Document Information

Date: 1983-03-15
By: Sandra Lovelace
Citation: First Ministers’ Conference on Aboriginal Constitutional Matters, Statement by Sandra Lovelace on Behalf of the Indian Women of New Brunswick, Doc 800-017/043 (Ottawa: 15-16 March 1983).
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DOCUMENT: 800-17/043

STATEMENT BY SANDRA LOVELACE
ON BEHALF OF
THE INDIAN WOMEN OF NEW BRUNSWICK

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE PREMIER OF NEW BRUNSWICK AND THE PRIME MINISTER FOR GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS THE VIEWS OF NATIVE WOMEN OF NEW BRUNSWICK.

WE HAVE BEEN SITTING AT THIS HISTORICAL ASSEMBLY AND WE HAVE BEEN HEARING FROM OUR NATIVE LEADERS ABOUT UNITY, SELF-GOVERNMENT AND BUILDING NATIONS, BUT IN FACT NATIONS CANNOT BE BUILT WITHOUT OUR NATIVE WOMEN. WE ARE THE FIRST TEACHERS TO OUR CHILDREN WHO ARE TOMORROW’S LEADERS.

NATIVE WOMEN HAVE BEEN FORCED TO TAKE A STAND ON ENTRENCHMENT OF EQUALITY ON SECTION 35 OF YOUR CONSTITUTION. WE MUST INSURE THAT NATIVE WOMEN PLAY AN ACTIVE ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR INDIAN SELF-GOVERNMENT. DISCRIMINATION AGAINST NATIVE WOMEN HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE INDIAN ACT BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

SINCE MY CASE RULED IN OUR FAVOUR, ISN’T IT ABOUT TIME THE INJUSTICE SUFFERED BY NATIVE WOMEN AND THEIR DESCENDANTS WAS RECTIFIED? WE ALL HAVE TO STAND TOGETHER TO BUILD UNITY.

UNDER ARTICLE 2 OF THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE ELIMINATION OF ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN CANADA IS COMMITTED TO EMBODY THE PRINCIPLE OF THE EQUALITY OF MEN AND WOMEN IN OUR NATIONAL CONSTITUTION AND TO TAKE “ALL APPROPRIATE MEASURES, INCLUDING LEGISLATION, TO MODIFY OR ABOLISH EXISTING LAWS, REGULATIONS, CUSTOMS AND PRACTICES WHICH CONSTITUTE DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN”.

WE, THE NATIVE WOMEN, FEEL NO ONE SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO DISCRIMINATE. I THINK EVEN GOD WOULD AGREE WITH ME.