Tansi Nîtôtemtik,
Photo retrieved from: <https://www.straight.com/news/1204961/former-justice-minister-jody-wilson-raybould-quickly-learning-what-happens-whistle>
Indigenous women have famously been the victim of great violence and social oppression in Canada. The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women points out the need to reclaim the positive identity of Indigenous women from the legacy of victimization that they have experienced:
Indigenous women and Two-Spirit people have traditionally been revered as life-givers and caregivers. This is why we say, “our women and girls are sacred.” But Indigenous women and girls, including those who are 2SLGBTQQIA, continue to be devalued. All too many become the victims of violence. Our vision for the National Inquiry is to build a foundation that allows Indigenous women and girls to reclaim their power and place.[1]
With this in mind, ReconciliAction YEG will take the next week to focus on influential Indigenous women, starting today with Jody Wilson-Raybould. Wilson-Raybould, who is also known by her traditional Kwak’wala name Puglaas, has been in the news recently following her statement before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.[2] Today’s post will not comment on the ongoing SNC-Lavalin scandal, but will instead elaborate on Puglaas herself.
Puglaas means “a woman born to noble people” in Kwak’wala, and in many ways that is a telling descriptor of the former Attorney-General.[3] Puglaas is a member of the We Wai Kai Nation and comes from the Kwakwaka’wakwv people of Northern Vancouver Island, which is a matrilineal society.[4] Her father Bill Wilson (or Hemas Kla-Lee-Lee-Kla) played a noteworthy role in adding section 35 to the Constitution Act, 1982, and is a hereditary chief of the Kwawkgewlth people.[5]
Regarding women’s general role in her Nation’s self-governance, Puglaas’s grandmother, Pugladee, once joked that, “when it came to the respective roles of men and women in our society, women were simply too busy and too important to be chiefs.”[6] Pugladee was the matriarch and highest ranking person of her clan, the Eagle clan.[7] Puglaas describes her role in her Nation’s traditional self governance as “one who corrects the Chief’s path. We show them the way.”[8]
Wilson-Raybould was a Provincial Crown Prosecutor in Vancouver from 2000-2003, a B.C. Treaty Commissioner from 2003-2009. She was elected in 2009 as the British Columbia Assembly of First Nations (BCAFN) Regional Chief. In this role, she pledged to focus on four key areas: strong and appropriate governance, fair access to lands and resources, improved education, and individual health.[9] In the first area of her election platform, Wilson-Raybould co-authored the BCAFN Governance Toolkit: A Guide to Nation Building, which assists B.C. First Nations in knowing all options available for law reform and governance.[10]
Wilson-Raybould was appointed as the 51st Minister of Justice and the Attorney General of Canada on November 4, 2015. She was the first Indigenous person and the third woman in the position. During her time as Attorney-General, she introduced legislation on judicial appointments, medically assisted dying, the legalization of Cannabis, and many other issues.
Wilson-Raybould's time in office has not gone without criticism. For example, the Department of Justice has been criticized for failing to comply with a Canadian Human Rights Tribunal order to end discriminatory practices that lead to the disproportionate representation of Indigenous children in the child welfare system.[11]
In closing, Wilson-Raybould said the following of herself at the Justice Committee hearing:
I was taught to always be careful of what you say – because you cannot take it back – and I was taught to always hold true to your core values and principles and to act with integrity – these are the teachings of my parents, grandparents and community. I come from a long line of matriarchs and I am a truth teller in accordance with the laws and traditions of our Big House – this is who I am and who I will always be.[12]
Wilson-Raybould is not yet 48 years-old, so her story still has many pages left to be written. She is an example of a powerful Indigenous woman from a proud matriarchal tradition, and her strength and integrity has left an impression on Canadians.
Until next time,
Team ReconciliAction YEG
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[1] “Our Vision”, National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (3 March 2019), online: <http://www.mmiwg-ffada.ca/mandate/> .
[2] “Statement from the Hon. Jody Wilson-Raybould at the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights”, Jody Wilson-Raybould (27 February 2019), online: <https://jwilson-raybould.liberal.ca/news-nouvelles/statement-from-the-hon-jody-wilson-raybould-at-the-standing-committee-on-justice-and-human-rights/>.
[3] “Indigenous Women in Leadership Award and Keynote - Highlights”, Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, online: <https://www.ccab.com/indigenous-women-in-leadership-award-and-keynote-highlights/>.
[4] Ibid; “International Women’s Day | Hon. Jody Wilson-Raybould”, Harvard Law School (6 March 2018), YouTube video, at 8:24-8:35, online: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cXhsLok4NU&t=1575s>.
[5] Heather Conn, “Wilson Family”, UBC Law Alumni Magazine (Fall 2011) at 14, online PDF: <http://www.allard.ubc.ca/sites/www.allard.ubc.ca/files/wilson_family_alumnimagazine.pdf>.
[6] Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, supra note 4 at 10:58-11:14.
[7] Ibid at 9:34-9:41.
[8] Ibid at 10:15-10:21.
[9] “Re-Elect Puglaas (Jody Wilson-Raybould): BC Assembly of First Nations (BCAFN) Regional Chief”, Re-Elect Jody Wilson-Raybould, online pdf: <https://web.archive.org/web/20151119073717/http://www.bcafn.ca/files/documents/BCAFNRCProfiles-JodyWilson-Raybould_000.pdf>.
[10] Jody Wilson-Raybould & Tim Raybould, Governance Toolkit: A Guide to Nation Building, 2nd Edition, British Columbia Assembly of First Nations (2014), online: <http://bcafn.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Governance-Toolkit.pdf>.
[11] Hayden King, “Jody Wilson-Raybould and the paradox of reconciliation in Canada”, Globe and Mail (28 February 2019), online: <https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-jody-wilson-raybould-and-the-paradox-of-reconciliation-in-canada/>.
[12] Jody Wilson-Raybould, supra note 2.
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