Stages of the Political, Legal and Social Struggle and Activities on the Social Front
Information compiled by INRS-Culture et Société
1968
Creation of the "Equal Rights for Native Women" association, headed by Mary Two-Axe Early, Mohawk of Kahnawake.
1971
Janet Corbière-Lavell, a Native woman who had lost her status following her marriage to a non-Native man brings her case to court. On October 8, a federal tribunal rules that the Indian Act is discriminatory and that Ms. Corbière-Lavell could keep her Indian status. In the same year, the Supreme Court of Ontario rules against the Six Nations Band Council who wanted to expel Yvonne Bedard and her six children from the reserve because they were non-status. Ten provincial Indian brotherhoods brought the case to the Supreme Court of Canada who, in 1973, reversed the earlier court decisions, arguing that the Constitution (which includes the Indian Act) took precedence over the Canadian Charter of Human Rights used by the plaintiffs.
Creation of the Native Women's Association of Canada
1973
Creation of the "Indian Rights for Indian Women" association, the national arm of the "Equal Rights for Native Women
Creation of the Ontario Native Women's Association
1974
Creation of the Quebec Native Women's Association
1975
As part of the International Year of Women, Mary Two-Axe Early travels to Mexico and presents a brief on the discrimination faced by Native women.
1976
Research undertaken by QNWA with 369 women and 66 men mostly living on reserves in Quebec demonstrates a 90% dissatisfaction rate with the Indian Act and its discriminatory clauses. The findings are published in a document entitled Réveille-toi Femmes Autochtones! Wake-Up Native Women! The document, in which QNWA recommends that a Native person keep his or her status even if they marry a non-Native, is sent to the Committee for the Amendment of then Indian Act and numerous other organizations and womens' organizations across the country.
1977
QNWA submits a brief underlying the problem of the adoption of native children into non-Native families to a Parliamentary commission.
For the first time, QNWA opens a position for a coordinator, which allows them to maintain direct links between the Executive and local groups.
1979
A group of women from Tobique reserve in New Brunswick undertake a 110-mile march from Oka (Kanesatake) to Ottawa to mark the 110 years of injustice to Native women since the passing of the Indian Act.
1980
QNWA obtains operational funding for the first time from the federal government (Secretary of State) and the provincial government (SAGMAI).
A QNWA brief on education demonstrates the necessity of transmitting Native culture and the need to hire Native teachers in schools attended by natives.
A QNWA brief on "Health Services: A Crucial Problem Among the Aboriginal Population of Quebec" is sent to the following organizations: Department of Health and Welfare; Department of Indian Affairs; Department of Social Services (Quebec); Secretary of State for the Status of Women; Secrétariat des activités gouvernementales en milieu amérindien et inuit (Québec); Quebec Women's Federation; Consultation Committee on the Status of Women; Council on the Status of Women; the Movement to Fight Racism. The brief outlines the absence of doctors on reserves and their lack of availability; the lack of communication between doctors and their patients; the medical experiments and forced sterilization that were done on Natives; the long distance to hospitals; the discrimination on the part of medical personnel towards the Native clientele.
1981
Following a request from Sandra Lovelace, a non-status Indian, the United Nations Human Rights Commission of declares that article 12(l) B of the Indian Act discriminates against women.
1982
Constitution recognizes the "inherent" Aboriginal rights and treaty rights.
QNWA presents to the sub-committee of Indian Affairs a new document on the discrimination faced by Native women. This document is discussed in the House of Commons.
Adoption of the Canadian Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms that guarantees equality between men and women. It i s not applied until 1985.
The Quebec government meets with First Nations and Inuit representatives in the province, including the Quebec Native Women's Association, in order to initiate discussions on Native rights and the Constitution.
1983
The first Premiers' conference on Native rights ends in a disagreement on the nature of such rights. There is, however, agreement that certain rights are enshrined in the Constitution, and that three more conferences on the issue were to be held before 1987. QNWA is not able to obtain a seat at this conference.
1984
Brief presented to the Common Front for Aboriginal Women and Economic Development.
Second Premiers' conference on Native rights. Participants touch on, but never reach, an agreement on based on self- government and gender equality. QNWA and the Native Women's Association of Canada participated as observers only.
First amendment to the Canadian constitution: treaty rights including those issued from territorial claims agreements and rights likely to be granted as well as acquired rights, are guaranteed regardless of gender equality.
