Thank you for that question.
Dana and I always tease about this. It's not very cultural, but the comment I make is, “You need a woman to do a man's job” in the work that we're doing. I'm sorry.
For me, as a Plains Cree woman, the woman is the backbone of everything that we do, as it is for the other Algonquin tribes. I know the woman is the backbone.
We need to elevate our women to that level, where they're seen as the spoken and unspoken leaders, because they have the traditions and the ceremonies that they need to continue to retain. In my community of Nekaneet, ceremony is important, but it's the women who determine when they occur and if they occur. Given that much power and authority, that needs to be seen, as well, within the education circles.
Again, I acknowledge International Women's Day. It's very important, and it says a lot for women to be speaking here.
Hai hai. Thank you.