As a new immigrant to Canada my knowledge of Indigenous people was very limited or close to non-existent, especially topics on Indigenous women. Taking this course has impacted me in so many ways and it has opened up my eyes to many of the problems that is witnessed in this city regarding the First Nations of Canada. Hence, I have chosen the topic on woman and colonization and the impact it had on the aboriginal people and women particularly. I believe this topic is very important on the road to reconciliation with Canada and should be acknowledged. Women in general are vulnerable to many gender-based problem – sexism. Aboriginal women further face sexism as well as the ramification of Colonial discrimination. Indigenous people has suffered a great deal on the hands of colonizers, and were stripped out of their land, tradition, livelihood and language. Colonization has taken its toll on all Native people, but it has taken its greatest toll on women and children.
Rolls of Women before the European contact
There is still dispute among scholars to the extent of women’s political position as to how involved and powerful they were in their clan before the European contact. But the Canadian Encyclopaedia mentions the extent of power women were entrusted in the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. It further goes on explaining the power of women in this confederacy such as matrilineal which is tracing of kinship through the female line. Clan Mothers were also delegated in the higher political position such as monitoring the decisions of the Chiefs and appointing a new one when departed.
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In most Indigenous cultures’ women are considered carriers of water, which is a significant role of connection with the sprit of water through bearing children. Hence each individual indigenous woman has a certain duty to safeguard and cherish water. As carriers of children they play a huge role in bringing up children and teaching them gently to use their own mind and make their own journeys, as the creator intended. Hence women were most of the time connected with wisdom and were considered as the pillar of their culture. Another roll indigenous woman had on their clans were of a teacher. They were guardians of their languages and cultures, at difficult times they are the force behind in keeping it together. As the ones who gives birth they were often stated to being favoured by the creator since the gift was bestowed un to them. Consequently, they were regarded with respect amongst men in their clan.
In general, it is clear to see how well organized and efficient governance they had. True it was so different from what the Europeans were accustomed to, but that does not justify their prejudice against the Aboriginal people. Moreover, before contact the Aboriginal people were living peacefully amongst each other and in harmony with mother Earth. It might be true that women are bearers of children all over the world, but not all of them do not have the respect the aboriginal women had on their clan. Almost in all part of the world and especially the western world, women were viewed as inferiors to men and their voices were not important. In case of the aboriginals their view of gender was way ahead of the western governances and way ahead of their time.
Post Colonization
When colonizers came to North America the first thing they went after was the Indigenous people’s land. They removed Indigenous people from their land and forced them in to a reservation. Before being forced to the reservation they use to hunt and provide but now that was taken away from them which caused to frustration and rage which finds its outlet in violence against women.
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The Ongoing Impact Of Colonization On Indigenous Woman.
(2022, Jun 16). Edubirdie. Retrieved December 22, 2024, from https://edubirdie.com/examples/the-ongoing-impact-of-colonization-on-indigenous-woman/
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The Ongoing Impact Of Colonization On Indigenous Woman. [online].
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The Ongoing Impact Of Colonization On Indigenous Woman [Internet]. Edubirdie.
2022 Jun 16 [cited 2024 Dec 22].
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