228 10 13080 https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/16/2788/1985_Vol_9_No_2.pdf fdf2903b67efe3c9ff80ef2f8aa60234 PDF Text Text Northern W $1.00 Journal AUGUST 1985 VO QP i .1,y, 1 4 k -,, 7777'.!- ";11 - - -- -:__ - -7:-- j---- __ __ :;:-----"---- PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �WELCOME HOME JOAN EDITOR' AL Our readers will be as delighted as we are to know that Joan Baril is back in Thunder Bay. Joan's significant contribution to The Northern Woman is so welcome. We wish to thank those readers who promptly renewed their subscriptions recruited new subscribers and sent donations. The monies thus received have replenished our coffers sufficiently to publish this current issue. Our long-term finances, howgver, are still precarious, so we must re-iterate our appeal. If each of you who read this issue found five new subscribers-the Northern Woman would be financially secure. Please help us keep our journal healthy. . NORTHERN VOICE Seven years later, here I am, a feminist, still living in this small northern, one-industry town. It is called Iroquois Falls and is located north of North Bay, about 300 miles. According to the tourist pamphlets, Iroquois Falls is known as the "garden town of the north". I can't help but grin every time I come across the description. Certainly there are a few gardens around, but they can hardly justify the picturesque description Iroquois Falls was given. So what does a feminist do in a male-dominated town? She tries hard to hold onto her sanity. Mind you, I wasn't always a feminist.. When I first arrived, I was your typical, loving wife, who cooked wonderful dishes and anxiously awaited her husband's return from a far off bush camp. Those were lonely days when I was too shy to meet people and rathered the safety of our small apartment. The love of my life was home rarely and long distance phone calls to my family were frequent. Those calls made me feel I wasn't reaching out and touching someone, rather, I felt more depressed because I realized how far out of reach they actually were. Nothing was familiar to me, not the french I heard around me, nor the constant talking about others which was so much a part of the small town atmosphere. I remember taking my first taxi ride and the driver telling me how much I was going to enjoy living in a small town. He cautioned me. Everybody knew everybody else's business. Coming from Toronto,'it fascinated and alienated me to see so much interest in other people's lives. Back home, you were just another face in the crowd. But in Iroquois Falls, people talked about you, though it may not always be good, but at least they knew you existed. That was my first impression several years ago and the town hasn't changed much. But I have. Due to some very important people in my life, I grew and changed, though I still feel lonely. But it's a different kind of loneliness that has taken over. I feel I am amongst the few feminists who are a minority that share the feminist perspective. To simply acknowledge yourself as such is similar to having the bubonic plague. People fear the word as if being a feminist means being a radical, man-hating woman. How can we make them understand that we are not out to expel them, but to add the word "equality" to their vocabulary. Iroquois Falls is isolated from the rest of Ontario in the sense that new ideas and views are slow in being accepted. The graduating teenager in the town tends to hold onto their grandparents views that are stereotyped sexual roles. If you're lucky enough to be hired at the paper mill and protected by a union, you are often subjected to rude sexual comr ments and sexism at its best. I feel like a closet feminist sometimes, as I realize how gently I must introduce feminist views in order to reach a greater scope of women and not frighten them away. It can be so frustrating and tiresome because often I feel like shouting out at the inequality and sexism being practiced here. I remain optomistic as I realize change is possible. The wheels of progress have started to turn in the form of consciousness raising and support group which is slowly becoming a reality. Eventually, we hope to reach the women who need a place to go for support and information for whatever the cause. Alcohol and wife beating are just a few of the more popular problems. They're real and large in number, unlike the facilities for the women. Only recently has a home for battered women been established in our area. For three to six weeks the home offers ten women and their children the opportunity to re-examine their lives with the help of trained staff. This is just a bandaid solution though. Still, what is needed is a place where women can go to share and have access to new ideas, and views which will enable them to realize their self worth. So while other feminists across Canada are struggling over issues to agree on and fight for, those of us in small communities are plowing ahead to educate women to just feel comfortable with the word "feminist" W e have a long way to go. Even if the rest of Canada takes on the feminist perspective, it's isolated towns like Iroquois Falls that will stagnate if we let them. So, we go on. Kim Gareau Dear NWJ: Thank you for the complimentary copy of your journal and a small donation as well as subscription funding is enclosed. Keep up the great work, please: Jeanne Edwards Dear NWJ: Please renew my subscription and also find enclosed a donation, I hope this helps, as $5.00 seems such a small amount to kay for all the talent and information contained in the Journal. Linda Salamon ALERT, INDIAN WOMEN WHO LOST STATUS. The amendments to the Indian Act allowing reinstatement have passed. To apply for reinstatement for yourselves and your children contact Indian Affairs or the Legal Clinic in your area. We're always good people. NORTHERN WOMAN page 2 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �appointment (phone (807) 548-4325). Northern women travelling through Kenora should call the day before. UPDATE Joan Baril Holdings include books, periodicals, clipping collections, pamphlets, memorabilia from lesbian The official opening is an exciting first for Thunder Bay --- Immigrant Women's August 23 from 3-6 pm and it's organizations and events etc. Donations of items for the expenses are vey welcome. Mailing address: LARC c/o collection or money for Employment Place is a centre run by immigrant women to help women find jobs. It's a Isabel Andrews, RR #2 Kenora, seems every feminist periodical has a list. There is the Canadian Women's Festival '85 August 30, 31 and September 1 self-help centre where women can share their experiences about work issues, discuss what the barriers to employment are P9N 3W8. .. Conferences - it and consider strategies. The centre is in downtown Port at Kildonan Park Winnipeg. In November Charlottetown will Arthur ward across from Eaton's, upstairs at 12A South Court Street. The coordinator is Thuy Ly. **Mary Rakowski and Fiona Karlstedt have prepared a handbook to assist host the Farm Women's Conference with the theme "Networking for Action". held June 6,7 at the Avila The Northwestern Ontario Centre was so successful that Women's Health Education women who are considering Northwestern Ontario Decade Project is holding its annual running for political office. Council is attempting to meeting with workshop October The booklet, a project of the arrange a repeat. Moderator 18, 19, 20 at Avila Centre Economic Development Committee Susan McPhail from London, Bay. They'll be working of the Northwestern Ontario Ontario guided the group into Thunder on strategies for the future in Decade Council, is a guide for an understanding of women's health issues in women seeking office at the peer/feminist counselling as Northwestern Ontario. municipal level. It sets out apposed tothe traditional Interested local women should the pitfalls, and also gives social ,worker/client model with phone 345-1410 Monday practical information. The its innate imbalance of power. Wednesday.. Anna McColl of guide, which has been published Approximately half of the this Journal attended the locally, is available to Feminist Counselling Workshop eighteen participants were from the region outside Thunder Bay. Once, what we read about women came to us filtered through the Feminist Periodical Conference in June which was held outside as if a Centre will start up axiomatic among feminists that this Septembre. The 268 women women learn when we speak the polled -want a centre to lobby truth of our own lives. for women's issues (seen as a women of Project Mayday, priority by 77.6%), to provide on The the North Shore, have just information on women's completed action research activities in Thunder Bay and study, thetheir result of in-depth Canada (73%), and arrange interviews and so, for the self-defence and assertiveness journal of writing by teens published in Calgary, and interested women...... According to a survey done by a group of Lakehead University women, the women students want a Women's Centre on campus and it looks portfolio bulging with tpatriarcal reatment plant of the publications including Teen mind. But now, it is Herizons, a newspaper-style time, we have in written training (56%). The women also first form the lives and experiences indicated they want information of women in Ontario on scholarships (72.8%), job single-industry towns --- in creation (70.5%), and health this case Schrieber, Marathon, topics such as birth control Manitowadge and Terrace Bay. (61.6%). The women learned interview Some university women's techniques from Diana Ellis centres concentrate on helping (Women's Research Centre, B.C.) women thread their way through who also helped them to draw up the enormous amount of material interview guides. The issues connected with the new which come out of the report disciplines of women's studies. will be used as the basis for An example is the Women s t he Northshore Women's at the Conference October 26, 27. Resource Centre University of Guelph. Not Ear Falls surprisingly 71.9% of Lakehead Congratulations, Mothers' Action Committee. When to the women who responded the local council cancelled the questionaire priorized women's swim program and supervised studies as a need. Other centres focus on health. One such was the Birth Control and Counselling Centre which operated at Lakehead for five years (1969-1974) and which also served as a women's lobby and drop-in centre.*.. University women often have to battle hard for a place on campus. University of Toronto women have been trying to get a women's building for sixty years. Chief opposition comes from male students and **The Breaking the Silence a feminist magazine on social issues from Ottawa. is A 1 so mew The Newsmagazine, a new glossy from Alberta. * The official opening of the first women's centre in Hearst was marked by two days of ceremonies. Town councillor Sheila Lamontangne, and the regional representative to National Action Committee on the Status of Women (N.A.C.) Kathryn Fournier, were the speakers the first day. There was also a wine and cheese party. There was open house the second day. Margot Blight form Thunder Bay spoke on the varying styled of women's centres. The Centre, which will offer bilingual services, is a first for Hearst, the result of beach, the women lobbied several years of work by programs available to children. Still battling, the Women's Committee in Nakina against the group. The Centre defines successfully to keep the CN runthrough. They have worked hard to show how the CN phase-out will affect community life. In recent hearings, they weren't even given a place on the agenda. Bravo to the women of Vermillion Bay who spearheaded the fight against the plan to dump PCB asphalt near their community and forced -administrators who pretend g overnment officials to women's causes have no validity reconsider the scheme...***LARC in order to divert scarce funds (Lesbian Archives and Resource and resources into activities Centre) near Kenora is open by and they find less threatiening more congenial. Montreal. She returned with a France-Femmes, a local women's itself as a service organization to provide counselling, rape crisis work, information, referral and lobbying action on women's issues. It will also set up workshops and 'conferences. 