This is very important. For on the one hand, you have this fierce advocate who lives by the sword (so to speak), and yet can still easily die by it. Dancing on such a sharp knife causes much pain and anxiety, for it's a constant dance to stay safe.

I will be speaking more with this amazing woman, about what it has taken up to now to survive the harsh reality of her life. She has great plans for continueing her advocacy, her heart knows the pain of many abuses sufferred by those who do not understand.

I will be working with her to get a beautiful story based on the fundamentals of what it has taken Indigenous woman since time immemorial to survive.

There are many other updates, but I had to get this picture in. I loved that leg!

Update to the conference

2006-05-10T09:20:00.000-07:00

Ok...wow. It's been 50 days since "the gathering". In this time, I have taken care of all the outstanding accounts that needed to be taken care of. I have one more which I have not been able to get a stamp for...lol. I was sent a cheque for $600.00 which would have made my life so much easier, but when it was not going to be used for the given purpose, I left it up to the sender for instructions on what to do with the offer. He asked for it back. It would have been nice to have it, because we overspent on this conference. I am out of pocket about $400.00. Which is really tough for me, but, as the coordinator for this project, I have to suck it up like a big girl. It was a great learning lesson on that front. I really didn't know much but this is a gentle way to learn what to do, I was offerred an unsolicited donation of $200.00 which will cover most of this. So, things will work out. Right now, the money value is so small, I don't mind talking about this. It's all part of the hows and why's of creating this day. It will cost me much much more in other ways, so, a few hundred dollars in the whole scheme of things does not appear to be a bad thing. However, there are things that have to be taken care in my personal life which I see cannot be affected by this work I am doing on. That's probably the greatest lesson I have learned.

I have been kinda weird sick lately. I have a bad case of vertigo or something like it. It started before the conference, perhaps 4 weeks prior, and it hasn't gone away. For brief moments it's been lessened, but for example, when you put your headsideways, wow, I feel like my head hasn't stopped moving, or I feel very dizzy from doing that simple movement with my head. Not good. So, i've been keeping things very quiet.

I finished school, (noted in previous post), which has been wonderful. I love being out of school..yay! But it's not school so much, as it was doing everything all at once. I have been taking this time to get caught up on so many other things that need taking care of. And assisting on the World Peace Forum. I feel kinda bad, because I haven't been quite as involved, but do support Dalannah in her efforts.

The other thing is that I recently met with Dr. Bruce Miller from the UBC Anthropology field. Ok. There are very few instances where talking to anyone will stump me, I can usually fudge my way through most conversations. But this is one man who knew his topic of study. I found everything he said to be fascinating. He pulled world history around the Indigenous question in Canada. Even talking about the question of "what is Indigenous" - the various factors involved present problems finding any one path towards a solid definition applicable to ANYONE who wants to be defined as such.

The world history portion of his talk was probably the most informative for me. I have always thought that in order to see what is going on right now with Canada's Indigenous people (another topic of discussion - populations versus people), you have to see what happened prior to contact. I do recall having this conversation previously with a non-academic man, who suggested it a ludicrous thought that what happened prior to contact should be important.

Mind you, there have been moments where you talk with "someone" and if you believe what they say or follow what they suggest, could direct your path, possibly creating a new one.

I didn't in this case, as I from that moment took it underground. ha ha ha. It became my secret drive through school, etc, and in my personal adventure of sorts with reading. I have been finding books which teach me interesting things about history - even if I were not on this quest. One thing that Dr. Bruce Miller did confirm after I did an initial browse through this one book on the "english" monarchy, is that there never was a true english royalty. The blue blood of enlish monarchy would appear then, as a sham. The House of Hanover and the Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (which changed to the House of Windsor in 1917) - the ancestry was from German, and many other countries, including Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. Is this common knowledge, cuz, I'm just finding this all out....ha ha ha.

There is another book, called the History of England from 1926, which I would like to browse through this summer.

This is important, due to the fact that in Canada, the three "founding" nations in Canada include Britain, France and the First Nations people. I know that the history of France is also going to massive, but I will take this one step at a time. Right now, what I see is that there is a continual power struggle which has never gone away in the overtaking of Canada's land. As a First Nations (member? citizen?) it would be very wrong of me to not consider all this into how to affect the most positive change for the Indigenous women of this land. For it's always been the women affected the most negatively, but it will be the women who will force and implement the most positive of changes. Going from one extreme to the next will be how radical in later years it will seem. To be the most marginalized, to cecome a pillar of strength in the Indigenous community seems to be the right course of action for the women. It's a worthy goal to try and achieve that respect and dignity be afforded the Indigenous women of this land.

ok, enough of that for now. Sounds like I almost hopped back on my pedestal. i was recently asked to particpate as a speaker for an women's conference in Alberta. To coincide with my birthday. I love the fact that as a birthday present to myself, I will be speaking in Alberta about this very wonderful project. It's moments like this that I feel so very blessed.

Enough for now. The World Peace Forum Indigenous Programming - June 26th and June 27th, 2006. Think about particpating, we still need funds for that project..(winkwink).

