Anishinawbe Blog

I was going through the 1911 Census of Canada, looking for my Mom and Dad’s family.  Sure enough, I was able to locate them in the Enumeration of the Nipissing District.

While, this made me pretty excited to find my family in the census, I was saddened to see that although each respondent identified as Indian or Ojibway, the census worker took it upon himself/herself to stroked these responses out and wrote “Canadian”.

My grandfather Andrew Goulais (whom I never met) is eighth from the top.

—–Original Message—–
From: Goulais, Bob
Sent: Sunday, September 24, 2006 1:48 PM
To: ‘Rainey Gaywish’
Subject: Women on their Moon Time (Lodge-wide)
Importance: High

Boozhoo niidwaymaaginadoog:

Attached, below, is a controversial (unsigned) letter to the editor that appears in the September 2006 edition of the Anishinabek News.  Although I was disappointed in such a harsh, ignorant perspective on the issues of “women on their moontime” – it’s certainly not my place to educate the writer or our readers on women’s teachings and rationale.  However, it would be wonderful to see our kwewag, teachers and Elders offer their informed opinion on the subject. 

The more letters the better, as far as I’m concerned.Please send your Letter to: Maurice Switzer, Editor, Anishinabek News at: swimau@anishinabek.ca.  Remember, the opinions expressed in all published letters are those of the writer and not of the newspaper or our editor.Mi iw,Bob Goulais
Chief of Staff &
Executive Assistant to the Grand Council ChiefAnishinabek Nation – Union of Ontario Indians
Head Office:  Nipissing First Nation
P.O. Box 711, North Bay, ON  P1B 8J8
Ph. (705) 497-9127   Fx. (705) 497-9135  CELL:  (705) 498-5250
E-mail:  goubob@anishinabek.ca
Internet:  http://www.anishinabek.ca/uoi

This email may contain confidential and/or privileged information for the sole use of the intended recipient.  Any review or distribution by others is strictly prohibited.  If you have received this email in error, please contact the sender and delete all copies.  Opinions, conclusions or other information expressed or contained in this email are not given or endorsed by the sender unless otherwise affirmed independently by the sender.

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Excluding women on moon time
discrimination, maybe hate crime

Anishinabek News
September 2006
Page 5, Letter to the EditorEditor:I think that many of the present-day native traditions, teachings and practices regarding women have crossed the line from just being offensive, into violations under the Charter of Human Rights and Hate crimes under the Criminal Code.Native women and girls are being subjected to ever-increasing amounts of degradation under the guise of so-called “native spiritual beliefs”.  Here are some examples of these practices:

• women and girls asked at open, public ceremony (not closed private ceremony) if they are on their moon time (menstrual cycle) and being denied entry if they are;

• “traditional, spiritual leaders” announcing at public gatherings that “ women on their time” are not to go in or near their sweat lodge or it would cause the conductor to go blind, be paralyzed, or become very sick or dizzy;

• open, public graduation ceremonies (school and treatment program graduations) where the graduate who is supposed to be the one being honoured is not allowed to be present in the room for most or all of the ceremony if she is “on her time”;

• women and girls being required to wear skirts and prohibited from sitting cross-legged at public ceremony or public gatherings, or required to sit for hours in positions that are the most hurtful or harmful to their backs;

• children being taught in the school that women and girls are not allowed to dance at a pow-wow if they are “on their time”;

• teachings that if women or girls “on their time” touch feast food it will cause people eating that food to become very sick;

• passing around the smudge at a public gathering and prohibiting a women or girl from smudging if they are “on their time”, or asking that women or girls “on their time” step outside the circle or room altogether;

• passing around an eagle feather or fan at a public gathering and prohibiting a women or girl who is “on her time” from touching it;

• prohibiting women or girls at any time from sitting around or playing the ‘big drum”;

• excluding women and girls from all ceremony or gatherings if they are “on their time”;

• saying that women and girls “who are on their time” should not be allowed to go into an all-purpose,  publicly-funded building, where ceremony is held, even if ceremony is not being held there at the time.

