It was very interesting. I was on the street, so I was running around like a crazy person along with lots of other people. We started the centre because we couldn't function all that well. I could at least read, so when my colleagues on the street would run into child welfare or welfare or police, I would step up and say, “Well, I can read. Let me read that.” I began to be an activist. The system really balked against that: “We get along up here. We get along. Why are you here? What are you talking about? These women don't need you.”
I think that's how it started. The Centre for Northern Families became known across the north as an activist and advocate centre, but we always got pushed back by “don't bite the hand that feeds you”, or “don't doubt the sisterhood”, etc. At the end of the day, however, our centre was successful because we were trusted. Community people trust us.
What else can I say about it except that trust is huge? Compassion is huge. I loved those women and they knew it. We were peers. We were peers working together. That made the difference in terms of understanding and....
Oops. I'd better watch the chair more carefully.