Gloria

Semester come and gone - again

2006-04-24T08:50:00.000-07:00

So, I completed my first two years of university at The Institute of Indigenous Government. I was sheltered somewhat, protected from the harsher realities of "mainstream" society relative to school and achievements, for which I am grateful. A more solid foundation has been constructed which, no matter which school I continue on with my studies (answers what I want to do for September), will enable me to succeed with the tools acquired at this school.

The conflicts I am feeling are profound, the reality being that, if I didn't go further from this point, I would have already achieved so much. I am literally one of the few from my reserve to complete high school, and two years of university. That in itself is so drastic that I cannot begin to tell you, as one who must carry this thought, how it feels.

So, that leaves me with the question of what to do from here? Being at a crossroads, I am going to right now take the path of least resistance. Just because my semester was so busy and so life-altering this past four months, I need to take some time to reflect.

So, this summer, I am going to do some writing. I want to focus on my role as an Aboriginal woman in society. What were some of my trials, and what were some of my tribulations? I must admit, that in some ways, I have had a very priveleged life. There were people who came and went through out, that created in itself a rich mosaic of moments in which I consider to be such a blessing.

There were those who tried to love me, but could not work beyond the muck and mire of my childhood which resulted from - I would say more rather than less - the Intergenerational effects of Residential school experiences my grandmother and my mother had. To achieve what seems at this point the impossible - of integrating love in my life, what kinds of choices do I have to make? What compromises do I have to make to allow this to happen? Do I notice any patterns and how would this relate to other women like myself?

This brings to light my experiences I have had recently, in Vancouver. Did I meet others like me and how did we mix? or collide? what of the men I have met? what were the women like.

I can laugh at many of the experiences..............get angry at some............and feel an utterly deep sadness for others. This is as life should be and is for many, but when you consider in all this, the very ingrained deeply political process that it is to be an Aboriginal woman in Canada, you have what it is that can define resiliance, survival and adaptation. In whatever form you see it in society, it exists due to the fact that there are many who took these concepts and applied them in the only existence they knew. That being an existence society "allowed" them to have, like scraps you would give to a pet.

*sigh*

I feel good about this writing idea. I would like to talk to other aboriginal woman though. There was an experience in the building process of "the gathering", which will forever haunt me. I do not know if this woman involved knows truly how much she has seared my heart with her harsh words. If I think of it too much, I might cry, for to be considered an oppressor by your own kind, by a woman who I devoted myself to with blood, sweat and tears, hurt beyond any abuse, any hit from a mans hand, any assault my uncle could have given me, any harsh word my mother gave me.................................................it scarred my very soul.

On that note, I feel I MUST write.

G

*****UPDATE***** Later in the day........

Got my marks in - passed with an A-, B+ and a B-. That means I officially have a University Associates of Arts Degree, majoring in Criminology, my focus being on Aboriginal women. I have applied to Simon Fraser University for September. I would like to transfer to a women's study program, as that is where my heart will always be, the Aboriginal women.

Prostitution

2006-04-09T22:58:00.000-07:00

This is a poster I created this weekend for my crim class. I have to say that I purposefully chose to highlight the prostitution part of this case, to scream out how the justice system saw this woman. Not as the mother of two she left behind or as a woman from the Sakimay Reserve near Regina, Saskatchewan where she was murdered, or even as a woman, but rather as a prostitute. The application of justice against her killers spared them a longer prison sentence, and a harsher stigma against this crime against "society" . The judicial process her murder at the hands of two white boys, involved the judge pointing out the jury, to "remember she was a prostitute" when deciding the issue surrounding the conviction between Murder or manslaughter.

This particular picture has always haunted me. I see a very beautiful woman who, in the course of her life, found prostitution.

Arguements galore surround how to solve this society ill, however, what I do not see are answers surrounding what woman have for alternatives.

Aboriginal woman in paritucular have a dual oppression, in that, the intergenerational effects of residential schools in Canada, have essentially crippled the reserve communities which many of these woman are from, and their position within that society. The family breakdown in itself is one of the reasons why, Aboriginal woman, find prostitution. Leaving this community, they would find further oppression within a society which does not afford her the same opportunities other woman have within that society. (can we say that society created this position that many Aboriginal women find themselves in, only to find that society neither cares nor assumes any guilt because of it).

This case involving Pamela George screamed out the injustices, not only within a cultural sense, but in a judicial sense, where her death, received in the course of her activities involving her "profession" of prostitition, do not afford her the same degree of justice against her killer(s).

I have found that this particular section of the Canadian Criminal Code, section 231.(5)(b), where murder in the course of committing another crime involving aggravated sexual assault or kidnapping, as what happened to Miss. George, would constitute a second degree murder charge.

Instead, and this is where the contradiction lies between enforcing this second degree murder charge against a killer(s) of a prostitute, that being the issue of consent.

The fact that consent is "assumed" with sexual interaction between a prostitute and a "client" should not afford that "client" the right to kill without receiving the same sanctions against killing a woman (or man), who does not give consent to sex.

