Aboriginal women's summit puts respect on national agenda

Delegates at a first-ever national meeting of aboriginal women say their communities will not thrive until they receive more respect from aboriginal men and government officials.

Joanne Daniels, who works with an Alberta group trying to change public attitudes about aboriginal women, said she and others are tired of seeing men do most of the speaking for their communities.

"If they are not going to represent us, include us in those decision making processes and public agenda, if they are not going to recognize our rights, then we're going to have to represent ourselves," said Daniels.

About 300 delegates travelled to western Newfoundland for the National Aboriginal Women's Summit, a three-day meeting which will conclude Friday in Corner Brook.

Lillian George, a delegate from British Columbia who represents the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples, said women must again have the respect of their communities. She called for a return to traditional leadership roles.

"Aboriginal women are the cornerstone, the backbone and the defenders of all aboriginal communities," said George.

"It has been said, 'Educate a boy and you educate a man; educate a girl and you educate a community.' Truer words have never been spoken."

Muriel Parker, a Métis who co-owns a logging company in Manitoba, is encouraging others to start their own businesses.

"I think it's very important that more and more Métis women— and women in general— become business owners themselves, to rejuvenate our communities."

Only a handful of non-aboriginal people have been attending the conference. Among them is Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams, who said he did not know much about aboriginal women's issues before he visited coastal Labrador communities.

"That trip had a profound and enduring impact on me personally and professionally," Williams said.

"To see the plight of young women and children in those communities is something that will never, ever leave me."

Judy White, a moderator at the conference, was pleased with Williams's remarks.

"I think when you have a high-profile premier coming forward saying, 'I want to set an example, I want to set the roadmap for aboriginal people and especially aboriginal women,' I think it's phenomenal," she said.