Indigenous activist banks on values in choosing woman for bank notes

What is our money telling the world about what Canadians value?

"Right now the story that people are being told from our money is that we value things like science, sport," said Winnipeg youth activist Michael Champagne. He added it also emphasizes war, colonization and the monarchy.

"I don't think that's the Canada that I know. That's not the Canada the indigenous community is particularly fond of from my experiences," he added. 

Champagne is one of a team of seven people on an advisory committee created by the Bank of Canada. They are tasked with sifting through nominations from the public to create a short list of notable Canadian women. 

The finance minister will select one Canadian woman from the short list to appear on a new bank note in 2018.  

Champagne is one of the co-founders of Aboriginal Youth Opportunities, a movement of young, urban indigenous people who support and mentor their peers to help them be successful. They do this by hosting community events, creating their own initiatives and supporting existing organizations.

"I feel a very large responsibility in my day-to-day life to listen to the perspectives of our community members," said Champagne.

That's why Champagne decided to participate in helping select a woman to be on a bank note, although at first, he didn't feel it was right for a man to be a part of the process. When he found out he was one of two men on a seven-member committee, he agreed to participate.

Considering the patriarchal world we live in, Champagne said, it's important to him to "amplify the voices and perspectives of the women in our community, where appropriate."

The 28-year-old activist, who was recently named one of CBC Manitoba's Future 40, said he will be looking for three criteria when selecting the first woman to grace a bank note, besides the Queen.

"I want this iconic Canadian woman to represent the generosity that I see in our indigenous community, where sharing and giving, regardless of how much you have, is honoured, respected and valued," Champagne said.

"The second point I would look for is volunteerism — someone who is okay with doing stuff without getting money for it," he added.

"The third component is that relentlessness. Not giving up in the face of adversity, continuing to innovate and persevere in the face of obstacles and challenges until the job is done — not until someone stops paying me."

Nominations are open to the public until April 15. Nominees must have been deceased for 25 years and be considered Canadian. There have been more than 18,000 submissions to date.