In the case, R. v. Brown, it clearly states over a lengthy decision, that consent to sexual assault involving violence is no defence. There does not appear any clear reason in the Miss. George case why manslaughter and not second degree murder was decided. I have come to conclude that this particular section, when taking in the "procurring" laws against prostitution for sex, that the laws do not apply for second degree murder (and a longer prison term) in the course of activities involving prostitutes when death occurs. Rather, this issue of consent appears to override this particular section.

It seems to me, that as a prostitute, by challenging this profession and all it carries, you must go into it knowing that death may occur. And when it does, the death of one it's "workers" would be considered by the courts, as the ultimate cost of doing business, and a mitigating factor as to how a woman came to put herself in a position that she may be killed, therefore, not enforceable by law against the killer to the degree that section 231.(5)(b) should otherwise be metted out.

Native Women's Fan Club Part 2

2006-03-31T09:58:00.000-08:00

This is Carole James, Leader of the Official Opposition for British Columbia.

We met last night at a mutual friends house, which was a night of fun, laughter and much about just being women.

I have a child's fascination with the power, strength and resiliancy that many of these women contain in their being. I am a true feminist, and realize I must have always been.

This term however, does not really convey emotion where women like many who were at this lovely event last night, are guided by. Not controlled by, but guided by. To make effective change, it must be change that those it's meant to help want to carry on themselves.

I am seeing that in order to do this, there are many things that need to happen.

First, people are not guided by words. They are guided by the process which may have to include holding that hand while they make that journey to self betterment.

Second, the change must be something, you who wants to affect this change, must also live and adhere to. You cannot talk the talk, if you are not prepared to walk the walk.

Third, fight, argue, bare your teeth to the opponent who wants to undermine your efforts. And there will be those people there. This is probably the least publicized aspect of what it takes to affect change. However, as mothers, many of us already do that on a day to day basis. Whether we are looking for the best deal, or best school, or avenues to take care of our children's health needs not covered by health care, we do that.

Empowerment is not easy. Empowerment is not automatic. Empowerment is putting yourself out there for those that you care about and want to hold their hand while they make that journey to self betterment.

I feel I am on this journey, and I feel more importantly that there are those who walking beside me. I know for a fact that is the case, and last night, really put into my heart, others who are walking the same path.

The feeling of being alone is probably one of the most important feelings as a society of native women, of Indigenous women of this land, that we need to eradicate.

G

Hansard Notes from Richard T. Lee, MLA Burnaby north

2006-03-28T23:50:00.000-08:00

I had met with Mr. Richard T. Lee sometime ago, actually on June 21 2005 (Aboriginal Day) when he attended the blessing of the Aboriginal Angel Dolls in a very small ceremony, at the Chief Dan George Center in Vancouver. The elder who blessed the dolls was the elder who worked at my son's (now defunct) Aboriginal headstart preschool here in Surrey. I was very honored that she wanted to participate and thank her often in my prayers.

My good friend Curtis Joe had danced along with Shama Prya who are both champion dancers that offerred nothing but their traditional gifts of dance.

It so happens, that at the same time, I had one of only two draws for dolls for a raffle, and Mr. Richard T. Lee had won this very special doll. His most recent (announcement on Page 2822 with video link) in the provincial House of Commons on International Women's Day announced to all British Columbia residents that the Spring Equinox is now going to be Indigenous Women's Empowerment Day!

Each doll presents a unique personality, as each is made by hand, with great thought into each piece. It's almost like I would ask the little doll, who are you? What would you like to be presented with? And voila, it would just come together. I have enjoyed each step in the process as it was all a labour of love and devotion.

I will thank Mr. Richard T. Lee with a letter thanking his generous and bold statement in front of his peers. It's those kinds of steps that need to take place in order for the Canadian consciousness to change towards all Aboriginal Women in Canada.

It will happen.

Gloria Larocque

Indigenous Women's Empowerment Day exists, Her Honours remarks posted

2006-03-22T01:02:00.000-08:00

The Spring Equinox has been claimed by Indigenous women of this land as a time to empower each other for building a stronger foundation built on our own terms.

The Missing/Murdered Aboriginal women of Canada have sufferred many injustices. The least of all that of a memory built upon poor recognition of the systemic barriers, which essentially have created their memory into a faceless "tribe of lost souls".

Shameful.

Today, as I stood at the podium, announcing to those present that: "Today, the Spring Equinox of 2006 will be the start of Indigenous women empowering each other, supporting each other, in ways that will put society in a position that they cannot help but see our value, see the value of our loved ones. We refuse to be dependent on societies interpretation of our loved ones. We do not accept how our loved ones have become faceless. Today, we claim the Spring Equinox as Indigenous Women’s Empowerment Day.", I have to admit I was scared.

I was also mostly tired. I had been up very late getting things ready for that presentation, knowing not only would the queen's representative be there to join in this announcement, but also that my peers, teachers, chief's, and front line workers from the Downtown Eastside be there to hear my words.

It went well. I have to thank all those who attended to make this possible. There are no special days in which to recognize Indigenous women of the land concerns. I choose not to use the term Aboriginal as much. This term does not imply roots as much as Indigenous women does.

