Media Advisory - First Nations Women Leaders Demand an End to Indian Act Sex Discrimination Français
OTTAWA, April 8, 2019 /CNW/ -
When: Media conference 12:30 p.m. April 9
Where: Press Conference Room in 135-B West Block, Parliament Buildings, Ottawa.
What: First Nations women leaders will gather in Ottawa on April 9 to demand an end to Indian Act sex discrimination before the election. The sex discrimination can be removed by Order-in-Council, because provisions are already included in Bill S-3 that will have the effect of removing the core of the sex discrimination. Those provisions are not in force, but can be brought into force by a Cabinet decision, any Tuesday. The sex discrimination in the Indian Act is 143 years old.
Who: Sharon McIvor is a Thompson Indian and a member of the Lower Nicola Band. She is a lawyer who challenged the sex discrimination in Canada's courts, and filed a petition with the United Nations Human Rights Committee, which resulted in a ruling on January 11, 2019 that the sex discrimination violates Canada international human rights obligations to guarantee equality to First Nations women and equal enjoyment of culture. Francyne Joe is a proud member of the Nlaka'pamux Nation in British Columbia. She is the President of the Native Women's Association of Canada. Dawn Lavell Harvard is a member of the Wikwemikong First Nation. She is the President of the Ontario Native Women's Association. Viviane Michel is an Innu woman from Maliotenam. She is the President of Quebec Native Women. Jeannette Corbiere Lavell, along with Yvonne Bedard, brought the first legal challenge to the -sex discrimination in the Indian Act in 1973, and has been a lifelong advocate for the rights of First Nations women. Dr. Pamela Palmater is a Mi'kmaw citizen and member of the Eel River Bar First Nation in northern New Brunswick, a lawyer and the Chair in Indigenous Governance at Ryerson University. Senator Lillian Dyck is a member of the Gordon First Nation in Saskatchewan. She is the Chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Aboriginal Peoples, and has been a champion of equality for First Nations women.
SOURCE Native Women's Association of Canada
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Shelagh Day: [email protected]; 604-872-0750; NWAC: Lucy Juneau, - Director of Communications, [email protected], 343-997-3756; ONWA: Andre Morriseau, Communications Manager, [email protected], 647-970-7661; QNW: Miriam Fillion - Communication Officer, [email protected], 819-460-5552
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