Aboriginal women say breaking stereotype key to helping community succeed
Honouring the past is key to eliminating discrimination, according to Annita Mcphee and Lisa Tallio
Annita Mcphee says being an aboriginal woman comes with the burden of facing discriminatory stereotypes from society and it's time for that to change.
"It's still really difficult for aboriginal women in this society because we are portrayed in a different light," she told CBC.
"It's always like we have to prove ourselves. Even though we've done all these amazing things, when someone looks at us in the general public they still look at you like you're less than them."
Mcphee is a consultant for aboriginal groups and has seen other First Nation women struggle under the weight of discrimination. She says the key to breaking out of that for her was education.
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"What really kept me going was my parents. They sat me down and said education is key. You get your education, you go to school, it's going to be your ticket to freedom to your life."
Education was also the key for Lisa Tallio.
Tallio, now a director at the Minerva Foundation - an organization dedicated to strengthening the influence and contributions of women leaders in B.C. - says she struggled as a single parent while pursuing an education. It was because of that experience that she found strength in her own independence.
"If I wanted to reconcile with this colonization and issues that we deal with I had to do something for me. There was no knight in shining armour for me. I had to just get it together so that I could support [my children].
"Being inspired is key, but you also have to be aware of what you're getting into and commit. At some point you have to recognize what's going to make you happy."
B.C. students to be educated on aboriginal history
Starting in 2016, B.C. elementary school students will see a change in their curriculum to better reflect the province's past discriminatory relationship with aboriginal people, including details surrounding residential schools. The changes are made to reflect the recent Truth and Reconciliation report on the residential-school system.
For Mcphee, understanding past problems is essential for society to improve any strained relations with aboriginal women today.
"That's only going to change when this society decides to recognize our history and our past and to honour that."
This story is part of a series called Dream Makers, featuring aboriginal women`s stories of strength, survival and success.