A statement by Carol McBride, President of the Native Women’s Association of Canada, on International Women’s Day| Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC)

“On this, the 113^th annual International Women’s Day, I am extending a virtual hug to all the women and girls around the world who are standing up against sexism, racism, discrimination, and all forms of oppression.

I would especially like to acknowledge First Nations, Inuit, and Métis women here in Canada who are dismantling the colonial hierarchy that, for centuries, declared female persons to be inferior to men.

The theme of International Women’s Day this year is Inspire Inclusion. I agree we must ‘inspire’ others to treat all people as equals, including Indigenous women, Two-Spirit, transgender, and gender-diverse people represented by our organization.

But I would go further. We must not only inspire inclusion; we must demand it.

For too long, women in colonial societies have been forced to take a passive approach to the assertion of our human rights. Decisions about our inclusion were made by men. I think about the women who came before me, who paved the road for our inclusion. As NWAC is in its 50^th year, I think about their tireless advocacy. They continue to inspire NWAC’s work in demanding self-determination and human security. .

Society is changing. Sexism is being called out. But much more needs to be done.

So, happy International Women’s Day and congratulations on the strides we have made to date. I look forward to a brighter and even more inclusive tomorrow.”

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About The Native Women’s Association of Canada

The Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) is a national Indigenous organization representing political voices of Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirit, transgender, and gender-diverse people in Canada. NWAC is inclusive of First Nations—on- and off-reserve, status, non-status, and disenfranchised—Inuit, and Métis. An aggregate of Indigenous women’s organizations from across the country, NWAC was founded on a collective goal to enhance, promote, and foster social, economic, cultural, and political well-being of Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirit, transgender, and gender-diverse people within their respective communities and Canadian societies.

À propos de l'Association des femmes autochtones du Canada

L'Association des femmes autochtones du Canada (AFAC) est une organisation autochtone nationale qui représente la voix politique des femmes, des filles, des transgenres, des bispirituels et des personnes de sexe différent au Canada, y compris les membres des Premières nations vivant dans les réserves et hors réserve, les Indiens inscrits et non inscrits, les personnes privées de leurs droits, les Métis et les Inuits. Regroupant des organisations de femmes autochtones de tout le pays, l'AFAC a été fondée dans le but collectif d'améliorer, de promouvoir et de favoriser le bien-être social, économique, culturel et politique des femmes autochtones au sein de leurs communautés respectives et des sociétés canadiennes.

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A statement by Carol McBride, President of the Native Women’s Association of Canada, on International Women’s Day