4.4,4 It must be a joke, a shaggy dog joke -.you don't know whether to laugh, cry or ignore it. To Flora MacDonald and all the Tories "It 's a landmark", a "major step foreward" and they can say it with a straight face. NORTHERN WOMAN page 4 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �conferences on the Decade of Women in Nairobi received almost as much mainstream media coverage as the visit of the giant pandas. The Globe and Mail sent their expert on re000 LIM *-/ Oil v in:10 1:100 EILICIOCIODD "squeal bills" which require women considering abortion. "attractive" and "a most recently passed by the Illinois in the language of men" He would allow a husband to get an of Greece who he described as feminine woman who could argue thrilled at her looks, "Handsome, patrician looking...superbly dressed," but she "gave women hard It seems to occur to nobody shuffle toward equity. Regan, women would be What it is really about is Mauree interested in hearing from statistics --reporting women like. Papandreou, who is, statistics. Starting in in fact, a tireless grass roots 1988,companies have to hand in organizer of womin in Greece. reports telling governments who So much is going on at Nairobi they employ, detailing how many --- two major conferences, 7000 are women, disabled people, visible minorities and so on; not all companies, mind you, but Crown Corporations and parents. (A similar measure is being considered in Saskatchewan). Then there are doctors and others to inform on instead of colour and it is only the tiniest that storiesabout big names like not much to do with employment else ie husband, father, both women, Michael Valpy who was struck by Margarita Papandreou While other women It 's "Employment Equity" a lectures". "gave flowery speeches", hers term so meaningless it would were "closely reasoned". make George Orwell blush. It's written permission from someone participants, hundreds of meetings and panels. For example under the heading "Media" we find listed fifty "federally regulated" employers workshops at the NGO conference Another type is the bill legislature this spring. It injunction to prevent the wife from having an abortion. (It will likely be vetoed by the state governor.) A new ploy is to require the woman to dispose of the fetal tissue°. In New Jersey proposed legislation would require women considering abortion or who have had a spontaneous miscarriage to choose "burial, cremation, entombment" at their expense. It would mean, for example, that a woman who miscarried at home, wuld have to arrange "proper" disposal of fetal tissue or face a fine of $7500 or 18 months in jail. All this bizarre legal activity is taking place in a country which has a higher teen-age pregnancy rate and with more than 100 workers - -- (Non-government forum). Here banks, airlines, the CN. are some samples: Media, Power "Very well," I hear you say, Uses, Political Tool; more teen abortions than any other industrialized nation. A report by the Alan Guttmacher Institute concludes that other industrialized countries have more liberal attitudes toward Peacemaking --- and on and on, access to contraception without parental notification and more "what happens then eh? The Production and Broadcasting; purpose of the statistics of Colour as Writers; is...?" This is where the Women Hands-on Computer Centre; shaggy dog "comes in --- no Information Sharing on punch line, no point. According to the act, after the figures each panel as intriguing as the are handed in, o l interested last. ic, can pay a International women fee and see them. On the other organizations will network at hand, consolidation of the Nairobe. So many of our various numbers may be made --- concerns can only be dealt with f p sex than the U.S., easier cAlrcitttlirl.rf7=4411471e114keen pregnancy rates. and it will be various --- internationally. For example because there are varying the International Feminist methods of reporting --- and Network Against Sexual Slavery may be presented to Parliament. will meet there. Kathleen Well, that's it. This should Barry, author of Female Sexual make the employers of the Slavery will be present. The nation tremble, don't you group works to combat the think? There's no teeth in the forces which make forced act, no penalties for companies prostitution and pornography who hand in bad reports, no invisible, profitable and definition as to what a bad thriving. *****The good news is report is, no enforcement and the follow-up conference to be no remedy. It's like sending held at the University of David out against Goliath Guelph September 26-29. without his sling. Registration is open to anyone. Michael Sabia, the relevant This will be a major conference government official, thought which will bring messages from perhaps the Canadian Human Rilghts might do something, Nairobi and cover many topics. he's pretty sure, and maybe The theme is "the significance they could lay a complaint if of women's contribution and they didn't like what was in status in domestic and the reports even though, he international developement". allowed, they don't usually Nothern women will have their initiate complaints on their air fare subsidized. Phone Lisa own. This is the same Human Bengtsson, Secretary of State Rights Commission which was office, 345-2316.***** Studio D told, some time later, by the (National Film Board) went to Federal Court of Appeal that it Nairobi and intends to put out could not impose affirmative a film. It will be available for women's community groups. action programs. Chavira Hoseh, president of The American Scene. Over the NAC commented, "It seens the past several years each government thinks the Human American state has seen Rights Commission is to be the repeated attempts by antito bring in laws enf orcement agency f or abortionists "employment equity". If they to provent women from getting can't impose restitution, it's abortions. Many states have useless f or impos ing passed "permission" bills to it wonderful that the considering abortion get "employment equity". .. Isn't make it mandatory that women NORTHERN' WOMAN' page PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �VISIT 13ooKs DOMESTIC ABUSE INTERVENTION PROGRAM In NO IMMEDIATE DANGER? Prognosis for a Radioactive Earth ($12.95) Dr. Rosalie Bertell adds new insights to the crisis of nuclear energy and nuclear weapons. For herstory buffs the reprinting of NOT IN GOD'S IMAGE: Women in HIstory from the Greeks to the Victorians ($9.95) is welcome. Edited by Julia O'Faolian and Lauro Mart- As part of our continuing Family Dispute Unit study, three members of the Thunder Bay Physical and Sexual Assault Crisis Centre, recentStock up for your fall reading ly visited the Duluth Domestic Abuse with some of the fine new titles Intervention Program (DAIP). available at Northern Woman's BookSince 1980 the DAIP has coorstore. dinated services to families experTwo recent books by Jane Rule: iencing violence. INLAND PASSAGE ($10.95) is a collecWhen police attend a family disines. tion of short stories "..soul-deep, turbance, if probable cause exists Heleieth I. B. Saffioti "... a gentle tales (that) explore theconan assault charge must be laid, and ventional and unconventional relacontemporary pioneer in the theory the assailant is detained at the and research of women's status and tionships in all our lives", while jail until court the following mornroles.." gives us WOMEN IN CLASS A HOT EYED MODERATE ($10.95) is a ing. An advocate from the Women's SOCIETY ($12.75) collection of essays. Coalition is notified by the jailer Highly recommended for all PMS A most exciting writer that and goes to see the victim immediatesufferers Katharina Dalton's ONCE many of us are just discovering is ly. She offers support and shares A MONTH ($9.95) "is a clear, easily Jamaica Kincaid. AT THE BOTTOM OF information with the victim about THE RIVER is a collection of Kincaid': understood account of premenstrual Orders for Protection, and financial short stories. syndrome, its effects, diagnosis, and legal assistance. If the victim and complete treatment". FLIGHT OF THE SEVENTH MOON is wishes to leave her home the advoa companion piece to Lynn V. Andrews Periodicals available at the cate will assist her in getting to Bookstore include Broadside, Voices, earlier work MEDICINE WOMAN. "This the shelter. Whether or not the vicHERizons, Hysteria, Kinesis, Women beautiful book weaves rare and protim leaves she is encouraged to partand Environments, Healthsharing, found teachings of the Medicine Path icipate in weekly groups for batterFireweed, Room of One's Own. with the remarkable story of a wared women offered by the Coalition. rior woman's gateway of initiation". Place your order now for the The advocate keeps in contact with 19 86 Everywoman's Almanac. Both books are available at $10.50. the victim offering continued support and assistance. A male advocate from the DAIP visits the assailant at the jail and informs him of the Domestic Abuse Program which involves 12 weeks of group counselling and 12 weeks of an educational group. If he pleads guiltrrnr-ls-niand guilty the mandated by the court as a condition The Northwestern Ontario Women's of probation. Repeat offences involve Health EduCation Project (NWO W.H.E.P. a jail term as well as mandated counselling. a three year demonstration project Ellen Pence, Director of the DAIP scheduled to conclude August 31/85, feels that the police policy of manhas been granted a ten month extendatory arrest and the clear court sion by its funder Health Promotion guidelines for sentencing are the backDirectorate of Health and Welfare bone of the program. It emphasizes to Canada, until June 30,1986. the batter that violence is a crime. Judi Vinni has been hired for We were extremely impressed with the half-time co-ordinator's position the level of cooperation achieved by for the project and will spend the the DAIP, Police Department, courts, ten month period working with local and regional women who are attempting probation and the Women's Coalition and the commitment each shows to the to form an organization to represent program. Those we spoke with were their interests in women's health in very pleased with the outcome of the Northwestern Over the Ontario. past three years of CARRIE GERENDASY project and feel the number of repeat operation, W.H.E.P., a health promocalls to the police has gone down, tion project, developed workshop kits fewer women are withdrawing charges, on a range of health topics chosen by and both victims and batterers are women in fourteen N.W.O. communities. getting assistance through the groups. Carrie Gerendasy will be perThe seventeen workshops have been Videotapes and discussion in forming at a concert sponsored by presented in a total of twenty comboth the men's and women's groups foProject Ploughshares. The performance munities by the co- ordinators of the cus on the use of power and control will take place on October 5 at 8p.m. project and late by community women in abusive relationships. The emphasis in the sanctuary of St. Paul's United who attended training sessions in of the men's groups is to get the batChurch. Thunder Bay this past year to prepare terer to take responsibility for his Carrie is an American folk them. behaviour, while the women's groups singer who has earned the reputation The health workshops provide indiscourage the victims from blaming of being one of Minneapolis' most formation b.ut emphasize group partithemselves, and encourage assertiveimpressive solo acts. Her high energy cipation so that women can share their presentation, moving interpretations, ness. knowledge, identify their needs and The DAIP is offering a "Communand genuine concern for using music formulate their own solutions. ity Interventions in Domestic Assault as a statement, all make for an unforCurrently a core group of seven Cases" Conference from Oct.31 to Nov. gettable experience. The Mothers' Day women, representing thirty regional 1/85 to share their success and faiMarch for Peace, Take Back the Night women involved with W.H.E.P. are planlures with other groups or individuals Marches, Anti-Pornography rallies, ning a conference to be held in Thunworking in the area of family violence. and ERA rallies are various events der Bay, October 18-20/85. If anyone is interested in further inat which Carrie has performed.. "The purpose of the ten month formation on the conference please Tickets are $5.00 for adults extensions" say W.H.E.P. co-ordinacontact us at 345-1871. and $3.00 for seniors, youth, and tors "is to ensure that workshops are unemployed. Tickets are available at in Northwestern Ontario communities Submitted by Brenda Persson & Pam Dunk the local Peace Coaliton Office (345. and being used as a resource." 