As scared as I was, there were friends to support. My family was not there, neither were my boys. As is the case when your a single mother with no resources. There are some things that friends just cannot replace.

As it is, I have found a path for next years proclamation. I will do this every year until there is recognition on the calender year for a day specifically for the Indigenous woman.

The women guest speakers included: Her Honour, Iona Campagnolo (her speech notes), Chief Lea George-Wilson from the Tsliel-waututh nation, Kelly MacDonald B.A., LLB, LLM, Catharine Crow PhD Candidate, and Marlene Trick - who organizes the Downtown Eastside Women's March every February 14th to honour the sites where women have been found murdered on Vancouver's Streets.

The guest speakers who spoke outside of this were given an opportunity to raise their voices which was apparent by all that they needed to. Even Curtis Joe, who was our lead dancer who organized the pow wow dance group, found himself with words to say. His wife had gone missing and was found murdered. He had suggested that perhaps his injury sufferred in last weekend's pow wow forced him to sit this dance out (was dressed in full regalia though), to allow himself to heal also. Since he had not taken time to talk much about his loss. It was quite emotional to see him almost break down and acknowledge that he hadn't taken time to talk about it much in the past. No more shame. No more guilt.

I was truly moved beyond words with things I had heard, the emotions I felt, and the knowledge of the length in time it is taking for anything to be done for these women. But, as is the case, there are those who continue to work, women who are there on the front lines, women like myself working behind the scenes - making them more visible, because if we didn't, they would remain invisible, like they truly did create their own demise. When the reality is, that society has created this situation.

In sisterhood,

Gloria Larocque

One more week!

2006-03-13T09:35:00.000-08:00

The next seven days will determine my life in many facets. I take solice in the fact that there were many others before me who have walked these scarey steps and have come out victorious in the sense that they have achieved something.

It is this something which can be interepreted in many different ways. For me, I would like to think that it would be that those who walk out of this event, will be the wiser about one important fact:

That the 500 plus missing/murdered Aboriginal women of Canada did not choose their fates.

Of the other things we will be discussing of course, I certainly would like to hope that there is some absorption of the facts presented. And of what ends do our means provide any hope for the future?

The one thing that I would like to see come out of this, I have given this question much thought, because I want those in attendance to go away thinking what a great idea it is to have these things. Perhaps first and foremost on my wish list - perhaps a royal commission on the missing/murdered Aboriginal women of Canada?

Why not? Who said I couldn't ask? I could at least ask. I will ask.

Second, the cirriculum in Canada has the tiniest amount of Native "history", especially regarding the interaction that is now between these two people. Or about what roles were so helpful in the early parts of Canada. The tiniest amount leads one to think that we were here waiting for the "white man" to come so we can be his "au paires" in this new frontier, to be dismissed once they were able to take care of themselves.

Third - I have found in talking to a few immigrants, is that their knowledge of this interaction between Natives and the Government, is virtually unknown to them. The first thing they know is that we get status - they don't - and then they think how unfair it is when they see "us" squandering it away - or using it wastefully - where on earth did they get that thought?

I guess the truth would hurt. Of the billions that are "poured" into the leaky bucket of Indian Affairs - much of it stays in Indian Affairs - and doesn't really reach the Indians. So, as far as I am concerned, this thought process is part of the canadian experiement on the Native people.

As they go down their checklist of torturous tactics - they found that they had to stop taking our kids and putting them into sexual bordello's for the perverted priests (was this a harsh way to say it??? oops), or denying the women status and removing her from all her identity into another world that did not accept her, or let's see, we haven't tried turning all of society against them that they will be forced to give up these special treats we graciously allow them to have so that they will be forced to assimilate.

Tsk Tsk Tsk

Hhhmmm..so much to discuss...what is my speech going to say...not really sure at this point, but I have to be honest, nothing scares me more than putting words together to speak for this live audiance.

In sisterhood,

G

Funding approved

2006-02-09T00:27:00.000-08:00

What a relief. I got word of funding that was approved for a grant in the amount of $3,333.00. This was supplied by the Margeret Mitchell Foundation through Vancity, which is to support Downtown Eastside Women concerns. $1000.00 had been donated generously, by Jen Sanke and her husband, Dan, bringing the actual donations to $4,333.00.

The following will be taken care of, and will post the changes as they are completed:

1. Site - Tsleil-Waytuth Community Center, booked February 13th, 2006

2. Food - bought and prepared by the Aboriginal Mother's Centre, confirmed February 7th, 2006

3. Posters - being made by Amie Stafford - completed March 3, 2006

4. Invites - creation donated by Tewanne Joseph Consulting - Completed March 3, 2006

5. Donation to the Downtown Eastside Woman's March for Feb. 14th

6. Postcards - created by Amie Stafford - Completed March 3, 2006

7. Final submission to the Bloodlines Magazine for an update - Completed March 3, 2006

8. T-shirts to be sold as fundraising - not going to be done.

9. Search for goodies to go into the loot bags - not going to be done

10. Giveaway gifts: Cedar roses with leaves pins to be made at the Aboriginal Mother's Center - Confirmed February 17th, 2006. I will buy supplies and pay an honourium to be taught how to make these lovely goodies.

