Building Leadership Capacity Amongst Young Anishinaabe-Kwe Through Culturally-based activities and Creative Arts

Abstract

There is no doubt that ongoing colonization has and continues to affect the overall health and wellbeing of Aboriginal peoples and women in particular. The colonial and imperial imposition of European values and ways have contributed to the decline in Aboriginal languages, culture and traditions as well as Aboriginal women’s economic status, community rights, and roles in the community. The high incidence of violence against Aboriginal women is one of the most profound and tragic results of ongoing colonization. In Canada, Aboriginal women are almost three times more likely to be subjected to violent victimization than their non-Aboriginal counterparts (Brennan, 2011). As well, the Report on Stolen Sisters documents that as of July 2009 520 Aboriginal women have gone missing or have been murdered in Canada in the last three decades (Amnesty International, 2009).While Amnesty International has raised awareness of the violence perpetuated against Aboriginal women in Canada relatively little has been done to address the issue. These statistics affirm that many Aboriginal women find themselves subjected to high levels of violence at the individual and societal levels.