0372) or at the Women's Centre. HEALTH CONCERT , NORTHERN -WOMAN page 6 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �QUALITY DAY CARE A CHILD'S With growing frequency the situation of day care in Canada is described as "crisis". It could also be called a tragedy. As a society we must seriously question why we tolerate a situation that prevents hundreds of thousands of our youngest children from receiving quality care. This deplorable situation is not new. (As a social planner I have been expounding the same day care concerns, the same recommendations for some fifteen years.) What is so frightening is that, despite conscientious attempts by many day care advocates, the day care situation not only has failed to improve, but is actually deteriorating. The reality is that nowhere in Canada do we have a comprehensive child care system. Rather, we have a faulty welfare system that will never appropriately serve child care needs. How long can we tolerate a situation where less than 12% of Canadian children under 6yrs. of age in need of day care have access to licensed, supervised programs? What possible rationale can be given for excluding low and middle income families from day care services because of prohibitive user fees of $4000 - 5000 per year, per child? (Only very low income families qualify for subsidy, only very high income families can afford the exhorbitant fees.) What justification is there for exploiting ay care workers through grossly inadequate wages -- on average barely 30% of beginning elementary school teachers salaries? Why do we tolerate a system that inflicts tremendous emotional stress on so many mothers who have no choice but to place their children with unqualified, inappropriate caregivers? If we value children, if we value families, significant, systemic societal changes must occur ... and must occur soon. ISSUES The major day care issues are easily identifiable. They are quality, cost, accessibility. A further, yet inter-related issue is the status and wages of day care workers. Quality It should be self-evident that quality care is essential for infants and children in their formative years. The principles of quality day care have been succinctly outlined by the Ontario Coalition for Better Day Care when they state: "Daycare programs must focus on the education, the rearing and the physical care of the child. The education function involves developmental programs concerned with the intellectual, emotional, physical and social growth of the child. The rearing function involves liasion with the home to complement family life and provide the kind of guidance children would receive at home. The caring function integrates health and social services as required. It should include proper nutrition and preventative medical care, by MARGARET PHILLIPS R IGH T requires adequate provisions for physical facilities and space. In a responsive childcare system, there should be flexibility to allow working parents to select the type and location of childcare that meets the needs of both parents and child. Programs in all locations, should be monitored according to a set of standards and regulations established by the provincial government which embody these principles." Most day care consumers agree that the preferable choice of a day care program is a non-profit group day care centre. Concern arises with for-profit centres (which comprise 40% of Ontario licensed spaces) as quality may suffer in the cost-saving measures that ensure profit for these commercial centres. While quality care will vary between centres, at least parents have the assurance that these centres are licensed and monitored. The majority of families, however, must rely on the "informal system" .. i.e. baby-sitters, neighbours, relatives, where no licensing or supervision exists. The care received in these situations is generally unknown and of uncertain quality. The growing use of the term "informal system" is most unfortunate, because it means nothing more than unsupervised care, and the government trend to include these situations within a day care "system" is distressing. (I will return to this topic under the discussion of funding.) To date research on quality and developmental aspects of day care has been largely confined to day care centre programs (the "formal system"). The one major study of unlicensed, unsupervised care conducted by Metro 'Toronto Social Planning Council confirmed our fears about the inadequacy of "informal" care. The study reports that "... the children in these types of arrangements generally received only custodial-type care which ignored their development needs. While their basic physical needs may have been met, the children were more likely to spend their time watching television than engaging in creative developmental activities. Regular outdoor play and excursions, active physical play, creative activites, and nutrious meals and snacks were not found to be part of the program in most private, unsupervised day care arrangements. The providers, who typically lacked training in how to work with young children and had no long-,t.erm commitment to the provision of child care, tended to see their work as a stop-gap to tide them over until personal and family circumstances allowed them to work outside the home." (Canadian Advisory Council on the Status of Women, Day Care in Canada: A Background Paper, 1984) Numerous day care need studies and inquiries repeatedly set forth the serious problems that parents experience in using unsupervised careparticularly baby-sitters. In addressing the Ontario Federation of Labour Day Care hearings in 1981, one Thunder Bay mother, expressing her concern about being forced into making inadequate private arrangements, stated "In my son's short life he was fed starches and sugar because they keep children quiet, and were cheaper than fruits and vegetables, and plunked in front of a TV instead of being provided with stimulating play". A recent study of Thunder Bay child care arrangements (N.W.O. Women's Centre, Project Child Care 1984) found that instability of care arrangements - particularly baby-sitting care was a serious problem for many Thunder Bay families. It was found that of those parents using babysitters 44% had had to change sitters one or more times during the previous twelve months. One mother changed sitters 8 times in the twelve month period. This study also found that "large proportions of those using either care by relatives or sitter care would, if they had their choice, use formal care as their preferred childcare arrangement." This finding substantiates the conclusion of many other studies as summarized by the CACSW report which states "A review of the findings reveals some common trends and patterns in parental views on the form of care considered most suitable for their children .... they want licensed, supervised care, preferably in a day care centre. How stressful it is for families who because of accessibility problems and cost factors are unable to exercise this choice. a r graphics by ANN-IDA BECK continued next page NORTHERN WOMAN page 7 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Accessibility The CACSW report points out that jn 1982 the ratio of spaces to children had actually declined (see table below). While a modest increase in day care spaces has occurred in the intervening period it has in no way kept pace with the increase into the labour force of women with young children. For example, in Ontario the percentage of women in the labour force with children aged 3-5 yrs. increased from 58.3% in 1981 to 61.5% in 1983. The increase in the labour force of women with children under 3 yrs. is even greater - from 49.5% in 1981 to 53.2% in 1983. This trend continues. Analysts predict that by 1990 75% of women with children under 6 yrs. will be in the paid labour force. Recognizing the implication of this trend -- the increasing numbers of children who will require day care -- and considering that in 1982, of the children who needed care only 11.6% were served by licensed, supervised programs, the issue of accessibility of day care spaces becomes paramount. The need for infant/toddler supervised care is even more dramatic, as the 1982 figures show that only 5% of under 2 yr. olds were served. (National Day Care Information Centre) The availability of day care varies considerably. While few areas are adequately served, and virtually no where can one find an appropriate continuum of infant, pre-school and 'latch-key' services - there are many areas that are totally without service. /The situation in rural areas is particularly critical. For farm women .. whether they are full-time farmers, or working off the farm, or a combination of both (in addition to their household work - which is frequently the sole responsibility of women), the need for day care is acute. As a study by the National Farmers Union of their female membership points out "... many parents have no alternative but to take their children into the barn or field with them while they work. This is not only a dangerous environment for a child but is a source of distraction for the parents who are then more susceptible to having an accident". No longer can day care be considered an urban phenonenum. Rural children also need day care and policies must be flexible enough to provide the appropriate services. Table 1. Year How accessible is day care in Northwestern Ontario? It varies. During the past fifteen years a number of municipal Councils/Indian Band Councils have initiated day care programs. At present day care centres providing pre-school, and in some cases latch key services, are operated by Geraldton, Longlac, Long Lake Indian Band, Heron Bay, Balmertown, Dryden, Ear Falls, Fort Frances, Grassy Narrows, Kenora, Islington, (Whitedog), Onegaming, Red Lake, Shoal Lake, Sioux Lookout, Whitefish Bay. A community non-profit corporation has recently opened a day care centre in Marathon. Thunder Bay has four municipal centres, the Confederation College Children and Family Centre, and a commercial centre. A workplace day care will open this fall (St. James School) for Board of Education employees. Whitefish Bay has the only infant care centre in the district. Thunder Bay and Fort Frances operate licensed private home day care programs that accommodate infants and toddlers. As can be seen by the omissions from the foregoing list there are a number of communities in our district that are totally lacking in child care services. Concerned parents and community members in Atikokan and Ignace have been advocating for day care for years. Recently a strong Terrace Bay committee has formed to promote a day care centre in that community. Farm women in Northwestern Ontario are also stressing the need for rural day care. In a brief to the Ontario Advisory Council on the Status of Women (Dryden, 1984) Janet Owen and Jacquelyn Hunsperger of the Farm Women of the Rainy River Distriat stated that "In rural areas affordable good quality childcare is non-existent" and discussed the need for childcare when mothers work on or off the farm. They pointed out that "women are often restricted from attending farm meetings because of inadequate childcare and/or lack of finances to pay baby-sitters". They recommended that "day care centres be set up in small hamlets in rural areas so women can leave their children there one or two days a week while they catch up on the essential parts of the farm operation that cannot'be accomplished with children in tow. A very important spin-off of this option would be the opportunity for the children to interact with other children, giving them the chance to develop social skills". Numbers of children under 6 requiring day care and licensed spaces available, Canada, 1975-1982 Estimated number of children under 6 with mothers in the labour force Number of children under 6 occupying licensed family and day care centre spaces Percentage of children under 6 with access to licensed day care Number of children under 6 not accomodated within the formal system 1975 562,000 64,589 11.49% 497,411 1976 620,000 75,330 12.15% 544,670 1977 656,000 73,865 11.26% 582,135 1978 695,000 73,475 10.57% 621,525 1979 721,000 86,780 12.03% 634,220 1980 760,000 92,423 12.16% 667,577 1982 950,000 110,573 11.63% 839,427 Source: Health and Welfare Canada, National Day Care Information Centre, Status of Day Care in Canada, 1975-1980; Day Care Spaces in Canada - 1982. (Figures for 1981 are not available). NORTHERN WOMAN page 8 The number of day care spaces in Thunder Bay must also be questioned. For example, there are no municipal day care centres (the only centres where parents may apply for subsidy) in Northwood, Neebing, McIntyre or Current River wards. Accessibility is a Northwestern Ontario problem. For some it means lack of preferred space. For others it means no choice at all. But even in those centres that have day care spaces available the cost prohibits many families from utilizing these quality services. Cost The issue of cost is, without question, the most disturbing problem we face in Northwestern Ontario. It is the primary concern of most parents presently using "formal" day care, and it impinges on the hopes of others who are working to initiate day care in their communities. The funding dilemma has quickly become a crisis and without immediate attention will only worsen. The crux of the problem is, of course, that governments de f care as a welfare service, providing day care subsidies only to those they judge "needy" and requiring "user fees" from all other day care consumers. The problem will only be resolved when day care becomes a universal, publicly funded (yet non-compulsory) service, as health and education are universal services. A system that rationalizes societal support to parents for their 6 yr. olds, yet denies such support to 3 yr. olds needs to be questioned. Mind you, many arguments against universal day care sound suspiciously like the arguments that were advanced against universal education 100 years ago. So, at the present time, day care functions under the welfare system and through the Canada Assistance Plan 'provinces may set up day care subsidy programs based on CAP guidelines which set the social and financial framework for provincial participation. In Ontario, day care is provided under the Day Nurseries Act. The province will pay 30% of the net cost of subsidized day care, the federal contribution is 50% while themunicipality pays the remaining 20%. To meet the financial ability criteria re day care subsidization Ontario employs a "needs" test, as is required for general welfare assistance. (All other provinces use an "income" test criteria which is felt to be less intrusive and more equitable). The "needs" test method determines the amount of family income available for the purchase of day care services after all its approved expenses have been met. People subjected to a "needs" test find this a demeaning experience, as well as a serious PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �invasion of privacy. Another argument against the needs test approach (reported by the CACSW study) is "That it forces a family to contribute its entire residual income up to the full unit cost of day care services, whereas the income test approach establishes a'sliding scale usually based on an expenditure of 50% of the amount by which family income exceeds the turning point". Under CAP, provincial subsidies are only cost sharable with the federal government for families who qualify for subsidy. Provinces are free