11. Elder participation - 4 elders as follows:
a. Seislam - asked February 15, 2006
b. Old hands - asked November, 2005
c. Rita Black
d. Leona (?)
e. Lorraine (?)
f. Eveyln Locker

12. Drum groups as follows:
a. Old hands

13. Dancers - organized through Curtis Joe

14. Speakers to be confirmed as follows:

i. Marlene Tricks - Downtown Eastside Woman's March Coordinator, confirmed

ii. Kelly Macdonald - advocate for young girls/woman who make up a portion of the Missing/Murdered Aboriginal woman of Canada - the idea is that one factor to dissuade the idea of choice amongst this group is the age factor, many were young young young. confirmed February 19, 2006

iii. Chief Leah George Wilson from the Tsleil-Waytuth Nation, confirmed.
iv. Catharine Crow - doing her PhD Dissertation on FASD. Another factor to take away the choice concept for those loved ones affected, that their choice option did not exist, confirmed February 15, 2006.

15. Submit the itinerary for Her Honour, Iona Campagnolo's particpation in this event (before the end of February) - Confirmed February 24th, 2006

17. Create the KETA Society website, through Darren Fryer, who is one of the directors of KETA Society, and pretty much one of the founders of this whole project, he came up with the name Aboriginal Angel Doll.....when I couldn't come up with something when I described the original doll (imagine me: well, it looks like an Aboriginal woman, and an Angel, but it's a doll.............what should I call it??????????????) - Confirmed March 1, 2006

18. Create the sample CD with Kookum RITA (my lovely friend, Dorothy), for the giveaway. The production work will be done with Jason Burnstick, copies to be made by me..........this is exciting stuff. Not sure who will do the sample booklet to go with it...will post once I know for sure. This is an introduction to the First Project to officially launch KETA Society - will not be completed until a later date.

There will be four elders opening with a blessing to honour the four directions, to surround the family members. The Nahanee Drum Group will lead the west coast blessing with Caroline Dudoward and her friend Erin, they are not elders but perform blessings through their church.
My friend Curtis Joe, as a champion pow wow dancer, teacher, and a family member will lead the pow wow dancers arround the family members, with songs in the spirit of honour the family members present, and a warrior song so that they may walk out of this function with the strength to not only remove the stigma attached to their loved ones, but to know they are supported by the community members present.

The community members present will be varied. Since this event was to be a public statement, and I was never in a position to perform any "blessings" for the families, the gifts we put together to show our support and our fight for their loved ones will hopefully allow the loved ones memories to be humanized, with dignity and honour.

I will keep this updated, but at this point, many of the appointed members are already in place, just one more clarification on a personal basis to ensure the date and invitation is assured, and any last minute details are taken care of.

In sisterhood,

G

Native Women's Fan Club - NEW!!!!!!!!!

2006-01-30T21:16:00.000-08:00

This was a fun night. Sunday, January 29th, 2006, met with Bevery Jacobs, President of Native Women's Association of Canada, at a mutual friends house for dinner. It was a wonderful evening, of five, strong Native women collaborating on life, laughter, and yummy food.

I can't say enough how much this night meant to me. As a native woman, part of the struggles I have had to overcome, was from within the Aboriginal community, in addition to "outside" forces. The discussions we had that night laid that out as one of the commonalities experience by all five. There are few safe habours in society, that the three of the five being single mothers, not further burdened with additional difficulties of being Native woman.

We had decided that night that we were going to form a Native Women's Fan Club. Yay!

The way things are now, are not how they always were nor how they always will be. As a Native woman, I have hope that this will come to pass.

I want to lay to rest the idea that the missing/murdered Aboriginal women of Canada chose their fates, and I will never be happy with societies concensus that these ladies are all "drugged out whores". I want this a day (Spring Equinox) to help support those who have been weakened by this negative view instilled by society.

Once again, I reiterate, these are our children, sisters, aunties, mothers, grandmothers, friends................and if nothing else matters, then they were at least citizens of this country, which they should have been given the judicial fairness afforded to all citizens, including the search for justice against those who did wrongs against them.

The fact that they were treated less than, indicates that, in particular, these Aboriginal women are thought of less then. For the generalized view of those that have fallen, to be carried over to those Native women still alive, indicates to this very much alive and kicking Native women, that there are those who must think the same of me.

And if not for my sisters who have fallen, than be it for my daughter, that I will fight like hell to make societies view towards Native women transform. From a negative, degraded view, to one where the contributions in the creation of this country are openly acknowledged for their value and worth. That Native Woman are valued and have worth. For those who live in freedom today conveniently choose to not be aware, this privelige was given in a large part by the hands, backs and bodies of Native women.

That their ancestors could live yesterday, now Native women should die today.

G

Update!

2006-01-28T10:25:00.000-08:00

In the course of updating my msn messenger list, and getting rid of many unwanted email addy's - I found myself with many email addy's of people who have either stopped talking to me, or I have stopped talking to, or both.

