Are You Up to the Challenge?
Winnipeg Free Press - October 10, 2008
by Colleen Simard
The
women at the Aboriginal Visioning office down the street from
the Merchant's Hotel on Selkirk Avenue invited me over for
a homemade lunch and to talk about my favourite topic lately
-- the election. How could I resist?
Walking
into their office is like walking into a relative's home.
There's always coffee, tea, something good to eat, friendly
people, a couch and plenty of chairs to hang out in.
It
was nice to catch up with familiar faces. Like the fall leaves,
some of these women's lives have brightened. Two were excited
about a training program they're starting, another is taking
the aboriginal governance program. Did I mention this meeting
was for women only?
About
15 were having lunch and chatting with Winnipeg North MP Judy
Wasylycia-Leis when I got there. This wasn't a debate, so
there weren't any other candidates there. And sure it was
a Judy love-in, but the well-known MP is the known favourite
in this riding.
These
women didn't want to organize a debate because they didn't
want any political fighting going down. We did discuss other
candidates though. It was more like a lively discussion over
a kitchen table, where everyone chimes in with their thoughts.
Wasylycia-Leis
said no matter who they voted for, it was important to vote.
I agree. How will government ever listen to us if we don't
vote?
When
it was my turn to talk I found out a lot of the women were
already armed with the basic information I thought I was there
to discuss. They knew about ridings, what ID to take to vote,
and some history of political parties and voting in Canada.
The
previous week someone came in and spoke about the history
of Canadian politics. In a relaxed environment not one woman
was shy to ask questions. Twice men came through the door,
but were quickly ushered out.
We
went through each party's campaign promises and discussed
which points affect us the most.
The
Conservatives had one or two good things, but the real sticking
point for the women was longer sentences for 14-year-old offenders
and naming them. How is naming a young offender going to benefit
the country?
The
collective answer was that they just want to start locking
up kids -- many of them aboriginal -- at a younger age and,
people just want to know names out of nosiness.
They
noticed that two parties -- the Liberals and NDP -- brought
up aboriginal spending. However with billions for rural First
Nations, our urban community would be left out.
Another
reason to vote. We can bring these issues to the table and
make our leadership ask for these things.
Conversation
bounced to talk of the Senate, the UN Declaration on the Rights
of Indigenous Peoples, and the economic crisis and its effects
here. The U.S. crisis will affect us all. Even women living
in Winnipeg's North End are going to feel the pinch. The economy
is like a web if you think about it. It affects low-income
earners the hardest. Everything from food, housing, bus fare
and heating costs will rise, and that means scrimping will
get harder.
Then
there was the Oct. 14 election day challenge. We went home
that day with a plan of action: get five friends or family
members out to vote, too. If each of us -- about 15 women
-- meet the challenge that would add up to 75 votes. Are you
up for the challenge?
colleen.simard@gmail.com
|