to provide subsidies to families with larger incomes, but cannot recover the federal 50% of these costs. Many municipalities have established "user fees" for unsubsidized families that in fact do not cover the full per diem costs of operating the day care program. This practice has come to be called "the indirect subsidy". In 1983 the Ontario government informed municipalities that "the practice of indirect subsidization must be eliminated by January 1, 1986". (It is understood that this date has been extended to September 1986) The elimination of indirect subsidies will have drastic consequences for day care. Already some Ontario centres have been forced to close, as unsubsidized families are forced to seek less expensive care through relatives or baby-sitters. The N.W.O. Women's Centre study (1984) found a significant use of relative care, which was uncWrstandable as, of the respondents using relative care, 59% paid nothing for this child care. There are a lot of generous grandmothers in-tThunder Bay! But in our mobile society most young parents do not have extended family available to provide this free service. (And this situation ignores the economic security needs of older women who are thus working without pay.) As the majority of day care. in Northwestern Ontario is municipally operated the future of day care in our region is indeed bleak. A survey of N.W.O. centres, conducted by Margie Bettiol-Young of Sioux Lookout, concluded that "the policy will ultimately cause the closure of centres due to a drastic drop in enrolment." This study found that the anticipated per diem rates for 1986 averaged $25 ($18-30 range) however current fees ranged from $9-14 (average $12). Without indirect subsidization middle and low-income families cannot afford day care. This essentially is the situation already in Thunder Bay where day care fees have increased dramatically ... a 350% increase in the past eleven years, making it more and more impossible for middle income families to afford. The current fees of $17.50 per child per day are reported to be increasing to $21 in 1986, thus even further denying quality day care to the average family. Why are the children of middle income families denied supervised day care? If we believe that all children have the right to quality care it certainly makes no sense. Has this outcome occurred accidently? Or is it a deliberate policy of the former Conservative government to force married mothers out of the labour force? The statistics previously cited demonstrate that wo- men's participation, in the paid labour force continues to increase despite day care inadequacy. The only result of Ontario's day care policy is that more and more children are denied quality care. Another very disturbing factor is the Ontario government's trend the past few years to provide funding of support services to the "informal system", thus legitimizing unregulated, unsupervised arrangements as day care, as well as using the scarce financial resources that should be going to the "formal system". The CACSW report insists that with this approach "the goal of developing a comprehensive system of day care services is subverted". The report states that "there is no basis on which to conclude that the provision of such so-called support services in a community actually has any impact on the quality of care delivered to children in informal arrangements". There is urgent need not only to infuse new financial resources into child care but also to ensure funding priorities recognize the right of children to quality care. Exploitation of Day Care Workers The commitment of people working in the day care field has kept day care alive in Ontario. In effect day care workers subsidize parent fees through their low wages. As the Coalition for Better Day Care states "Because of underfunding, day care programs in this province are faced with the cynical choice of either exploiting parents or exploiting staff to avoid exploiting children". Because of low wages, poor benefits, low status and few chances for improvement, staff turnover in child care programs is high. Staff turnover disrupts the caregiverchild relationship to the detriment of the children. While the wages of day care centre staff is abysmal on average $267 per week in Ontario the income provided to supervised private home caregivers is even more horrendous. For an average of $12 per day per child home care providers are expected to provide toys, nutrious meals and snacks, equipment and a stimulating program. When the 'hidden' costs of depreciation, insurance and home maintenance are considered the net gain for the provider may be nil. Day Care: A Women's Issue Ideally, day care should be seen as a societal issue, of equal concern to men and women. The reality is that day care remains primarily a women's issue. It is women who experience the stress of balancing job and child care responsibilities. It is mothers who forego job opportunities because of inadequate day care and parental leave policies. By and large, it is mothers who make child care arrangements and who worry about the inadequacy of these arrangements. It is women who provide care - at exploitative (or no) wages. The vast majority of day care centre staff are women, and it will be these women who lose jobs if day care centres are forced to close. As the Abella Report, Equality in Employment states "For women who are mothers, a major barrier to equality in the workplace is the absence of affordable child care of adequate quality". So when we talk about day care we are talking about equality for women. But, we are also talking about the right of children to quality care. And so, the issue of day care is not only an issue for parents and day care workers. It is an issue for everyone concerned with equality and justice in our society. What Next In official discussions of day care policy these essential issues tend to be ignored, but rather are superceded by budget considerations and jurisdictional debates. With a new government installed in Ontario, whose election platform included day care reform, day care parents and advocates have had their hopes raised. However, no action has as yet been forthcoming. The concerted effort of community people is required to ensure adequate day care programs and policies are developed by all levels of government. A number of groups have formed for this purpose. The Canadian Day Care Advocacy Association is a voluntary organization that addresses day care issues at the national level. In Ontario the provincial advocate is the Coalition for Better Day Care (see article by Joan Baril). Action is also occurring in Northwestern Ontario. The most notable example is the important work that has been done by the Sioux Lookout Parents Committee who have made presentations to municipal and provincial authorities, and have encouraged media attention to the issues of indirect subsidization and quality care. Dryden also has an active Parents Committee, and recently concerned Thunder Bay citizens have organized the Thunder Bay Advocates for Quality Child Care. (See article this issue) con 't next page NORTHERN SW OMAN page 9 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �QUALITY DAY CARE (con't) The Northwestern Ontario Regional Day Care Committee has also been formed to help 'network' and share information amongst all community day care groups. The Committee will provide support to any community organizing advocacy associations, as well as developing links with provincial and national bodies to ensure N.W.O. input. Committee representatives will travel throughout N.W.O. this fall to meet with all interested groups. The Committee would welcome your suggestions - please write: N.W.O. Regional Day Care Committee, Box 144, Thunder Bay, P7C 4V5. THE DAYCARE Developing a quality day care system will not be easy ... but it is vital that we organize now to achieve this goal. "Childcare is a social investment in the future. It is not, therefore, the exclusive financial responsibility of an employer, or a union, or a worker, or a parent. It is a public expense that should ultimately be borne by all taxpayers, much as education is. Childcare should be seen as a public service to which every child has a right. Childcare is not a luxury, it is a necessity. Unless government policy responds to this urgency, we put women, children, and the economy of the future at risk. Considering that more than half of all Canadian children spend much of their time in the care of people other than their parents, and that more than half of all parents need childcare services for their children, social policy should not be permitted to remain so greatly behind (Judge Rosalie Silberman the times." Abella, Commissioner, Equality in Employment, October 1984) CRISIS by JOAN BARIL A coalition - "a temporary combination for special ends" says the Concise Oxford, "Between parties that remain distinctive." It's a short term thing - everyone dances together until the music ends and in this case the music doesn't end until we have a better system in Ontario. There are some strong partners in the Coalition for Better Daycare - Ontario Federation of Labour, Ontario Teachers' Federation, Action Daycare, The,Ontario Social'Development Council, for starters, as well as local chapters of the Coalition throughout Ontario. Janet Davis, who has been travelling across the province on behalf of the Coalition, recently spoke at Ogden Street Community School. She has been a worker in daycare for ten years, as a volunteer and as an employee. As well, she has a resident user in son Keith, age 5. For years, she said, she was "on the borderline", that situation where a woman knows that a slight change in her financial position may mean she will be cut off from her daycare subsidy. "The whole daycare system is a mess, " she says, The Coalition uses the word "crisis". It has always been expensive for those who have to pay full fee - $350 a month per child is the provincial average and climbing. In Thunder Bay, it could go as high as $500.00 a month. In some municipalities such as Peterborough the fee payers dropped out one by one, and the only users are fully subsidized. It's the ghettoization of the system - no social mix for the kids - and daycare, no longer accessible to the general population, becomes a "welfare service." Those who are eligible for subsidy are treated accordingly endless forms, monthly reporting. Some cities hire "snoops" to make sure the mother of little Kevin doesn't have a man to stay, or isn't the future of day care in NWO. doing typing in the evening after work and not reporting the earnings to the daycare officials. How does Thunder Bay stack-up against the rest of the province? Janet gave us the gold ribbon for our daycare centres, "some of the best in the province"; but we got bad marks for excessive paper work. Women have to hand in monthly reports here, whereas other places require reports only every six months. It's not only a "petty harassment" for the mothers, but the administrative excess, the checking, printing, phoning, tracking down, -reminding, compiling, etc. and etc., add unnecessarily to our costs. Thunder Bay is not the only municipality which tangles the parent in expensive red-tape. Women who want to know if they are eligible for subsidy (or partial subsidy) have to go through a needs test. In some places the completion of this requires long forms, sometimes taking two hours, and perhaps a visit to the home by a social worker - sometimes a visit to the applicant's workplace is done as well. The good news is that Thunder Bay has changed its needs test. It now allows applicants to claim more realistic living expenses. This means that persons who have been turned down in the past may be eli- the fault lies with the feminists and working mothers (absurd and frigten.ing.) Nevertheless, broad support for quality daycare is widespread. The purpose of the Coalition is to mobilize that support. Local coalitions lobby their local governments. In Thunder Bay, affordability is an issue, as it is everywhere. We also need to allow "purchase of service agreements" to be given to community groups. This means that parents who are Board of Education employees, and who want to send their children to the new St. James School daycare may be eligible for a subsidy. It could mean, for example, that student parents at Confederation College could use the daycare facilities on campus. gible. The system of funding and subsidies is Byzantine, and like the ancient empire, it is crumbling. The Liberal government has made pledges; it is also written in the famous accord between the NDP and the Liberals. But, political promises sometimes get, lost, and daycare is becomr ing something of a political hot tt****************************************, potato again. The mood from the Amer- ; PREPARE NOW ican right, which is drifting across The federal Parliamentary Task the border, is anti-daycare and anti-women. For example, a Dr. Clarke, t Force on Child Care is expected to of Windsor Family and Children's hold hearing this fall. The results ; Services, of has publically blamed the Task Force deliberations-will; working mothers for divorce, alcoholbe very important. Plan now to pre- ; ism, and sent family violence. Various a brief to the Task Force, exarticles and books recently published pressing your recommendations for have the same theme. Another ploy to argue that women who want to stay home with their young children get little help from society (true), and PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �DAY CARE ADVOCATES JAS Concern for the future of day are locally and provincially has rompted the development of a new oranization - Thuder Bay Advocates for uality Child Care. At the organizaion's founding meeting held recently he following goals were adopted. ong Term Goal To advocate for a universal, ublicly-funded, non-compulsory day are system which will provide high uality child care services to all hildren/families who need/desire uch services. Short Term Goals 1) To advocate for the improvement of provincial/federal day care policy and the expansion of programs, including: a) direct subsidies to non-profit day care organizations/agencies to permit (1) lower user fees, and (2) increased day care staff wages b) capital funding to non-profit organizations/agencies for the construction/renovation of new day care facilities c) maintaining high standards of health, safety and programming of day care services, and of training of day care staff d) an increase in subsidized day care spaces 2) To monitor the provision of day care services within Thunder Bay, and make representation, as appropriate, to the City for the improvement of municipal day care policy and the expansions of programs 3) To provide support for the improvement of the status, wages and working conditions of (licensed) day care staff/providers 4) To encourage public awareness of the present day care crisis in Ontario/Canada and the solutions to the crisis; and to promote public support for the provision of high quality day care as the right of every child. (i.e. day care as a right not a welfare service) To develop links with non5) profit day care groups regionally, provincially and nationally to share information and support; and where appropriate, to work collectively with such groups to promote improved government day care policy and the expansion of programs. The group plans to sufvey candidates in the upcoming municipal elections concerning their commitment to day care, and will prepare a brief to the federal Parliamentary Task Force on Child Care which is expected to hold hearings this fall. Membership (fee $3.00) is open to all Thunder Bay-individuals who subscribe to the aforementioned goals. It is hoped that large numbers of parents, day care workers/providers and interested citizens will join Advocates for Quality Child Care and strengthen the voice of day care in Thunder Bay. FEM INIST PRESS Anna McColl Issues raised in workshops covThis_qummer I had the opportunity ered advertising, the collective proces f meeting with 50 women representing cess, design on a shoestring, funding, 5 women's publications from across maintaining an editorial policy, power anada. The occasion was the Feminist and skill sharing, subscription proeriodicals Conference held in the motion, recruiting and training voliny village of St. Marc-Sur-Richlieu IN CELEBRATION OF unteers and working with writers. CANADIAN WOMEN a forty minute drive from Montreal. Poetry and Short Stories by and about In a resolution at the closing The conference got off to a good Canadian Women will be edited by session we voted to act as a group to tart with a relaxed wine and cheese Greta Hofmann Nemiroff and support any feminist periodicals that et-together at tbe women's centre published by Fitzhenry and Whiteside come under similar attack to that of on Rue Urbain. This was followed by early in 1986. Deadline for this Winnipeg's HERizons. HERizons was atn amusing bus ride to St. Mares thematically organized anthology is October 1, 1985. For further tacked for its editorial stand on ith Susan de Rosa of she planning co information, please contact Greta choice on abortion and on lesbianism ommittee giving a more than credible Hofmann Nemiroff, The New School, by some local religious and anti-choic performance as tour guide - with adDawson College, 485 McGill St., choice groups led by their clown ittedly some good-natured prompting Montreal H2Y 2H4. prince Joe Borowski. rom the bus driver. It was also resolved to underThe comfortable atmosphere estabtake a joint promotion and marketished earlier by the warmth of our ing campaign to improve our base of reeting upon arrival at the offices 50,000 subscribers and our combined f Communiqu'elles (the organisers of annual budget of one and aha he conference) 'wasn't hurt by the annual budget of I-5 million dollars hoice of location, a lovely old inn Other resolutions were to broaden our he 160 year old Auberge Hadfield base among women of visible minorities ituated on the Richelieu river. The and to research the possibility of ccommodation consisted of private having a staff person for a national ooms in small houses scattered organization. hroughout the grounds of the Inn. The energy and enthusiasim generated his arrangement lent itself to late by the women at the conference along ight visiting and partying. with Eleanor Wochtel's quote that " The keynote speaker Greta Publishing feminist periodicals is ofmann Nemiroff, addressed the iman act of defiance against the dis-. ortance of women's writing. missal of the women's movement" surely Saturday's opening address was strengthened the determination of many iven by Eleanor Wachtel, editor of to carry on in the face of adversity OOM of ONE'S OWN (a literary journal and to be that act of defiance. ut of Vancouver) and author of FEMINT PRINT MEDIA. 1s. Wachtel stressed e need that we be more radical; rended us that we live in dangerous mes, that feminist publications are PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor e backbone,of the woman's movement, - �INTERVIEW 749,000 Canadian women purchased tranquillizers in 1979. A poor Third World woman sells her only chicken to get money to buy tonics and "growth hormones" (anabolic steroids) for her children. Unrelated statements? Not at all In fact, when you consider the underlying issues, there is much commonality of experience between Canadian and Third World women. Persuaded by elaborate promotion campaigns mounted by the drug industry that "there is a pill for every ill", people will spend their last rupee, or peso or dollar to buy the vitamin, the hormone, or the pain killer that will restore themselves or their children to health. Whether it is the "medicalization" of social problems (an increasing Canadian phenomena) or the "dumping" of drugs (banned in Canada) in developing countries, the role of the pharmaceutical industry and the role of the (male) medical system in women's lives and health requires careful scrutiny. SIDE EFFECTS, produced by the Great Canadian Theatre Company of Ottawa, and Women's Health Interaction uses popular theatre to examine these issues. Sponsored by Northern Women's Centre and Kam Theatre, SIDE EFFECTS played to a "packed house" in Thunder Bay earlier this summer. The appreciative audience not only were impressed by the important information provided by the play, but were delighted by the outstanding quality of the performance. It was impossible not to be touched by this exceptional play. The origins of SIDE EFFECTS are rooted in Inter Pares philosophical premise that "links" must be made between development issues in Canada and overseas. In 1982 Inter Pares (a Canadian non-governmental development organization) sponsored the visit of two Bangladesh women to Canada. As the Bangladesh visitors, Khushi Kabir and Shireen Hug, met with women's groups across Canada, including Thunder Bay, the concern about women's health and the issue of pharmaceuticals were frequently discussed. Thus, as a followup to Khushi and Shireen's visit, Inter Pares sponsored a workshop on Women and Pharmaceuticals, From this workshop the idea of the play was born, and Women's Health Interaction was initiated. (see WHI article). The "linking" process continued in 1984 when Margaret Phillips (Inter Pares Board Member and NWJ) and Mary Ann Haywood (Women's Health Interaction) travelled to Bangladesh to visit health and women's projects there. With the enthusiastic response that has greeted the cross-Canada tour of SIDE EFFECTS, we anticipate the growing "links" between Canadian women concerned with health issues, and the strengthening of "links" with women in developing countries. Kim Erickson spoke with SIDE EFFECTS actors Mary Burns and Mitzi Hauser about the evolution and the impact of the play. by KIM ERICKSON KIM: Thz project hca quite a tong hatoty to Lt and hay been shaped by zeveAat gtoups - Intet Panes, Women'4 Heath Interaction, GAeat Canadian Theatke Company. At what ztage did you both come in? MARY: Great Canadian Theatre Company (G.C.T.C.) got involved two years ago at a Conference in Aylmer, Que. about Women and Pharmaceuticals. Barbara (Lysnes) went to the conference, and it was there that they said it would be really good if we could have a play that went across the country, and taught people about the issues. So she came back from the conference and talked to G.C.T.C., and it was decided that they would take it on and do this play. She got Janet Irwin, who is the director of the play, and ultimately the writer as well, and they started doing research. I started joining them, and one day a week we'd meet and read, talk about ideas, and then meet once a month with the women from Women's Health Interaction (WHI) and Inter Pares, who were putting out this 'For Health or For Profit' kit at the same time. The first actual thing that happened in terms of putting the play up was a three week writing workshop last May. Mitzi came on for that. MITZI: Yes, and then they asked Cynthia Grant to co-direct the workshop with Janet, and basically what happened was that Janet took over the research. She'd come in every day with things- a various books, and Cynthia was the one who tried to put it all on its feet. She works with Nightwood Theatre in Toronto, and she'd done a lot of collaboration like this with women, so it was quite amazing how she got 21/2 hours of material in 3 weeks. She works very ecclectically, which is really good. I felt very willing to try anything new, to experiment, and to look into my background. I think everyone did. Besides being an actor, you are something else as well. Some people had music, some people had dance, some had various other things which they brought in. There were many, many different styles. But it was also a method of getting away from text, and making it a little more symbolic, instead of heavy, heavy dialogue all the time, teaching, teaching to death. You read these things, and then you want to get up and do a monologue about somebody's story, which doesn't make very good theatre. MARY: It was also an experiment to see what kind of a play it would be, because at this point no one really knew. KIM: So did you have to hone down ate that matetiat aliten the woldnhop? MARY: Janet did. She took it all and condensed it, and basically turned it into the play we're doing now. MITZI: We did another one in Novem ber. That was the conference of the Canadian Health Coalition. So for that November date, Janet had taken all the information that we had brought together and made a script of it. Basically it was four women's stories, interspersed with the drug company scenes. There were Third World scenes in that as well. KIM: Have there been changes since Novembee MARY: The structure is still the same. Most of the characters - all e women, thet,- -"TaPFIftfitit+Oter Granny, and the drug company people - are all the same. There are a couple of scenes that have been added, and there may have been something taken away. There's more music. Cathy (Miller) wrote one song for the November show, and then she wrote 3 or 4 more for this one. MITZI: Different people were used for the November workshop. Oh, the slides were added as well. KIM: The text mateulat that way used COMM di/tee-ay 6Aom women's expeAiences. MITZI: Yes, we had two taped testimonials from women, two drug addicts, Mary Ann and Giselle. The other -(character) is a composite of ,_the DES. There are two books written about DES, an American one and a Canadian one, so it's put together based on the books. MARY: The fourth character is Margaret, and she's a fictional character. She came up really in the first May workshop, and then she got developed a little. She is representative of the early 50's premenopausal or menopausal women whose children have left home and they don't know what to do -- that whole syndrome. KIM: So it's been quite an evotution. Thiz hca been an ate women's puject, even the technical peopte. I cmume that wca a covacioca decizion on the pant o6 the people pAoducing it. MARY AND MITZI: Yes. KIM: What's that Lae for you az actoAs to be .involved in something like that? NORTHERN WOMAN...page 12 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �MITZI: I was really amazed. I've been involved in these type of things before, but never all women. I was amazed to realize how much censorship I apply to myself when I'm in a group of male and female. And I couldn't believe it I thought, then I do, I tensor everything, every idea before I bring it up if there's a mixed group. With all women the censorship was just gone. And it was like, no matter what you say, it's fine, we'll accept it, you know, because we're all women. So even (if) you give stupid ideas or things that aren't really well thought out, somebody else will build on it and you'll just keep going. KIM: Fat me, that's Zike the pnocess you were taking about, the way that the ptay RVA constAucted, bAinging in all individual inputs, and what you don't use isn't useless. MARY AND MITZI: No, not at all MITZI: Because it's probably