In our communities we see aboriginal women in lineups for soup kitchens, food banks, or quite often standing on a street corner. We do not see a lot of aboriginal women playing the parts of physicians, lawyers, teachers, or other visible professions, yet we clearly know that these women are intelligent, capable, and strong. The difference for many of us between success and failure and achieving and struggling is quite simply opportunity. Without the opportunity to achieve a higher education, to secure well-paid employment, and to receive appropriate health care we will continue to allow aboriginal women to remain mired in poverty, which not only chains these women to a life laced with stress and subsistence, but which all too often leads to violence.
Within our own community we have a number of aboriginal women who are champions. From Patricia Jurivee and the women you see at this table to Anna Gibbon, to Anne LeSage, Sandi Boucher, Jo Jo Guillet, these are women who are not only aboriginal, but who have somehow managed to overcome all of the barriers that our country and communities have put in place for them to become champions within our community, not only for the work they do, but also for the people they have become.
Could we use more money to support these women and the work they do? Absolutely. But for us at our centre it's more important for us to hear from aboriginal women themselves how they would like their services delivered.
Thank you for listening to us, thank you for inviting us here. But more importantly, listen to the stories of these women and those of other aboriginal women who come to agencies like ours. By listening, perhaps we can better shape our services, communities, and ultimately our country to see aboriginal women for who they truly are: strong, valued, intelligent, honoured people.
Thank you.