How can anyone not see this as discrimination based on sex, which is a clear violation of the Human Rights Code?  The Supreme Court of Canada defines hatred in its Hate Crime definition as: “an emotion that, if exercised against members of an identifiable group, implies that those individuals are to be despised, scorned, denied respect and made subject to ill-treatment on the basis of group affiliation.”By that definition, I believe that the above-mentioned teachings and practices are “hate crimes”.Most people will not identify these practices as “hate crimes” because the people who are practicing and promoting this often “love and care about” the women and girls that are being subjected to this.  I am sure that many of the slave owners loved and cared about their slaves, but that did not make slavery any less of a hate crime.I have witnessed and experienced the most beautiful, amazing, and miraculous healing and recovery take place through native ceremonies.

There are things that can be done  so that these practices do not violate the rights and freedoms of women:

• confine the practice of excluding women who are on their menstrual cycle to closed,  private ceremony;

• organizations who bring in  “traditional spiritual leaders” who express oppressive teachings about women have an obligation to make it known that the beliefs expressed by this individual are not representative of all native people;

• the onus should be on the people who practice these beliefs to protect their own sacred items.  If you believe that harm will be brought to your sacred items by the presence of a woman on her time, then don’t bring them out to a public function where women are going to be.  If you don’t want your feather or fan touched by a woman on her time, then don’t pass it out at a function where there are women;

• be up-front and in the open with everyone.  If in fact all women and girls who are on their menstral cycle are not allowed to dance in the pow-wow then you have an obligation to let the public and the funders know that.  This way the public and the funders can decide ahead of time if this is something that they want to support.  (I can just imagine what would happen if the posters and program for the Skydome Pow-Wow said “women and girls on their menstrual cycle are not allowed to dance.)

• It is not food that is handled by women on their time that causes sickness – it is the belief itself that causes the sickness.  From the time of planting to processing, that food has likely been handled by dozens of women who are on the menstrual cycle.  When people are bringing feast foods from restaurants how do they know the cooks and restaurant staff weren’t “on their time?”

I hope that we can find good, healthy ways of addressing these problems because the dignity and respect of all of our people is well worth standing up and speaking up for.

Name withheld by request.

Mzhaakwat n’dizhinkaaz.  Migizi n’dodemun.  Nbising Ojibwe Anishinaabe n’dow.  Ktiganing n’doonjibaa. 

A’zhaawenamishin, G’zhemnidoo.  Take pity on me, my Creator.  I am physically unwell.  I don’t feel well. I don’t take care of my diabetes.  I am obese and overweight. 

I pledge publicly, from today and into the future, to take responsibility for my own health and look after myself.  My goal is to feel better, to lose weight and control my diabetes.

As part of this pledge, I commit to the following specific objectives:                                                                                     

• I will take my diabetic medication in the morning and evening, everyday.

• I will try to monitor my blood sugars, in the morning and evening, everyday.

• I will try to eat one, reasonable serving of breakfast, lunch and dinner including a well-balance of breads, meats, vegetables and dairy products.

• If necessary, I will eat one health snack in between meals in order to balance my blood sugar levels.

• I will try to avoid overtly fatty foods especially those prepared by frying and deep-frying.

• I will refuse to eat at unhealthy, fast food restaurants.

• I will refuse to buy and consume unhealthy snack foods.

• I will try to drink four bottles of water per day.

• I will try drink tea, socially, at meetings and at Tim Hortons.

• I will try to exercise more.

• I will try to visit my Doctor at least twice per year and listen to his advice.

Sworn before my Creator, G’zhemnidoo, and my caretaker Spirit, Midemnidoo, nongoom m’taaswi-shi-niizwaswigoo mandaamin-geezis, today on the 17th day of September, 2006.A’zhaawenamishin G’zhemnidoo.  Please help me in this pledge and take care of me.

Miigwetch.

