Aboriginal women are still denied their rights.
aboriginal women
Because 153 years of sex discrimination is enough
Bill C-3, An Act to promote gender equity in Indian registration, received royal assent on Dec. 15.
On Nov. 26, Sharon McIvor, the First Nations woman whose constitutional challenge to the Indian Act is the inspiration for Bill C-3, filed a complaint against Canada with the United Nations Human Rights Committee.
B.C. First Nations groups criticize Bill C-3 as marching aboriginal women reach Ottawa
VANCOUVER, BC, PRESS RELEASE--(Marketwire - June 1, 2010)
We, the undersigned Indigenous organizations and individuals, have considered Bill C-3 (Gender Equity in Indian Registration Act) which was introduced by the minister in response to the direction given by the B.C. Court of Appeal in the McIvor v. Canada (Indian Registrar) case to eliminate discrimination in Indian Act against descendants of Indian women who lost status due to marriage.
Indian Act remedy Bill C-3 is flawed
Its intent may be to promote gender equity in Indian registration, but Bill C-3 [now before Parliament] does not ensure that women and their descendants will be treated the same as men and their descendants for the purposes of determining Indian status.
Witnesses told the standing committee on Aboriginal affairs this spring that the Conservative government's bill to address sex discrimination is not a remedy they support.
The bill is Ottawa's response to McIvor v. Canada, a 2009 B.C. Court of Appeal ruling that found that Section 6 of the Indian Act violates Section 15 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The court gave Ottawa a year to fix the legislation.
Fighting for disenfranchised First Nations women
Sharon McIvor, who has fought for the rights of aboriginal women for 20 years, wants MPs to vote against the upcoming Bill C-3, Gender Equity in Indian Registration Act.
Related rabble.ca story:
Fighting for disenfranchised First Nations women
The following is a letter to Canada’s parliamentarians from Lower Nicola Band member Sharon McIvor, who has fought for the rights of aboriginal women for 20 years. She wants MPs to vote against the upcoming Bill C-3, Gender Equity in Indian Registration Act.
Below she explains her opposition to the bill, even though it would benefit members of her own family, and describes the history of a movement amongst First Nations women now half a century old.
May 18, 2010
Dear Members of Parliament,
Independent Counsel resigns from Missing Women Commission of Inquiry
The Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC) learned this week of the resignation of Ms. Robyn Gervais from the position of Independent Counsel for the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry to represent "the perspectives of Aboriginal women." Her withdrawal confirms our concerns and observations about the failures of the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry process. Amongst her reasons for withdrawal, Ms. Gervais cited the delay in calling Aboriginal witnesses, the failure to provide adequate hearing time for Aboriginal panels, the lack of ongoing support from the Aboriginal community, and the disproportionate focus on police evidence at the Inquiry.
Cherish her: A message to my First Nation brothers
Spoken-word poet Mark Gonzales once said that he understands how so many women "have a story that's been told to a maximum of one soul -- maybe less."
I agree with his sentiment entirely.
We are at a time of irony in the legacy of our People, in our history linking to our future, and within our First Nation communities.
In this time of irony (and what I can only describe as an era where too many of our indigenous men have become walking contradictions to the very cultural affinities that we claim to respect, protect, and place pride within), a step backward with open eyes would suggest to the very contrary as one examines the experiences and realities that too many of our Indigenous and First Nation women wake to on a daily basis.