I recently updated my msn profile...my name, picture, information. The new system got me thinking about this type of exchange of information, particularily between Native people. Of course, I speak of no one else but myself when I say that.

I had the mindset that because I had nothing to hide, I didn't have to "fear" anything. That by being truthful and transparent, I was somehow immune to some of the horror stories you hear about. Things are not quite so simple though. It's not fear that drives my new feelings about things, but what people do with the information you put out there. Words have the capacity to harm, to do damange to fragile ego's - especially my own.

I do not want to hurt anybody with my words, even if they mis-interpret them. Reading only words can be interpreted in whatever way you want, dependent on what emotions you have reading it. I have mis-interpreted things I have read, or agonized over words I have sent "out there" into cyber space. Once you press that send button, the one thought that I keep in mind (although sometimes too lossely), is something that was taught to me as a child.

Growing up in Alberta and on a quiet sunny winter day, I was told that whatever you spell in the snow you can never take back. What does that mean exactly? Or that spoken words put "out there", you can't take them back. I have experienced this first hand through this msn messenger system, or email system. It's the new way of writing in the snow.

Things I have put out there, I know I will never be able to take back. The unfamiliarity of it's powerful impact is now known to me, but there were times when it wasn't. I put things from the heart - including when my heart was troubled, or hurt and I had faith that whoever I meant to read those words, would somehow understand. I respected the reader would give me some benefit to know that my words were never meant to hurt or scare, or cause bad feelings. I trusted that, you as the reader, would be able to read the feelings and emotions I put into writing the messages.

This is so far from the truth. Words do not convey emotion, or at least perhaps I did not put the correct sequence of words together to evoke emotion, but as I wrote, I put the emotion into the keyboard. Can you feel what I am feeling right now? Probably not. I cannot even begin to guess what emotion you may feel reading this. If you like long winded blogs - you might be able to read some sort of emotion and think this is coming from my heart, if you think I am running on, which I can be prone to do, you might think this is a bit annoying.

There is emotion. There is emotion I think into every word you put "out there" in any medium. If you put no words, that in itself is saying something. But once you decide to press that send button, you transmit the emotions you put into the keyboard, for if one does not receive that emotion directly through the elctronic message, another will. You are not sending words, but rather, emotions.

I think that is the message from the writing in the snow story. Emotions carry the power behind the words. What you evoke reading may not be what I put into typing, and vise versa. But at some point, those emotions will transmit somewhere.

Teleconference

2006-01-26T07:38:00.000-08:00

This morning, I will be participating in a teleconference with an invite by the Canadian Jewish Congress - Pacific Region. Mr. Weintraub is interested in one key area which would be lovely if it could ever happen, which would be a day to recognize the contributions made to Canada by Native Women - specifically the Spring Equinox.

It was in talking to Mr. Weintraub that the idea developed. Taking from what I was discussing - the fact that the early traders and nations and thus the development of the fur trade etc, was really instrumental BECAUSE of Native women. How so? Well, the division of labour for starts. Just on this basis, you would have to reconsider the whole scenerio of it as just being a man's world back then.

Native women skinned and tanned the animals instrumental for the fur trade to exist.

Then you would have to consider the whole relationship building process. One question that comes to mind, is why wasn't the "overtaking" of Canada more bloody? Now, I really do not want to imply that the Woman were solely responsible for Turtle Island's being "overtaken", but what I would like to suggest is this, in the course of the development of Canada, Native women played a key role in it's development.

If you consider how any political event happens, outside of total revolution based on violence, it's usually a subtle, quiet, sign on the dotted line event. Thus too, that in the early days of Canada, the Native men were making their "political" moves based partly on "a la facon du pays" or "marriage alliances", or as Sylvia Van Kirk says - "created reciprocal social ties", just as the traders were making "political" moves on similiar grounds, each doing business with each other, for the most part - especially in the early early days - on mutual trust based on survival.

Today - survival is still the question. The difference is that, the traders of the early days, do not have the same level of mutual trust or respect for dealing with the "natives".

From 1670 at the founding of the Hudson's Bay Company to 1820 when the Anglican missionairies established "a la facon du pays" immoral and debased, did the Native women enjoy freedoms in her lands (this area open to debate on definition of freedom, but in the day, the cultural roles dictated woman had certain roles to fullfill entailing much manual labour).

Since this time, the struggle to establish any type of position in the new society, or even respect for her contribtutions for keeping both her nation and the early colonizers alive, have been ignored.

Read: Sylvia Van Kirk, Susan Sleeper-Smith, I would like to read a book called: Fools Crow by James Welch - I did read a review by Barbara Cook on Fools Crow, which looks at his book from a feminist's perspective and applies it directly at the Native woman.

The one thing that I have found, personally, is the reality that Native woman do not have an established "position" in society today. It is an interesting thought to think that Native women in Canada are suppressed. But when you consider that from 1820 on, the religious institutions, in one fashion or another, dictated different norms based on religious values, taught the "settlers" how to treat Native women. The opportunity to establish any grounding for Native women was lost. It was suppressed before it was "allowed" to exist.

