An eight-year-old girl shared her story on the radio this morning about her experience with living in poverty in Canada. It was a sad story that depicted how a child feels when she lacks what others take for granted. A tragic feature about this account was her lack of confidence in talking about what she wanted to be when she grew up, even though she knew what it was. Similarly heart wrenching was her fear of asking for anything, for in her budding life, she is already learning poverty consciousness.
Now, do not get me wrong. I am not saying that violence only happens among the poor. I think we all know that violence is a systemic problem that happens across the board, showing no preference for race, income level, or any other specific group. What I am saying is that the poor and marginalized groups are more vulnerable to violence due to many factors including lack of financial health. What this little girl believes at such a young age, is that she is headed for a difficult life with low confidence and low self-esteem. She is already losing her voice and consequently, her power. Where is this going to lead her in terms of relationships later in life? This could render her more vulnerable, at the loss of her voice, and self-confidence – a lack of personal identity. The repercussions of child poverty are copious to say the least.
Aboriginal women are even far more at risk of experiencing violence than non-Aboriginal women. Here is a quote from the Ontario Women’s Directorate, “In 2004, Aboriginal women were three times more likely to experience spousal violence than non-Aboriginal women or men, and the rate of spousal homicide for Aboriginal women was eight times the rate for non-Aboriginal women”. In addition, “11% of non-Aboriginal and 21% of Aboriginal women in Canada reported experiencing stalking during the period of 1999-2004”.
Women hold a special place in the importance of healing. This is because of their impact on the well-being of their children and their roles in the community as healers and teachers. It is known that children witnessing violence experience the same level of trauma as children who have experienced violence, making it important for women to find ways to stop the violence and protect their children.
Violence and abuse stem from the loss of personal power and the misuse of power over another. By becoming more self-empowered and overcoming feelings of helplessness, women can heal and make better choices for themselves.
Within the Aboriginal community, we believe that men need healing just as much as do women. By taking back the ceremonies and the Traditional ways, by finding our voice and taking back our power, we heal as individuals and as a nation.
Speaking out and hearing the stories of others are powerful ways to gain more understanding of what we have experienced and to know that we are not alone. We must not be silenced. We must find and expand our collective voice.
