A federal commission is travelling across Canada to examine violence against Aboriginal women. Please hold a session in Ottawa as I have a few opinions that I would like to put on the record!!
Violence is more than a punch in the face. It includes the denial of culture and identity. It also includes turning your back on Aboriginal women when they need you the most, and then hypocritically portraying to the public that you actually care about these women when you know that federal funding is around the corner.
Aboriginal women are more likely victimized than non-Aboriginal women because of the federal government's role in stripping Aboriginal women of their rights to participate as full members in their communities and through the violence inflicted upon Aboriginal people (male and female) in residential schools. Lateral violence is an intergenerational impact of the abuse inflicted upon First Nations people in residential schools.
Aboriginal women, including professional Aboriginal women, are also victimized. Even highly educated and professional Aboriginal women inflict lateral violence upon their female peers. This, too, is a result of the stripping of rights from Aboriginal women and their children through the Indian Act and residential school system.
Aboriginal women, including professional women, are victimized by Aboriginal women and men, and non-Aboriginal women and men (professional and not). Not one person is not guilty of victimizing Aboriginal women.
The elite Aboriginal leaders, through their oppression of all First Nations people, are just as much to blame as the Department of Indian Affairs for the victimization of Aboriginal women. Take responsibility for your actions. The National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations sold out Aboriginal women by supporting Bill C-3 in December 2010. Even the Quebec Native Women's Association sold out Aboriginal women by supporting Bill C-3. Supporting Bill C-3 was an act of lateral violence. Before you portray that you actually care about women, acknowledge your oppressive role in today's culture.
CBC News - Manitoba - Aboriginal women more likely victimized: Stats Can
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