Women's roles more complex

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Information was delivered and opinions were shared Sept. 7 during a First Nations governance act information session held on the Musqueam reserve. The three-hour session, held in the Musqueam gym, was put on by the National Aboriginal Women's Association (NAWA), and it offered more than just the facts.

Mary Charles delivered an opening prayer, which was followed by Musqueam's own The Gurlz Dance Group, a talented collective of young women who entertained delegates before lunch was served. Gail Sparrow, one of the organizers of the session, addressed the 30 delegates, saying, "In this hall we may not agree. But we have to learn to agree to disagree in this matter."

The delegates-a diverse mix of women and men, from both on- and off-reserve, and band leaders-took in the presentation, which was supplemented by written material provided by NAWA.

For Nicole Good, the session was an eye-opening experience. "I think of how much in the dark I am. I need to get involved-so many of our people don't get involved."

Good, who is a traditional parenting skills co-ordinator with the Aboriginal Mother Centre in Vancouver, said she was thinking of how she could bring back to the centre what she learned during the information meeting. "There's so much to think about as an urban First Nation person," said Good.

Joan Philip traveled from the Penticton Indian Band to take part in the session with her husband Chief Stewart Philip. "We oppose the legislation because it looks a lot like the white paper policy of 1969," said Joan. "We would lose our International Indigenous People Status."

Philip feels that the government brought the legislation forward in an "expeditious fashion," and strongly doubts its fairness. "It didn't bubble up from the communities, but down from government. How could it not be biased in favor of government?" She added, "This act should be an opportunity for the Nations to change relations with Canada. We are going to govern ourselves-Canada has nothing to say about that."

Philip explained that women have an increasingly prevalent role in the Penticton band council. "In 1990, there was one woman on the council. Last election there were six women and three men," she said. While she understands that more change is needed, she doesn't believe the proposed act is the answer. "I guarantee you in not even 30 years, there will be meetings and people will say the FNGA is terrible."

Sparrow, who is also a NAWA board member, has a different perspective, seeing the proposed legislation as a beginning. "You can't change it all at once. It's one step at a time on a path leading in the direction that brings about change for our people," she said.

Sparrow strongly disagrees with how the chiefs have handled the proposed Act. "The chiefs have gone forward with such strong opposition. They never allowed the government to reach the communities. They arbitrarily decided, acting in their own interests, that it [FNGA] wasn't good. That's not democratic, it's dictatorship . . . it's the old Indian Act way of thinking.

"Women aren't represented in leadership roles in this country. The old adage is 'We'll look after our women.' I certainly don't need the male leadership looking after me. I can look after myself," said Sparrow. She hopes to see more strong women in leadership roles. "Women are not ones to build based on power. They move from capacity, strength of community. They have to start building their voice," urged Sparrow.

NAWA's president, Pam Paul, made it clear that the organization was there to provide information so people could make their own decisions. "We just want our women to be informed. We're not here to tell you what to think."

Paul said that there doesn't seem to be a majority position among British Columbian women regarding the legislation, but hopes that delegates go back and inform members of their communities about the issues.

She said that she was asked by someone during the Musqueam session to conuct an information meeting in northern British Columbia.

"We've sent out press releases and information packages and we'll spend our budget until it runs out."

NAWA will present to the standing committee, and Paul urged people to apply in advance if they wished to present. "People can contact us in Ottawa for information," said Paul.