triggered somebody else. MARY: That's right. I think it's really neat that we're all women going across the country. And it's fun because a lot of people are surprised by that. We've come into some town where there'll be technicians at the theatre waiting to help us, and you can see their eyes widen when they see eight women jumping out of the truck, and putting our work gloves on. They sort of think that's funny, and then by the end of the night, they're impressed with how quickly we got the work done. And so that's very satisfying. But I really think that there's a sense, an attitude, just a relaxed quality about the tour that I can't lily give any concrete - but I'm-sure-that it's because we are all women. KIM: I'm tki.nkAAg just now of a pAoject .the 'The Ctub', which we both wothed on. There was a 4eeting oi rapport there, but because o4 other kinds of conttots, the kind o4 stAuctune you're wotking Ln, and just taking a paAt ... I think that's pAobab ty a teatty di44enent kind oi ptoject than thi4 one whete you've got input on all tevets. You may not be doing ate the jobs but you'te in touch with all the things that are going on. MITZI: The whole thing of having a KIM: The putpose of the play, inimmdirector is very hierarchical. He ing an audience, could be cat tied out has the final decision and that's in a couple .04 di44enent ways. Somethe way theatre's built up. Now to one could go on a speaking tout, on have a cooperative theatre company, .a video could be done. There ate all even though we all have our input, kinds o4 di44etent apptoaches that Jan was still the one that had to simitat content cowed be dealt with. have the final say. You can't have MITZI: The thing is, this is entera piece of work that doesn't have tainment as well. It's very funny, so somebody finally saying, this is the in fact, you're using a vehicle that way it's gonna be. is probably your best access to the MARY: You can, but it takes forever. audience. I mean, would you rather Sometimes it's just easier, you know, see a play, or go to a lecture? It's to have someone finally say, OK, obvious. I'd rather see a play, esthis is it. pecially if it's going to make me MITZI: The whole structure of thealaugh. And so we coat all the informtre is hierarchical. ation in humour, which is one of the bestways to reach people. KIM: Sometimes people's de4ense4 go they aren't allowed to up mote laugh at on with the situation. MITZI": Yes, it's true. The waiting room scene is one of the scenes that is the least didactic, and yet, people identify with it because everybody has sat in a waiting room and gone through the same things these women are going through waiting for the doctor, and trying to make conversation, and telling their whole story to strangers. I think people really enjoy that scene, and yet it' doesn't come up with a lot of new information, but it does bring you into (the scenario). MARY: A video would reach more people. That's an advantage it would have, and a lot of people have said, why don't you make a video? Maybe at some point that would be good, but I'm glad it's a play instead of a video because it is neat that we are going to communKIM: It must be intenesting to do ities that don't get to see that much th,bs kind o4 theatAe that's using the medium- to infroitm people about a ceAtain issue. It's really di44eAent 4Aom theatre that has sotety aAtistic at enteAtaining aims. MITZI: Well, it is more or less documentary, in that you follow several people through their lives. It's a build-up and adding, and adding, and adding, so you get a picture in the end of all the issues, as opposed to having a scenario played out in front of you that has a beggining, a middle, and an end. I think we give them the beginning and maybe the middle, but we don't give them the end. The audience has to make the end. MITZI: Yes. I mean, we have a technician and we defer the technical things to the technician. But there KIM: I6 the/Le a di44etence az OA is always things that happen, such as your peAsonae commitment to the as, map-reading. It seems to me that pAoject i4 you know that these ate whenever I'm in a mixed group it's issues that a44ect you peAsonatty, always the men that take over and and ate women, in some way? read the map. Now all of a sudden MARY: I think so. Because of the way you get a chance to actually read a the whole thing was set up, some of map and figure out where you are. us have been involved since the very You have a flat tire.. you get a beginning, so our input is there as chance to do the flat tire. It's in writers and directors, at least at our culture that the women will get some stage. I know I'm more involved the food and the men will look after in this show than in some other shows the car .. that type of stuff. And where I would be given just a script, it doesn't happen anymore because and this is the kind of theatre I pereverybody will do everything. sonally like to do the most. I find MARY: And it was a conscious effort, it really exciting because I think and there was a little bit of flak that it really does affect people. associated with that - you know, why are you going out of your way to look The difference I find is after the show when you talk to people, almost for women for this particular job? everyone will come up to you with a It's a difficult thing in a sense to story to tell - either about themjustify, but I think that theatre is selves or someone they know. It's so a funny thing. It's deceiving. You obvious that it affects everyone's tend to think that theatre is a very daily lives. So you feel that you've egalitarian place. But it isn't. It really connected with the audience. is male-dominated like almost any other field. theatre. MITZI: A smaller community has a difficult time making a video, because of the equipment, the expense. But if they see people making a play, if they see.... oh, these people got together and made a play.... ok, we've got an issue we want dealt with.... they could put a play together for themselves. Basically all you have to know is how to talk. With conviction. They could do the same for their own community. KIM: You've been seeing a 4aiA numbers o4 di44etent communities. You went out to the east coast and now you're heading to the west coast. 14 there a di44eAence in audienceteactionz in di44etent peaces? MITZI: I think in the larger centres you get.more people who already know the issues. Probably we're doing it in the university setting and there are groups that have already been organized around these issues. When we go into a smaller centre, often it's the first time these people have come across the issues. Also, what's more important than the play is the discussion that follows the play. I think there's a lot of information exchanged that informs people of what's going on in their area. con't. p 14 NORTHERN WOMAN page 1: PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �I Auppozefact, in playing you're di46etent the only person in your kindA o4 hats, too, youtte not jutst own best interest. What you put into ptaying in a theatte building of a know as much your body you'd better peace when .tome o4 as thepossible. people who about "Side Effects" shoutd be being teached that's the maybe theme.wouldn't When does the side think to go. effect become worse than the disease MITZI: That's itself? the problem with that playNot much you can put ining in the universities, The effect, as to your bodyyou hassee. no side people you want go to fartoasreach drugsdon't are concerned. Then auniversity halls. go into to the gain,They we're thecom-' whole business munity centres. of That's making where money.the Is init better to put formation is exchanged, and that's something on the market and make mowhere their friends ney, orare. do we test it for longer? MARY: It is a What's bit of the a problem, un-of dangerous percentage fortunately. Almost we go, can we allow cases -everywhere what percentage you do have the tothis be playandtendency still let drug go on the ing to the people who are aware of market? 5%, 1%, 2%? Profit and loss, the issues already. And I think that that's basically what it is. We're is a hard thing to avoid. But I think caught in the middle. And the whole it's good to business reinforceofthe whovs the brand thepeople generic 'preaching are - I mean,name the drugs, saying which is so topical now, to the converted' well, I think all these things has suddenly brought the convertedup. need the reinforcement - they need the push. MARY: It's really a new concept to a Ls a timely lot of people, too. When you first uAe it seems -to get hit with it, it's almost shocking tot mote questionto suddenly realize (that the) phart now - otdinaty maceutical industry is an industry t - o4 authotity, just like anything else. It's a multipeople in paw. national corporation. Of course they n the KeB spit are thinking of money first: , 4ot exampte, peoKIM: You think that thete'A a ttuAt t. Atzo, with the with the peopte cleating with your , peopte atequeAtheatth, and i4 the huust gets btoken, e doing. Ate them well, what does that mean? Who's godemand 4ot bet-et ing to take cate o4 me? KIM: s because they have first with Thaliith DES, that everyy the pharmaceutiit's going to be. t safe. They say d, they say they're results, looking-. , these things come at you've got to f. You think that pharmacists are nterest, but in MARY: Yeah, it's a scary thing. And the Third World scenes that we depict in the play and the issues that we bring up about drug dumping and that kind of thing - there've been people who have made comments like 'Well, if that's true...' and you say, 'No, no it is.' And they say, 'Well, if that's really true...' - they just can't quite believe it KIM: Welt, 'some o- the Atoitie4 ate ptetty shocking. MITZI: They are. That is the word when I first read about those things. We saw a few videos on the pharmaceutical industry, especially as it relates to the Third World. It was amazing: We have evaluations that go out with (the play) to ask, did you know about this information before? was there anything that was new to you? and basically what people don't know about is the Third World information. Sd if all we're doing is educating them as far as what happens there, then that's good if they know everything else that we have to give them and we're just reminding them of those facts. MARY: That's one of the major aims of Women's Health Interaction, too. They are very concerned about linking the Third World women with North American women - even in terms of just recognizing what's going on with them, just recognizing what we have in common. KIM: And then people can decide what action to take ,6ADM theme once they ate aware. MITZI: Yeah, we don't give any answers because we don't know the answers. Nobody really knows the answers except the fact that you've got to start working at getting some answers. Sa, it's up to each community what they- can do. It's up to the person that's watching work - where can I actually stand u and be counted? V' CV V oNc, HEALTH INTERACTION Interaction (WHI) work of women's, ment groups in Canprovide a platform out on health conms to link local health issues pment of educationanges, and network- f a Workshop on uticals held in onsored by Inter agency which supvelopment projects seas. ating network, ties to any one ather encourages wide range of inps. At present, around which partis women and phare across the counformation and acheme, including rs, consumers and olved in the net- work are community and international development groups, addiction centres, women's organizations, educators and students. WHI examines why women reach out for drugs, why they are prescribed certain drugs, what their real health concerns are, and how their needs could be better met. WHI looks at the social, cultural, economic and political factors which affect women's health. We study the role of pharmaceutical companies and the medical system and their impact on women's lives, both at home and abroad (drug dumping in the Third World eg). The overall objective of WHI is to contribute to the creation of a national women's health network which would raise the profile of women's health issues in Canada and provide women with a platform to voice their concerns. WHI cooperates on the international level with Health Action International, which is working towards the adoption of a code of con_ duct on pharmaceutical marketing practices by the World Health Organization. WHI exchanges information and resources as well as people with Third World women's health and development groups. In 1984, WHI produced an information kit on the pharmaceutical industry in Canada and the Third World entitled "For Health or For Profit". Recently, WHI has produced an Organizers Manual on women and pharmaceuticals which will be useful to women's and international develop ment groups addressing health issues. WHI is also beginning to take up the issue of population control/ family planning, with a view to establishing feminist guidelines appropriate to industrialised and Third World countries. For more information about Women's Health Interaction contact them in care of Inter Pares, 58 ArthuT St., Ottawa, Ontario. In Thunder Bay, contact Northern Women's Centre, phone 345-7802. e 14 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �?