INDIGENOUS WOMEN OF TREATY 5

Prosper Today While Protecting Tomorrow

This document has been created so that all Indigenous Women from Treaty 5 can participate in whatever way they choose. For example, a Facebook page titled Indigenous Women of Treaty 5 has been created. We are doing this outreach work because we have been disempowered and we must move beyond victim from the negative to the positive. Growth requires acceptance that we, as women, are responsible to heal our own wounds. We are connected. Our work as the Indigenous Women of Treaty 5 connects us all to our ancestors as todays women of our homelands. As Indigenous Women, our Treaty represents the fact that this is our homeland. Our responsibilities and rights as Indigenous Women flow from our prior use and occupation of our homelands, which was recognized by the Queens Representatives when they came to our lands. Our ancestors knew the value of Treaty-making and said the words as long as the sun shines, rivers flow and grass grows. These words represent the Spirit and Intent of our Treaty, which is that we would prosper together by sharing. We are restoring our honour by our actions and invite our Treaty partners to do the same. [Treaty 5 http://www.trcm.ca/index.php http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_5] List of Treaty 5 First Nations / Peoples Manitoba Berens River First Nation Bloodvein First Nation Bunibonibee Cree Nation Chemawawin Cree First Nation Fisher River Cree Nation Fox Lake Cree Nation Garden Hill First Nations God's Lake First Nation Grand Rapids First Nation Hollow Water First Nation Kinonjeoshtegon First Nation Black River First Nation Little Grand Rapids First Nation Manto Sipi Cree Nation Mosakahiken Cree First Nation Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation Norway House Cree Nation Opaskwayak Cree Nation Pauingassi First Nation Pimicikamak Poplar River First Nation Red Sucker Lake First Nation St. Theresa Point First Nation Sayisi Dene First Nation Shamattawa First Nation Tataskweyak Cree Nation War Lake First Nation Wasagamack First Nation York Factory First Nation Ontario Deer Lake First Nation North Spirit Lake First Nation Pikangikum First Nation Poplar Hill First Nation Sandy Lake First Nation Saskatchewan Cumberland House Cree First Nation Red Earth First Nation Shoal Lake of the Cree First Nation

Prepared by: Elders Hilda Flett, Jacinta Wiebe and Councillor Joan Jack

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INDIGENOUS WOMEN OF TREATY 5

Prosper Today While Protecting Tomorrow

Our vision is to include all Indigenous Women of Treaty 5 of all ages, all education, all profession, and all lifestyles. Our goal is to unite and empower ourselves as Indigenous Women through all forms of connectivity, accountability and collective purposeful action. Alex Wilson, in the Manitoba study titled Living Well: Aboriginal Women, Cultural Identity & Wellness, says the following: Participants felt that to strengthen Aboriginal women, we must (as individuals and communities) reclaim the acknowledged importance of women in our traditional cultures. They understood that, before the introduction of European values, missionary influences and patriarchal systems, there was no question about whether men and women were equal. Following European contact, women lost a lot of respect and status: Our traditional roles have been given away or taken doesnt matter how it happened, but were not as strong in our communities anymore. Once we were both the life-givers and decision-makers in our communities 1 culturally, traditionally, we have to take back that role. Our objective is to create and facilitate a safe spaces where we can explore the questions of our own cultural identity in the context of legal, political, religious and social systems and then return to share our experience within the context of our own communities. A group of us, Indigenous Women of Treaty 5, will be traveling approximately 9000 kms for 36 th th days from July 8 August 12 throughout Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, the Yukon and British Colombia because we have been asked by Indigenous Women of Treaty 5 to take the lead in this initiative. Our trip is to bring awareness to those we meet and to unite, empower and connect Indigenous women and Canadian wherever we travel. We believe that it is time for all Indigenous Women to take our rightful places in our own lives and in our own communities and in society at large as we each choose for ourselves.
As an indigenous Elder woman, you have caused me to come this far to overcome challenges and not to hold hate for you for the part of my life you took. Elder Hilda Flett, Berens River First Nation As a retired Professor, one of my great inspirations came from Dr. Wanda Wuttunnee who said to us We are more than our problems. We are a beautiful people, with traditions, culture and values. I believe and support the personal and community development of indigenous women. Elder Jacinta Wiebe, Berens River First Nation Unity is not the absence of conflict, it is the clarity of purpose. Joan Jack, B. Ed, LLB, Berens River First Nation

1 http://www.pwhce.ca/pdf/livingWell.pdf
Prepared by: Elders Hilda Flett, Jacinta Wiebe and Councillor Joan Jack

07.06.13 Page 2 of 2