I do not want to be "allowed" to have a position in society. As a Native woman, my brown skin and my ancestors have given me this opportunity to say something today. Which I will, loud and proud.

I sound like such an activist!

:-)

G

Happy Holidays!

2005-12-24T18:59:00.000-08:00

Well the past meeting went well. Jen Sanke, Sunni Hunt and myself hammered out a schedule of events for March 20th, 2006....we are looking at having guest speakers, and a fair amount of various traditions injected into this event.

It must be said up front, that what this event will be, is going to be different than what another organization may put together. I am in a good position where I am going in as an Aboriginal Woman, no political agenda - well - perhaps just one - to get a day of recognition for all to appreciate the contributions Canada has gained from the Aboriginal woman...(just a little one)...

There were a few books I read which have impacted my chosen path. One is Enough is Enough - about the Tobique women who changed the Indian Act with reference to the loss of Status from marrying a non-indian.

I do not have an opinion to state here about the outcome, but if you read the story, you will find women who had nothing to lose and more to gain by taking very active steps towards change. This was very empowering. The realness of the how the women told their stories is what I like to think it is like when Aboriginal women want change. They would get together, strategize, implement, learn from mistakes, re-strategize, apply caution but never stop going.

I think it's very important to see Aboriginal women as strong, resiliant, adaptable, gentle, loving, supporting, give the shirt of your back kind of person. And for the most part, they have given everything they had for those who took what they had to offer, and gave absolutely nothing in return.

Think about the creation of Canada. Then think about the Aboriginal community and the division of work. From my understanding, and I look foward to be corrected on this, but it seemed to me that without the work and efforts of the Aboriginal woman, both of these areas would be greatly affected if things were any different.

What would the creation of Canada look like if the Aboriginal women were not there to be the future "assistants" or "guides" or "country wives", or whatever other term can gloss over the immense benefit the early colonizers and settlers derived from the Aboriginal woman.

In return, Aboriginal woman are over-represented as victims, within the Criminal Justice System (and not as paid representatives), the least available for various opportunities with or without a University degree, and the least likely in many other areas to attain levels of power, prestige or position.

Ahhh, I would like to think that this is because the Aboriginal woman denies all these options..that she would chose to not want these things, but to live as a humble woman, working amongst the lower ranks for less money because she wanted this lifestyle. Perhaps and worse yet, that she doesn't want any money at all, but choses to live as a "drugged out whore", giving all her "hard earned money" to her pimp in exchange for a small amount of crack. And why would she chose this, because it would be nice to think that she was happy doing this. That of all opportunities presented to her, she chose that path.

I would question any who agrees that she is happy doing this, and question even more so, how someone defines choice.

I have a problem with this word when applied in any subtley or nuance to Aboriginal women, especially those who have lost the benefit of being remembered with any acceptance by a society which has defined their existence for so long.

Anyhow, I just had a wonderful Christmas eve Dinner. I'm never sure what is "traditional" when it comes to holidays, so I create my own ways. Tonight we had roast beef, with mashed potatoes and asparagus....lol.

I also made some gingerbread cookies shaped like teepee's, which we will decorate tomorrow and eat..yum yum. I love homemade gingerbread.

Have a great Christmas. I have been actively working on a logo, donated by my good friend Bruce Cook, Haida artist extroidinaire, and Mary who is a wonderful Graphic Designer, who is teaching me this program
along with working on this project.

I am so lucky.

Merry Christmas, and hope you all feel the love of those with you or without you.

Gloria

Semester come and gone!

2005-12-09T12:31:00.000-08:00

HA!

I survived. It was down to the wire, but all's well that ends well.

I have an important meeting coming up in a couple of weeks. I'll get more details once that is "solid".

Another meeting next week will take place for those who had been given tasks from the Community Forum. Making sure we are on track with those plans (venue, donations, etc), so I can take some things with me to this very important meeting!

***Update*** The meeting planned was with the Attorney General, Wally Oppal, unfortunately we were not able to see him. However, I did get to meet him at the Jewish Congress Center for a Multicultural night. He cannot make this event due to family obligations. But I did ask (smile) - March 13, 2006 -

Talk soon,

G

Contact me!

2005-12-06T20:54:00.000-08:00

Hello,

I just heard myself on the computer radio station: www.chly.ca on the goin' coastal radio station.

I would like to thank Cliff Atleo Jr. for his generous support of this project, and for saying nice things about me. Thank you very much Cliff!

I will add more, but I am in the middle of two take home exams and study for another on Thursday. My two other exams went well, and feel pretty optimistic (doesnt' mean i'll post my grades..lol).

You can reach me at glarock@hotmail.com .

You can leave nice messages on this site also for others to see!

G

March 20, 2006

2005-11-27T11:22:00.000-08:00

We are going to claim this day, for the Aboriginal Female Identity. Not sure exactly what it will be called. I had discussed this idea with The Honorable Iona Campagnolo, and her advise to me, was that she hoped I would take all steps necessary to ensure it gets done!

