First off, traditionally and historically, Métis women were always workers in the home. They were always a provider of an economic source in their home for many, many generations. That's a reality of who we were. We were a very matriarchal society. Very often, the men would leave our communities for months, and sometimes years, and the women would take care of all the necessary things that would provide for their well-being and their existence in that community.
Part of when we say we need to empower women and take back our traditional role--and I'm not blaming anything or anybody--but the reality was that once there was more European contact with our communities, with the churches getting involved in our communities, the attitude started to change amongst our men. It went to more of a patriarchal kind of role. Many of our men...and statistically I can't prove this, but I believe that's part of where the violence and aggression in our communities comes from. Some of the traditional ways and cultural things that we were taught have shifted, and now we need to shift back to where we were.
Often, women were the mainstay of the family and they provided the majority of the income and economy that it took for that family to exist. They were the ones who saved the pockets of money so there was money when they got older. That was the role they had within our community.
If we can bring some of those cultures, traditions, and values, and also find a place in our communities where our men could be comfortable with the empowering roles that women play, I think we will be a healthier community for it.