2. Women's Perspectives - Christian Aboriginal Infrastructure ...

Lillian Sanderson
La Ronge Native Women's Council
La Ronge, Saskatchewan, 28 May 1992
As the views of Aboriginal women attest, it is vitally important to work on relationships
among Aboriginal people in their communities.
When relationships turn sour, what is the healthy thing to do We apologize, don't we.
That is pretty basic, but very fundamental to the process of change in a
relationship….When you say, 'I'm sorry', you begin again on another positive note….The
first round of these hearings…the Anishnabe communities expressed their deepest hurts
over and over. At this point, we need to hear 'I'm sorry'….We need to hear this from the
intellectuals of this country, the educators, the religious organizations, the health
professionals, doctors, nurses, social workers, police et cetera, et cetera. Until we get this
response, we cannot move forward towards healing….
We…have homework to do ourselves on our relationships in our communities….Let's
work towards healing our relationships there too.
Merle Assance-Beedie
Barrie and Area Native Advisory Circle
Orillia, Ontario, 13 May 1993
In our discussion of the family in Volume 3, Chapter 2, we pointed out that although not
all Aboriginal communities are suffering from high levels of family and communal
violence, the frequency of violent behaviour directed at Aboriginal women and children
is alarming. Issues of family violence are also addressed in our special report, Bridging
the Cultural Divide: A Report on Aboriginal People and Criminal Justice in Canada, in
which we discuss the need to ensure the safety of Aboriginal women and children in
Aboriginal justice systems. 89 We believe that a system that cannot protect women and
children is a system that fails.
That report highlighted two case studies that feature a strong role for women, a role that
has helped them ensure that developments in this area do not further victimize women
and children. One option we proposed was that a body be located at the nation level to
review criminal justice initiatives specifically as they relate to issues of family violence.
This function could be fulfilled by Aboriginal women's groups active in the nation or,
where such groups are not in place, Aboriginal nations could establish women's groups to
review and approve such programs before implementation. Aboriginal society is not free
from the sexism that exists in the rest of Canadian society, and unless this reality is
acknowledged and concrete steps are taken to address it through the justice system,
women and children will remain at risk.
In considering the concept of distinct Aboriginal justice systems, we addressed the needs
of women and children. We concluded that women must be consulted and participate in
the development of such systems. We concluded also that the Canadian Charter of Rights
and Freedoms applies to Aboriginal governments, so that individuals subject to the laws
or actions of such governments enjoy the protection of its provisions.
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