Governor General honours Winnipeg ‘human doing’ Redsky

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This article was published 15/11/2016 (3488 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeg indigenous advocate Diane Redsky’s work advancing the cause of women’s equality received national recognition Tuesday at the legislature.

Gov. Gen. David Johnston presided over the awards, honouring Redsky — the executive director of Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata — and five other women with Governor General’s Awards in Commemoration of the Persons Case.

The awards highlight Canadian contributions to the advancement of women’s equality and celebrate Canada’s evolution as an inclusive society. They were established in 1979, in commemoration of the landmark 1929 Persons Case, in which five Alberta women won their legal battle for the right to be recognized as persons, making them eligible for appointment to the Canadian Senate.

This was only the second time in history the awards were presented outside of the national capital region. The ceremony was conducted here to mark the 100th anniversary of Manitoba women receiving the right to vote. It was held in Calgary in 1999 to mark the installation of the Famous Five statue.

The legislative chamber was packed with MLAs and the honouree’s family members and friends, who watched an emotional Redsky accept the award. Instead of giving a traditional speech, Redsky chose to read a letter written to “the little women in our family.”

As she pointed to her young granddaughters and nieces watching from the gallery, she spoke of the opportunity they have in 2016 that didn’t exist in her generation or her mother’s.

“(My mother) suffered incredible amounts of pain in her life. The world at that time ensured she didn’t have a voice and in fact removed and regulated her to a residential school — to which she never recovered,” Redsky said. “She died young and although this is sad… she planted special seeds in her children, seeds that grew within us and made us the leaders we are today.

“We have a ways to go still… this future has an important role for you, don’t be afraid to use your voice and believe in the power of writing a letter. And and don’t ever forget… ‘I am a girl and I can do what I want.'”

Newly appointed Manitoba senator Marilou McPhedran presented the award to Redsky, extolling her long list of accomplishments — including her work with Mawi Wi, one of the largest indigenous-led organizations in the country — calling her a “human doing.”

“But, really we are here today because she is a human being,” the human-rights lawyer and University of Winnipeg professor told the legislative chamber. “We see in this the ripple effect of Mawi Wi and, in particular, the ripple effect of Diane’s leadership in this city.”

Redsky, a member of Shoal Lake #40 First Nation — which supplies Winnipeg’s drinking water — called Winnipeg a “special city.”

“And I’d like to think it is because of the water, everyone drinks the Shoal Lake water and it brings out the best in everybody,” she said after the ceremony. “We are the first province in Canada that gave women the right to vote, although aboriginal women were not included in that, it is still historic and courageous… there is lots of hope for the future and lots we can continue to do.”

There is still work that needs to be done to improve wage equality and education opportunities for women, she said.

As for U.S. president-elect Donald Trump — who battled accusations of misogyny throughout the recent campaign— Redsky believes his victory will bring female advocates together.

“We are always taught that everything happens for a reason. With the election in the United States, our teachers come in all shapes and sizes,” she said. “What I think, and what I am hopeful for and what I actually know is going to happen, is that this a real opportunity for women to come together and us to reignite our unity as women, feminists.”

– with files from Larry Kusch

kristin.annable@freepress.mb.ca