ABORIGINAL WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP CIRCLE


WW 2011 aspires to be a powerful celebration of voices and diversity. As Canada is host to this important event, the meaningful participation of Aboriginal women and the prominence of Indigenous women's issues are essential.

WW 2011 participants should come away with a deeper understanding of Aboriginal women and Indigenous women, and with a recognition of their immense knowledge and leadership as inspiration for a better world. This is why we identified the value of creating an Aboriginal Women's Leadership Circle, a volunteer advisory body comprised of Aboriginal [First Nations, Inuit, Métis] women.

Just as the event's content and program should challenge colonialism and neo-colonialism in its various forms, the internal organizing process should, too. We believe the non-tokenistic involvement of Aboriginal/Indigenous women is vital to feminist organizing and convening.

MEET THE CIRCLE

Working within an Aboriginal worldview, we will collaborate within WW 2011 to be respectful of all people and communities, their perspectives, and their potential contribution to this celebration of voices.

The Circle will advise on the 'who', 'what', and 'how' of recognizing and honouring Indigenous perspectives, experiences, knowledge, culture, and territory within WW 2011. We are here as an all-encompassing, over-arching body to ensure that voices across community, political, social, environmental, arts, and culture sectors and beyond are heard.

Mandate

The Aboriginal Women's Leadership Circle will work collaboratively and provide leadership to all of WW 2011 to ensure Indigenous women's voices are included at every stage of planning and at the event.

The Circle recognizes the distinctive realities between First Nations, Métis, Inuit, as well as other Indigenous women throughout the world, and will encourage representation from across the globe as well as sharing of knowledge and experiences between generations.

The Circle will ensure the highlighting of Indigenous women's unique and disproportionate experience with globalization.

The Circle will support WW 2011's prioritization of inter-generational sharing and women with disAbilities, and ensure their relevancy to Aboriginal women.

Members

Representing a diverse range of backgrounds, experiences, disciplines, and Aboriginal ancestry, we are collectively committed to being an integral part of WW 2011.

Founding member Claudette Dumont-Smith, from Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation territory, is a registered nurse who has worked at the local, regional and national levels on Aboriginal issues for the past 35 years and has held various positions including that of Commissioner on the Indian Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Mary Sillett has been involved in Inuit/Aboriginal issues since 1976. Positions she has held include President of the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, President of Pauktuutit (Inuit Women's Association of Canada), and Commissioner on the Royal Commission of Aboriginal Peoples.

Tina Keeper of Norway House Cree Nation in Manitoba is an actor, producer, researcher, communicator, and former Member of Parliament.

Jessica Yee is a Two Spirit Indigenous feminist activist from the Mohawk nation. She is the founder and Executive Director of the Native Youth Sexual Health Network which works across North America in the full spectrum of sexual and reproductive health by and for Indigenous youth.

Erin Konsmo is a young Métis from Red Deer, Alberta. Both a social justice entrepreneur and compassion activist, she is currently a community-based researcher for Aboriginal HIV/AIDS and works internationally with a variety of development organizations.

Alanis Obomsawin of the Abenaki Nation has created over 30 uncompromising documentaries with the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) that chronicle the lives and concerns of First Nations people. Her work has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Governor General's Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement.

For more information on the WW 2011 Aboriginal Women's Leadership Circle, please email circle@womensworlds.ca

Popular posts from this blog

leaning in

Image
Opening & CWSE Open House: Monday Oct 2, 5:30-7PM CWSE Hallway Gallery, OISE, 252 Bloor Street West, 2 nd Floor Exhibition runs until January 26, 2018 Open Daily from 9AM-6PM FREE & Wheelchair accessible. leaning in acts as a narrative viewing of nine artists lives: Koren Bellman, Katie Caslick, Jeanette Doyon, Tammy Francis, Kathy Keenan, John Lai, Drew Smith, Linda Sofranko and Candace Wilkins. For this exhibition, the group focussed on developing ideas around p ersonal growth, the subconscious, release, new life, faith, friends, a seven-year plan and nature. The work for leaning in , like most of the artwork created at NEXTDOOR, is process-based.  I think leaning in is a purposeful, and radical, act.  I believe leaning in, at its core, means that individuals choose to be present and to give energy to themselves or another.  To lean in means to make space and time for something or someone.  The idea of leaning in requires thought and purpose. In a soci
Read more

Sex/ism: ECHoes & ‘ReVERBS’ @ Ivory Towers with artist/researcher Joanna Black

Image
May 02 – July 1st, 2016 Opening: May 02, 5.30 - 6.30pm Informal Discussion with Artist: 6pm CWSE Hallway Gallery 2nd Floor, OISE 252 Bloor Street West (Bloor & St George) Images by Joanna Black Winnipeg artist/researcher Joanna Black explores prejudice in academia in   Sex/ism: ECHoes & ‘ReVERBS’  @  Ivory Towers .  The abundance of articles and reports about longstanding persistent sexist problems in our universities informed the content of this work. For this exhibition in particular, attention has been given to the University of Toronto (U of T). Sexism at U of T was established in the university’s founding year, 1850. Its illustrious professor and president John McCaul firmly exclaimed at the time that the university doors would never be open to women in his day! (Canadian Encyclopedia, 2016). Even though the doors have been opened – and indeed during his day no less! – today’s glass ceiling remains intact: existent sexist attitudes are prevale
Read more

Gender Archaeology Opens Oct. 3rd.

Come and see work by students from Martingrove Collegiate Institute, TDSB! Gender Archaeology Opening Oct 3rd, 2011, 6-7.30pm Exhibit Runs: Oct. 3-29th 2nd Floor Hallway at OISE, 252 Bloor Street West, Toronto. Teacher: Christina Yarmol, WIAprojects Intern & Curatorial Assistant: Irena Radic Christina Yarmol, Head of Visual Arts, Photography, Graphics, Film and Video at Martingrove Collegiate Institute met and paired with Irena Radic a recent fine arts graduate from York University through the WIAprojects teaching mentoring/internship program. Through this collaboration the project “Gender Archaeology” was born. The concept of this project was to get the students thinking about gender and how it relates to work both in and out of the domestic sphere while learning the practical skills of intaglio printmaking. The students were asked to think about how their own lived-experience and those of their families related to work both inside and outside of home. They were
Read more