So, on that note, part of that day, will be to make a public acknowledgement that from this day on, from this year on, the Spring Equinox will be dedicated to RECLAIMING the ABORIGINAL FEMALE IDENTITY DAY!

No longer will we dictated by what others determine us to be. No longer will the memory of our sisters be dictated by those who will never understand the connection Aboriginal women have, not only to this land, but to the creation of this country.

Today, the steps are being taken that Aboriginal women are reclaiming our collective Identity as women of strength.

:-)

G

"the gathering"

2005-11-26T23:18:00.000-08:00

I seem to be getting the hang of this, so I must tell you now, some of the things I am working on, actively, and who I am working with. This way, I can from this point on, continue to add to this wonderful project. I am forgetting to add so many events, and meetings, and dates which I hope as I remember, I will certainly add. So many people have made such positive remarks of support for this project. I can only hope to be as successful as the Aboriginal women, who make up these affected groups in BC, deserve.

The gathering will be held on March 20th, 2006 - the First Day of Spring. The spring equinox is symbolic of change, rebirth, renewal - hope for the future.

I do not have a venue established yet. Money of course will be an issue, since, well, I don't have any. Hardy har har.

I have though, established my first guest of honor to speak at this event. Which is none other than the Queens' representative for British Columbia, The Honourable Iona Campagnolo. I visited her office on November 18th, 2005, which was quite nice. She was very impressive to sit and talk with, since she seemed to be very on the ball on so many issues. Impressive!

I have talked to a great many people on this subject. What started as an awareness project, has evolved into what it is. This gathering, I would like to promote, is an opportunity to not only balance what is going on here in BC, but more importantly, give the affected families an opportunity to openly acknowledge their loved ones, to remove the shame brought on through the horrible stories constantly reinforced through the "drugged out whore" stories and statements.

I have made presentations at the First Nations Summit, displayed the doll project at the Union of BC Indian Chiefs, have worked with Don
Wright from Amnesty International - who supports this project, have made an informal presentation to National Chief Phil Fontaine, established a working relationship with Lilian George, President, United Native Nations, established working relationship with Mark Weintraub, President, Canadian Jewish Congress - Pacific Region, established a working group including my good friend Jen Sanke (masters of law student - good stuff Jen), Lara Condello (professor of Criminology at IIG All Nations Institute), Dan Smith - Chief Negotiator at Hamatla Treaty Society, Darren Fryer - wonderful friend who coined the name "Aboriginal Angel Doll" (he's so creative!), Sunni Hunt - cultural liason with Aboriginal Mother's Center, and other women who will join as we go along, conducted my first Community Forum (very nice), am working with elder "Old Hands" - who has created a new song specifically for this event which he will get on disk for my next community forum in January, I have come to sit on two boards - Aboriginal Mother's Center, and Options for Sexual Health, this project has been promoted in the most recent magazine - Bloodlines - through Red Road (very beautiful piece), Vancouver Sun article from June 22, 2005 (with a nice pic), Vancouver province, and the June issue of Shared Vision magazine, have also had a television interview for June 5th, 2005 from City TV.

An upcoming event - Cliff Alteo Jr will interview me, when we meet up at the First Nations Summit Nov 30.

I also have one other radio interview for CKNW, which has been put on hold, due to my schedule as I am in the middle of finals.........wish me luck on my finals.....

G

Doll Creator

2005-11-26T23:04:00.000-08:00

Sooo...this is me. Working away at something rather important i'm sure. School is very important to me. I am finishing up a very hectic, super busy semester. What have I been doing?

Well, school, board meetings, board creation, meetings galore, exhibits, creation of a gathering, attending various functions, reading for fun (does that really happen anymore?), phone call after phone call, writing letters, on top of this, ensure my kids are taken care of, keep them home when they are sick, do their laundry, buy groceries, take out the garbage, and then my daughter............who is very sweet, and I must tend to her needs being so far away, with her last minute requests for stuff, that I can't possibly get to her in time, planning for her to go to university next september, and then also planning for my transition for university life next september also. I like the idea that I may attend the same school as my daughter.

Ha ha ha ha.....a parents ultimate revenge!

My First Exhibit

2005-11-26T22:57:00.000-08:00

Here they are!

This was taken at Beecher Bay on the Island, for their First Nations Women's Health Conference.

My first exhibit.

100 Dolls through 7 year old eyes

2005-11-26T18:35:00.000-08:00

This is a picture of one of the 100 dolls. My son recently took a sample to his daycare, where he gave the instructions that this doll, must never put upside down for that would make her sad. That even if she doesn't say anything, it still hurts her.

As a seven year old, he is very wise. He was often very curious about the dolls in their formation, and wondered why so many women like his mom would get hurt.

Is this thing on?

2005-11-26T11:15:00.000-08:00

Hello, my name is Gloria. I am reaching out through this service, to touch as many people as possible with reference to the project I have committed myself to.

It's called the Aboriginal Angel Doll Project.

I will tell you about the journey so far, but at the moment, I am just doing some housework with getting this site established.

Look foward to some tea and bannock with you later....

G