Honouring Indigenous Women Leaders in Canada - Celebrating Orange Shirt Day

September 30th here in Canada is known as an annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Here in the city where I live and across this land Indigenous people call for a day of action, of remembering, of gathering in parks and cities and on Indigenous territory to remember the truth of our history – that in the 1800s “explorers” from Britain and France arrived in boats from Europe in the 1800s and planted flags, fighting with each other to claim Canada as "New England” and “New France”. We were taught as children that this settlement was for the benefit of Indigenous people here. Indigenous children were famously "scooped" from their parents, their home lands and forced into what became known as "residential schools”, in theory to "offer them education”.

In fact, thousands were beaten and raped in these schools by teachers. Countless were murdered and buried in unmarked graves. Many tried to escape to return home and died in the vast distances of woods that stood between the schools and their home communities.

Orange Shirt Day, celebrated now each September 30 is a day in which we are called to remember those with family lost, family broken, family living with the scars – that we collectively remember the true history of Canada – not the story I was given in school of brave explorers discovering and claiming new lands.

Indigenous peoples across North America call for remembering, for keeping the truth known on this day, orange shirt day. Calling for Truth and Reconciliation. Gatherings are held with traditional drumming and song, in parks and on traditional territories that ancestors fought to keep, in celebration of survival and calling on us all to remember the promises made through our federal government – to keep this truth known and to continue to honour the steps toward reconciliation that have been promised. Today I mourn the brutal history of Canada as this country was formed, and the violence that this government inflicted. And I celebrate the strength, the beauty and the wisdom of Indigenous leaders here today.

Alanis Obomsawin at 93 years old continues to travel, speak, sing, drum and document the story of Indigenous people across Canada. Her films date back to the early 1960s. Her voice continues to carry the stories of her people. Her songs, her voice, her drumming and her many films about Indigenous people throughout Canada continue to educate, inspire and call for ongoing action.

Tantoo Cardinal I first witnessed some years ago – performing a play on the disrespect young Indigenous women experience and the journey into finding one's own power. Her home is further west, and she continues to cross Canada to keep the truth known through theatre and through her work, documented and film by Alanis.

Cindy Blackstock made her voice heard from the centre of Canada, forced into action by the treatment of Indigenous people and in particular by the lack of emergency medical treatment for Indigenous people in a country in which boasts that medicine is legally available for free for everyone.

These women are powerful and respected leaders here. Their friendships with each other run deep.

To celebrate this of Day of Truth and Reconciliation here is an invitation to sit back and watch films by Alanis Obomsawin at no cost and enjoy learning more about these phenomenal leaders:

https://www.nfb.ca/directors/alanis-obomsawin/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tantoo_Cardinal

https://www.canada.ca/en/women-gender-equality/commemorations-celebrations/women-impact/human-rights/cindy-blackstock.html

For a more extensive list of Indigenous women leaders in Canada:

https://www.ellecanada.com/culture/society/15-indigenous-people-to-know-in-canada