Brief presented to the Common Front for Aboriginal Women and economic development.
1985
Third Premiers' Conference on the Constitution and Native rights. The conference deals mainly with the idea of inherent rights and self-determination.
Adoption of Bill C-31, modifying the Indian Act, which allows Native women who married non-Natives to regain their status.
Creation of Defence Fund for women victims of discrimination.
1987
Launch of the Awareness Campaign "Violence is Tearing Us Apart —Let's Get Together."
Fourth Premiers' conference on Aboriginal rights. The parties fail to agree on which rights should be enshrined in the Constitution.
Reunited for the Aboriginal Summit, the Assembly of First Nations chiefs, the Native Council of Canada, the Inuit Committee on National Affairs and the Nation Gathering of Métis voice their opposition to the Meech Lake Accord. The question of their right to self-determination still not resolved, the fear that it will be restricted by the agreement and demand to be present at the Annual Constitutional conferences proposed by the Agreement.
Ratification of the Meech Lake Accord, which brings Quebec under the Constitution. All First Nations of the country express their fear that the provinces will have more powers. They demand, as does Quebec, status as a distinct society and reaffirm their belonging to the founding peoples of Canadian society.
1988
Presentation of a brief to audiences on Aboriginal daycare services.
1989
Presentation by Quebec Native Women at the National Aboriginal Inquiry on the Impacts of Bill C-31.
1990
Publication of a bilingual newsletter (French and English) "Together Against Violence. Anishnabé-Kwe" that identifies the initiatives and means put in place to fight family violence in Quebec and in the rest of Canada. Due to lack of adequate financial resources, publication of the newsletter ceases after its third issue.
QNWA announces its Proposal for an Approach that Includes Intervention in the Area of Family Violence.
Creation of a working committee on violence.
1991
Participation of Quebec Native Women in the "Measure 24" group, a multidisciplinary group established as part of a three- year plan of the Quebec Department of Health and Social Services on violence in the Native milieu. Essentially, the work of this group consists of making local authorities aware of the need to reduce the isolation of the front-line community workers.
1992
Presentation of a brief to the First Nations Circle on the Constitution. Quebec Native Women's Association supports self- government, but insists that a guarantee of rights and freedoms for all Aboriginal citizens must be affirmed prior to self- government.
The QNWA Constitution and Rules are restructured.
Quebec Native Women is recognized by the provincial section of the Assembly of First Nations. The Association sits and participates in the discussions, but does not have the right to vote.
Michèle Rouleau, departing president of QNWA, receives the prix Droits et Libertés, for her contribution to the promotion of Aboriginal women's rights.
1993
Publication of a study ordered by Quebec Native Women: An Assessment of Violence and Mental Health Among the Aboriginal Population of Quebec.
QNWA presents the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples a brief entitled: "Taking Our Rightful Place", which include these major recommendations: provide a priority to the family violence file; favour the creation of daycare centres in Aboriginal communities; examine the possibility of establishing multi-service centres for Aboriginal women living in urban centres; define mechanisms that ensure Aboriginal women a participation in the constitutional debate; ensure equal financing to Aboriginal women's organizations in comparison to other Aboriginal organizations.
First meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee on conjugal violence. The committee includes five Aboriginal men.
Michèle Rouleau, departing president of QNWA, receives the Chevalier de I'Ordre national du Québec.
1994
Brief presented to the Permanent Committee for Human Resources Development on Social Security Reform.
1995
Launch in Montreal of a brochure on violence: Dépasser la violence/Beyond Violence.
First conference on violence: Voici la pointe du jour / This is Dawn, held n Montreal.
Launch in Montreal of a brochure on violence: Dépasser la violence / Beyond Violence.
1996
Publication of the brochure entitled Nos familles. Un monde à découvrir / Our Families. A World to Discover. This brochure was produced as part of the work of the Quebec Working group on the family.
1997
Quebec Native Women organizes a three-day conference on economic development.
1998
Second conference on violence held in Montreal.
Monique Sioui, former president of Quebec Native Women, receives the Prix Droits et Libertés.
1999
Twenty-fifth anniversary of Quebec Native Women.
2000
Awareness tour as part of the Kassewe project: For a common vision of solidarity in the First Nations communities of Quebec.
2004
QNWA celebrates its 30th anniversary.