NIPISSING FIRST NATION (September 17, 2006) – Prominent aboriginal organizer and local Liberal executive Bob Goulais endorsed Ken Dryden today stating that Dryden is the best choice for Liberal leader, not only for aboriginal Canadians but the leader most likely to win the next election.
Goulais, who sits on the executive of the Nipissing-Timiskaming Federal Liberal Association, cites a recent poll by CBC Newsworld which stated that Dryden leads the leadership race with 19 per cent among both Liberals and general voters.
“It was a close choice for me but in the end Ken can deliver what is needed.  To make aboriginal issues a top national priority and a leader who has the best chance of winning the country,” said Goulais, who is also the Chief of Staff for the Anishinabek Nation-Union of Ontario Indians Political Office.
Goulais has been in constant contact with Ken Dryden and will be actively working on his leadership campaign team beginning this week.
Over the past few weeks, Bob Goulais has had a number of conversations with Ken, and talked in depth about First Nations issues and concerns, especially implementing self-government, eliminating poverty and improving First Nations housing.
“He has confirmed to me that the implementation of the Kelowna Accord would be a top priority as Leader.  He went on further to say, we cannot just stop at Kelowna and that the historic accord was only a starting point,” added Goulais.
Goulais criticised the reigning Conservative Government for their about-face in supporting the goals of the Kelowna Accord.
“Either it’s Kelowna or it’s not.  Either it’s Kyoto, or it’s not.  Either it’s child care, or it’s not.  The Conservatives are clearly taking Canada in the direction that we don’t want to go,” said Goulais.
Goulais will be one of 47 aboriginal delegates from Ontario and will be working over the next ten weeks to influence other aboriginal delegates across Canada to support Ken Dryden.
Goulais has acknowledged that many of the Liberal Aboriginal Peoples’ Commission members are supporting Ignatieff. However, Goulais is concerned over his lack of involvement in Canadian politics and the fact that Ignatieff has been living abroad for many years.
“Mr. Ignatieff may be out-of-step with Canadians, especially with First Nations people and complex issues all aboriginal people are facing,” said Goulais.
“Ken Dryden’s vision is in step with that of our First Nations leaders across the country: with the support and commitment of all governments, First Nations can make positive changes, eliminate poverty and improve our social conditions ourselves,” said Goulais.  “That is what self-government and self-determination is all about.”
Goulais is also contemplating a run for a position with the Liberal Party of Canada’s Aboriginal Peoples Commission.  Goulais feels that aboriginal people should play a greater role in mainstream politics and within federal political parties.
“People will listen to us, but only if you take steps to be heard.  First Nations people, especially our youth, need to play a role in all aspects of Canadian society.  When we get involved, we can make a difference,” concluded Goulais.

- 30 -

For more information contact:  

Bob Goulais
(705) 498-5250
goubob@anishinabek.ca

TORONTO (September 15, 2006) – A recent poll released on CBC Newsworld confirmed what so many of us already know: Ken is Canada’s choice to lead and unite the Liberal Party of Canada.
Among leadership candidates, Dryden leads with 19% among both Liberals and general voters.
Of all the candidates Ken attracts 52% of voters, a full 5% ahead of the nearest rival. Ken’s high level of support shows great reach into non-Liberal voters, and that he is a unifying leader, one who is well suited to take on the divisive style of Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
What’s more, Ken’s support is high right across the country. He polls a very close second in Quebec and leads everywhere else, showing great potential to increase our Party’s support in both Quebec and in the Prairies. He’s truly a national leader for a national party.
What does all of this mean? Ken connects with all Canadians everywhere: English, French, urban, rural, Atlantic and Pacific. In all of Canada, Ken is a respected leader with real support from voters. This is precisely what our Party needs to win the next election.
“The direction and tone of the Conservative government is clear. We have to win the next election, and we, all of us, need to choose the person who has the best chance to win the country. Someone who connects everywhere, to everyone. This is our obligation – Canadians are depending on us and it’s what this leadership campaign is really about,” said Dryden.

Poll Highlights:

• The candidate that brings the largest pool of potential voters to the Liberal Party is Ken Dryden

• Only 34% of Canadians are certain not to vote Liberal if he is leader, much lower than for the other candidates- especially those with high profiles

• He is equally well known, and equally strong electorally, among both English and French speaking voters

• 46% of current NDP voters, 44% of current BQ voters and 41% of current Conservative voters would consider voting Liberal if Dryden were leader

• Dryden has a very strong public following and a clear ability to attract votes to the Party