Artifact 7: Micmac News article.

Micmac News was created by Roy Gould from the Membertou First Nation in Nova Scotia. The newspaper provides perspectives from many Indigenous people, and the community had significantly grown by the time Bill C-31 was passed. This newspaper article shows from the perspective of many Indigenous people how impactful the amendment was to Indigenous women.

The newspaper article includes the perspective of Chief Debbie Robinson, who advocated for Indigenous people even before the amendment of the Indian Act. The passing of the Bill and the hope it gave emboldened Chief Robinson, calling for Indigenous women to continue taking on political leadership roles and asserting their voices in politics.

The increased activity of Indigenous women in the “political arena” gave the opportunity for them to express the value they have always brought to their bands, communities, and households beyond domestic responsibilities. Indigenous women never stopped voicing their political views, they were simply jumping back into the political arena.

Bibliography:

Beaton Institute, “Micmac News,” Beaton Institute Digital Archives. Accessed October 1, 2024. https://www.beatoninstitute.com/micmac-news