-0 SOLVICg IN THE SCHOOLS Books 00,2 Feminist Aleiert6 flpuivadha. !!!Lb NORTHERN WOMAN'S BOOKSTORE 69 N. COURT ST. THUNDER BAY, P7A 4T7 BitartaFzgyam, lit LW 344-7979 W444tha/ cg:ance4 ir-%04. , a/ /4 Mata 011°. J4fe;d4-teiern aidei ./11 - /30 f7, Fiction Poetry Theory Health gptrituality Peace Sci- Fiction Third World fk 00Sieali/J on Thursday, Fri day 11.30 Saturday ********* WOMANSPACE * 6..0" 11.30 - 4.30 #41.4141-**11* ADVOCATE S I am interested in Thunder Bay Advocates for Quality Child Care Ake., FIRST NEDNESDAY OF EVERY MONTH 4,- ma ion Name Address 69N. COURT STREET \\ PH. 345-7802 Clip and mail to: Thunder Bay Advocates for Quality Child Care Box 144, Thunder Bay P7C 4V5 **********11*******####******** JUST RELEASED PREEDOM OP CHOICE THE RESISTING 4' new poems CANADIAN ABORTION maws ACTION Lwow (CABAL) actla %eC NINIOCIATION CANADIII3INIS POOH LX MOTT A L'AVOATIMANT I awsiAl The Purpose of CARAL Is to ensure that no woman In Canada is denied access to safe, legal abortion. Our aim is the repeal of all sections of the Criminal Codce dealing with abortion -and the establishment of comprehensive contraceptive and abortion services, including appropriate counselling across the country. "We regard the right to safe, legal abortion as a fundamental human right." I support the statement of purpose of CARAL and wish to become a Rarnw Address: to1 Postal Cods: OccupationName of Federal Riding- Available @ $6.50 each flout NORTHERN WOMAN'S BOOKSTORE., 69 N. Court St. Individual Member Limited income .43.00 Family Sustaining Donation $10.00 $15.00 $25.00 5- RETURN TO: CARAL, Box 3134, Thunder Bay,Ont. P7B 5G6 NORTHERN WOMAN page PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Thunder Bay District The Confederation College of Applied Arts & Technology '85 EQUAL OPPORTUNITY PROGRAMS FALL "NEW**BUSINESS DIVISION-EQUAL OPPORTUNITY MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATE PROGRAM (Post-Basic) at present offered part-time (evenings) through the Continuing Education Division. This one-year certificate program to begin full-time September 1985 is divided into two parts. One semester-September to December-in the College; second semester-January to April-in a field Field placements and job opportunities will not necessarily be in the placement environment. Thunder Bay region. Subjects in EOM program may be taken during the day or as offered during the evening. For further information, contact the Director of Equal Opportunity Programs (807) 475-6278. GENERAL ARTS AND SCIENCE DIPLOMA PROGRAM emphasizing Women's Programs Curriculae may be taken full-time during the day or part-time (evenings) through Continuing Education Division. For further information, contact the Program Co-ordinator (807) 475-6390. CAREER PLANNING FOR WOMEN is an 8-week program to assist women entering or re-entering the labour force to understand present employment conditions, to select realistic career goals and to enter appropriate employment or begin suitable training. Start date -- September 9th, 1985. INTRODUCTION TO NON-TRADITIONAL OCCUPATIONS (1.N.T.o.) is an 8-week program that helps women to explore opportunities for employment in non-traditional jobs. Students study job search Work placement gives women real job experience. skills, goal setting and plot a career path. Tentative start date -- February 3rd, 1986. to all aspects of practical trades training and the world of Hi-Tech. WOMEN INTO TRADES & TECHNOLOGY (w.I.T.T.) is an 18-week program designed to expose women Start Date -- September 16th, 1985. E. I .0 . For further information on CAREER PLANNING FOR WOMEN, I.N.T.O. or W.I.T.T., contact the Chair of Industrial & Motive Power (807) 475-6215, or a Counsellor, C BASIC TRAINING IN SKILLS DEVELOPMENT (B.T.s.D.) Academic Upgrading Grades 8-12; English as a Second Language. For further information contact the Chair of Communication Arts (807) 475-6210; or your local Canada Employment & Immigration office; or the Women's Employment Centre, 130 S. Syndicate Avenue, Thunder Bay, ON P7E 1C7 (807) 623-2731. PROGRAMS PROGRAM REGISTRATION INFORMATION: Registration for ALL subjects begins August 6th (5-7:30pm) and commencing August 7th from 9am-7:30pm every weekday except Fridays from 9am-4pm, in the Registrar's Office, Shuniah Bldg. FEE: : the community. Assertion is not to be confused with aggression. Assertion takes into account the rights and feelings of others. DATE/TIME Thursdays 7:00-10:00 p.m. START DATE: September 12, 1985 COMPLETION: November 14, 1985 INSTRUCTOR: Ivy Cook ROOM: $30.00 260, Shuniah Bldg. GS 026 99 ASSERTIVENESS TRAINING (FOR WOMEN) This elective post-secondary credit subject will provide the student with the skills necessary to negotiate honestly for the things she wants--on the job, at home, in HYMERS' Fall Fair: September 1st and 2nd at the College Booth. *NEW*MAIL-IN Registrations: deadline August 30th. To receive a registration form, call the Community Programs Office (Continuing Education Division) (807) 475-6116. Northwestern Ontario Residents may call Toll Free: 1-800-465-6961. : GS 010 99 PERSONAL FINANCIAL PLANNING (FOR WOMEN) This elective post-secondary credit subject will give women practical instruction in personal economics, handling money and managing one's financial affairs. Topics covered include budgeting, banking, investing, credit, housing, car ownership, insurance, and other topics which students may be interested in. Tuesdays 7:00-10:00 p.m. September 10, 1985 December 17, 1985 Lauretta Johnson ROOM: 344, Shuniah Bldg $45.00 DATE/TIME START DATE: COMPLETION: INSTRUCTOR: FEE: WOMEN IN MANAGEMENT This elective post-secondary credit subject will deal primarily with the roles of women in management and the particular skills needed by women to effectively fulfill managerial functions under the constraints which are from themselves, as well as those imposed by the : organizations. DATE/TIME Mondays 7:00-10:00 p.m. START DATE: September 9, 1985 COMPLETION: December 23, 1985 INSTRUCTOR: Betty Chalmers ROOM: $45.00 265, Shuniah Bldg. FEE: GS 143 99 : WOMEN & STRESS MANAGEMENT This elective post-secondary credit subject is intended to examine situational stress in our lives, family, job, social relationships, in conflict, change, developmental crises, etc and the potential sources of stress they bring to every situation because of their personality, their own belief system, their life rhythms and their problem-solving. A lifestyle and attitude approach to changing their stress response will be developed by each individual. Wednesdays 7:00-10:00 p.m. October 2, 1985 December 4, 1985 Bert Hopkins ROOM: 260, Shuniah Bldg. $30.00 DATE/TIME START DATE: COMPLETION: INSTRUCTOR: FEE: GS 144 99 WOMEN & INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT - I This elective post-secondary credit subject will expand awareness of the role of women in development (economic, social, cultural and political) by: --exploring activities, concerns and issues regarding WOMEN AND DEVELOPMENT in the Third World, and --examining links between development issues affecting Third World and : Canadian women DATE/TIME Wednesdays 7:00-10:00 p.m. START DATE: September 11, 1985 COMPLETION: November 13, 1985 INSTRUCTOR: Margaret Phillips ROOM: $30.00 258, Shuniah Bldg. FEE: : WT 843 99 Motor Vehicle (WOMEN KNOW YOUR CAR) In this elective post-secondary credit subject women will learn the basic procedures of car maintenance and general operations. DATE/TIME Mondays 7:00-10:00 p.m . START DATE: September 23, 1985 COMPLETION: November 4, 1985 INSTRUCTOR: Al Bonazzo $18.00 ROOM: 149, Auto Shop, Dorion Bldg. FEE: : ZB 293 99 FIRST STEP--COMPUTER PROGRAMMING FOR WOMEN An introductory course in computer fundamentals designed to give women an understanding of the capabilities and terminology associated with comUpon completion, students will be capable puters. of designing some of their own "BASIC" programs such as budget or mortgage payment calculations. Students will have hands-on computer experience. Tuesdays 7:00-10:00 p.m. September 24, 1985 November 26, 1985 Anna Melville ROOM: 379, Shuniah Bldg. DATE/TIME START DATE: COMPLETION: INSTRUCTOR: $30.00 FEE: : PORNOGRAPHY AS A SOCIAL PROBLEM This subject will critically analyze the subject of pornography as a social problem from a feminist perspective, which takes into account the power structures of this This controversial topic will look society. at issues such as: Does pornography promote violence toward women? Should there be censorship and if so should the state be a vehicle to promote it? Does the present laws on censorship protect women from the effects of pornography? Will the changes in the Constitution better protect women against the effects of pornography under the 'Human Rights Option'? These and many more questions will be examined and discussed. DATE/TIME Wednesdays 7:00-10:00 p.m. START DATE: September 25, 1985 COMPLETION: November 27, 1985 INSTRUCTOR: Janis Aylwood ROOM: $45.00 327, Shuniah Bldg. FEE: : ZW 046 99 TIME MANAGEMENT STRATEGY FOR THE DUAL CAREER WOMAN The purpose of this subject is to assist women in applying the management principles of assessment, decision-making, planning, organizing, implementing and evaluation to their life situations in order to achieve a rewarding balance between personal activities and professional responsibilities. DATE/TIME Tuesdays 7:00-10:00 p.m. START DATE: September 24, 1985 COMPLETION: November 26, 1985 INSTRUCTOR: Ivy Cook ROOM: $45.00 260, Shuniah Bldg. FEE: : ZW 047 99 THE TRAVELLING WOMAN This subject is designed to help today's woman plan her business or pleasure trip effectively. Topics include passport, visa and health requirements, the "do's" and "don'ts" of travelling alone, planning and packing a business/pleasure wardrobe, travel insurance, coping with customs, popular travel destinations, best buys, tips on better travel photography and travelling with special needs. Consideration will also be given to individual needs and interests. DATE/TIME Thursdays 7:30-9:30 p.m. START DATE: September 26, 1985 COMPLETION: November 28, 1985 INSTRUCTOR: Iva Wright ROOM: $30.00 327, Shuniah Bldg. FEE: ZW 048 99 HOW TO WRITE THE PROPOSAL TO GET THE GRANT : The preparation of proposals to obtain grants for needed community services is a skill. This subject will assist you to understand the expectations of funders and will give you practice in preparing proposals to your greatest advantage. This subject will be of interest to representatives of community organizations, women's groups and voluntary associations. DATE/TIME Mondays 7:00-10:30 p.m. START DATE: September 23, 1985 COMPLETION: October 7, 1985 INSTRUCTOR: Margaret Phillips ROOM: $20.00 327, Shuniah Bldg. FEE: EQUAL OPPORTUNITY PROGRAMS WELCOMES YOUR SUGGESTIONS, CALL (807) 475-6232. PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Second Class Mil Registration No. INSIDE THIS ISSUE: p2 YOUR VOICE p3 KRESGE'S STRIKE p4 UPDATE p6 BOOKS p7 DAY CARE pll FEMINIST PRESS p12 INTERVIEW p.15 CHECK THESE ADS 5697 Don't forget to renew your1 subscription! Here's my sub: Name Address (postal code) individual $ 5institutional $10 ************************************* IS THERE AN ASTERISK ON YOUR LABEL?? PLEASE RENEW YOUR SUBSCRIPTION ************************************* WORKERS THIS ISSUE: RETURN 'ID: THE NORTHERN WOMAN 69 N. COURT ST. THUNDER BAY, ONTARIO P7A 4T7 Elaine Goodwin, Noreen Lavoie, Anna McColl, Karen Maki, Margaret Phillips,' Donna Phoenix, Sara Williamson, Kathryn Brule Return.Postage Guaranteed Northern ligoman Journal 69 N. Court St., Thunder Bay, Ontario P7A 4T7 (Six Issues) -$5.00 $10.00 Businese or Institution PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Northern Woman Journal Description An account of the resource Northern Woman Journal Published in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Northern Woman Journal (originally called Northern Woman) started in 1973 following the first annual Northern Women’s Conference in order to keep the conference attendees connected. Initially serving as a newsletter of events, local issues, and women’s resources, the Northern Woman Journal quickly became a diverse publication reaching national and international readers. Not only did it serve as a newsletter to keep local women up to date on feminist issues in Northwestern Ontario, but also as a safe space to discuss women’s resources, law, politics, economics, health, racism, sexism, homophobia, feminist organizing and activism, transnational feminist issues, poetry, feminist reading, feminist art, and women’s diverse lived experiences.One of the longest-running feminist perodicals in North America, the Northern Woman Journal reached its end in 1995. Throughout its 22 years, the Northern Woman Journal was produced by its many collective members, with membership evolving year to year. For many years, the journal worked closely alongside and shared space with the Northern Women’s Centre and the Northern Women’s Bookstore. With the exception of a year-long government grant in the 1970s, the journal relied entirely on subscription fees and donations in order to maintain publishing, which presented challenges throughout its entire existence. As stated in an early version of the editorial policy, “only by a free and open exchange of views and opinions will we develop a basis for unity which can be used as a basis for action.” Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Northern Woman Journal, Vol 9 No 2 Description An account of the resource Vol. 9, No. 2 (August 1985) Title: Northern Woman Journal Topics include: Northern women Immigrant Women’s Employment Place opening in Thunder Bay Women’s Centre opening on Lakehead campus Feminist counselling workshop Ear Falls Mother’s Action Committee Lesbian Archives and Resource Centre, Kenora Canadian Women’s Festival Farm Women’s Conference Women’s health in Northwestern Ontario Employment equity Decade of Women in Nairobi International Feminist Network Against Sexual Slavery Abortion access & legislation Feminist book list Domestic Abuse Intervention Program Northwestern Ontario Women’s Health Education Project Daycare access Daycare crisis Coalition for Better Daycare Daycare funding Daycare advocacy Feminist Periodicals Conference, Marc-Sur-Richlieu Women & pharmaceuticals Women's Health Interaction network Confederation College programs for women Authors/Contributors: Joan Baril Margaret Phillips Ann-Ida Beck Anna McColl Kim Erickson Elaine Goodwin Noreen Lavoie Karen Maki Donna Phoenix Sara Williamson Kathryn Brule Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Northern Woman Journal Collective Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1985-08 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Published on this site with permission. Language A language of the resource English https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/16/2789/1985_Vol_9_No_3.pdf 835da6316a966745742f85ff98a4e449 PDF Text Text PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �itoria ./.1" / /' Earlier this year many of us had the privilege of seeing the play SIDE EFFECTS. This exceptional play moved each of us, raising our awareness of the health issues we as Canadian wom en face, and linking us with the health concerns of our sisters throughout the world. SIDE EFFECTS shocked, angered and frustrated us about the lack of control we have over our own health, and our past inability to change this. But SIDE EFFECTS motivated us as well - many of us left with the feeling that we can and must take control of our destiny. Right now we have the opportunity to put this feeling into action! A crisis for Canadian women's health must be avoided. The issue is DEPO PROVERA. Until now we have only had a somewhat abstract concern as we have deplored the dumping of this injectible contraceptive on to Third World women. Now the problem affects us intimately. DEPO PROVERA is being considered as a contraceptive for use in Canada. An 'expert' committee has recommended the approval of DEPO PROVERA. The Committee, officially known as the Advisory Committee on Female Reproductive Physiology (and. chaired by Dr. Jack Walter) states that the drug is 'la highly effective contraceptive ... with fewer known risks of adverse side effects than other highly effective methods of contraception". Wv. agree the dr-dg is an effective contraceptive. What is at issue is the safety of the drug..Known side effects of Depo ProVera include nausea, headaches, depression, weight gain, excessive bleeding, continuous bleeding or total cessation of menstruation. Tests have linked the use of this drug to cancer. The safety of Deno Provera has not beep proven. /4! tAwmoseAvaiwahsavzo./..a.:,, ,///// // / . / / / / /0/ , , " / //////1// I/ ..111110 / ,/.///////,///.//, /-//////,'' /, / /4/./ /1/, / / // .1/. /./////o /,.// K, 4 / , / //// /. ./ safety has not been proven. You c Two factors seem to be in play in also circulate a petition (availa this recent push to approve Depo (1) the drug manufacturers lobby,and at Women's Centre). If you want m (2) the insensitivity of male medical information write Canadian Coalit on Depo Provera c/o Healthsharing authorities to women's health needs. In a recent Globe and Mail article 101 Niagara St. Ste 200A, Toronto Ont. M5V 1C3 or Women's Health In Dr. Ian Henderson (director of the human prescription drug branch of action, 58 Arthur St. Ottawa. Health and Welfare Canada) made some Canadian women cannot afford a 'interesting' comments. Declaring other DES story: Now is the time that the drug is both "safe and efact to stop the approval of DEPO Canada. fective" Henderson suggested that the drugs ability to prevent menstruation is beneficial and said "Our job at Health and Welfare after Depo is approved will be to educate women that the fact they have stopped menstruating is a natural side effect of this drug and that it is not unhealthy for their genitals to be in a dormant state. Their genitals will be just You may be getting weary of re, like they were when they were 9 or ing of the Northern Woman's finani 10 years old". plight. However, it is a problem we need to reports) solve. Right now Meanwhile (thehelp Globe a spokesmanthe forfirst the drug time manufacturer, in many years the I Upjohn, is is optomistic in a deficit theposition. drug willWe have be approved in Canada standing debts. The quicklycore and group of without the opposition workers have maintained the energy that occured in the United "Down there" write,States. type, paste-up, design, di he said "as soon bute - essentially get about the damn pz as complaints out. But we don't have the energy approval started coming in to senators and congressmen, they Does fund raise. anyone had to openout up there haveHere, solutions solution: the process. it is(concrete really just that is us - not forand us to imp] a matter between and ideas Health Welfare". ment). Effective issue must the cost c The approval of Depothis Provera thea Journal is increased not be just matter between Upjohnto $1.50 and Healthper andsingle Welfare. copy. Subscriptions wil It is an isnow be $5 for 4 issues_ , -$110 sue of the most vital importance to inE to tut ionsIn resnonSe'to this Canadian women. increased to $125 crisis thealso CANADIAN COALITION ON full page, $75 has halfbeen page, $45 quarter DEPO PROVERA formed to en- page. (Poverty mayheard negotiate.) Cc sure women's voicesgroups will be on these prices are low this issueparatively that affects our health andour children. value is good: and that of we've stressed before, the n Each of usAscan help. Write/teleeffective way to ensure of financial gram the Hon. Jake Epp, Minister is to triple our subs. A st Health.andbility Welfare, House of Commons, Ottawa, K1A 0A6 (copy scription to to theyour Northern Woman we MP) be aapproval great gift to give. Please cc opposing the of.Depo Provera as a contraceptive sider it. in Canada as its rwi CRISIS your OICE Dear Northern Women: I can't think of a better forum for a sentimental farewell to my struggling sisters in the north, than the pages of this journal. There is no question of the part it has played in my life and the knowledge I have gained from those who have given time and energy beyond what they could afford to expend to keep it alive. There is a time for every thing and I feel the timing is right for the move to a kinder climate in my own interests. I do it with mixed feelings, knowing I leave a support system that has never failed me... However change is a part of my nature and the feminist ideology is everywhere so I have no fears that I shall be recognized as a fellow traveller. I leave the Resisting Spirit as a token of my love and concern for those struggling We wantwith morepersonal than menrelahave settle tionships. for, Thereheare few of usa who is as much slave to the have been able to as sayweall they system are, he wanted has already to on the subject so I have tried to sold out to it for his privleged say it for position you, dependance is the as a male to abuse his issue for everywoman power. Fromand hiseverything closest relationthat interferes with an opportunity ships to the pinnacle of his ambi to exercisetions an independant choice, power is both his. goal and made in good not accephisconscience undoing . is Nowhere is this MO] table. Theapparent im portance of the than in thesupport pervasive id women have been able to give each logy of militarism, superceding a other as the forces of fundamental other ideologies on the planet to dominance religion and patriarchal day, a direct consenuence of his pressure us back into the fold that ingrained desire to dominate not further supports a role we find does only his fellowmen but thought ii not appeal to our intelligence or self. He cannot do this without t nourish our spirit is crucial. Each support of women, caught up in hi of us in our own way fight this perdogma divided against each other, sonal battle changing the circumdenying her own intelligence, sel stances that deny the respect that out her own person for his approi is our right as a person. But, toOne has only to listen to a city gether we struggle against the outcil meeting to realize the level side forces that gives our oppreshis competence to handle power wi sion legitamcy. We are not lacking any degree of human intelligence. in courage here in the north. Our we have something to bring to the voices are more clear than strident, cess is undeniable. That it will we are learning the language of polhappen without a more enlightened itical reality, but we must never forget that language is alien to us. on pg. cont'd PDF compression, web2 optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor NORTHERN OCR, WOMAN page �1UPdate by JOAN BARIL o On November 30, francophone women from Geraldton, Longlac, and Nakina met to found a new organization "Les "Elles" du Nord". The chair is Raymonde Mercier and the executive is made up of women from the three Stand by for announcement communities. They have completed an soon from the Decade Council about action research, hiring a woman to Heather Bishop appearing here in March meet with local women in their homes in connection with International Womto outline the priorities of francoen's Day and the end of their decade. phone women in their communities. They are also looking at a spring conoleo Kam Theatre's play "Stars in the Sky Morning" returned to Thunder ference for francophone women in the Bay this fall. It is a moving theatri- north goo cal experience, a braid of women's voow, At last Kenora is to have a ices weaving together stories of womrefuge for battered women. This is en's lives in Newfoundland. An allthe culmination of ten long years of women production, the play was writpersistent and at times discouraging ten by lhonda Payne, Jan Henderson work by Women's Place, Kenora. Organand Jane Dingle; directed by Maureen izations and individuals around the McKeon; designed by Deborah Ratelle; province who have kept in touch with the Kenora situation know that if theacted by Suzanne Turnbull and Lennie re ever should be an Academy Award for Albanese. The production was held together by the wonderful original music courage and perseverance, it should go to Kenora's Women's Place. Unforwritten and played by local musician tunately the shelter will be called a Joyce Michalchuk. This winter Kam is "amily Resource Centre", a name so also offering "The Fighting Days" bamemingless it could only have been sed on Canadian suffragist experience and "Checking Out", the story of a wo- cor-Aled by a computer picking words man in small town Alberta who tries to at random from an old William Davis speech. It is going to take a lot of make a break for the big city (Deo P.R. to convince local women and Naoe Lakehead University Women's Centre is planning a series of activi- tive women from nearby communities, ties including speakers on Treminism that when they are in distress, they and His*ory of Women's Movement in can find refuge at a "Resource CenNorthwestern Ontario, a-newsletter for tre". This is the sort of language students both on and off campus and a that renders women and women's needs workshop to encourage more women to invisible. get involved in campus elections oo Moreover, Kenora Town Council Heartiest congratulations to Dusty Miller for her election win to Thunder Bay's new Council and to Betty Kennedy for retaining her chair by acclamation foe ** 11" 14KSais. or was it yellow as a preview to the recent municipal elections. The Women's Information Group there researched local social issues and put out a "shocking pink paper" (on yellow paper) on their findings. They outlined the situations in day care, housing, affirmative action and other areas and used the information to address the candi- dates e eel, The action research done by Project Mayday, women of the North Shore (see article by Carol Quesnelle) is now available. The post-conference follow-up is now taking place with a worker who will be meeting with women's groups in Terrace Bay, Marathon, Manitouwadge, Schreiber to help them develop their follow-up plans from the North Shore conference see woo Research done by Project Mayday used the assistance of the Women's Research Centre, #301 - 2515 Burrard St., Vancouver, V6J 3J6. Their papers, including 'Women's Perspective in Research' and 'How to Study Your Own Community' both by Dr. Helga Jacobson, are available at reasonable cost. In 'Feminist Action, Institutional Reaction' Jan Barnsley descri- bes how the state grabs hold of a woman's issue, defines it, gobbles it up and spits it out as part of the sta- tus quo eo turned down tke,,apkileation_ t,___ R_ Place to run the hostel. Their submission was excellent but the Kenora councillors chose the Presbyterian Church to manage the shelter. Again, women's work negated and made invisible 'pee oo The Pro-family movement. Are They For or Against Families? This is the title of a paper by Margaret Eichler and available at OISE (Ontario Institute for Studies in Education), Bloor St. Toronto. Eichler contrasts the positions of NAC (National Action Committee on the Status of Women) and R.E.A.L. women, a selflabelled "pro-family" organization. Women should note well that if you have ever expressed support for divorce, day care, contraception, abortion, sex education in the schools or full social, economic and political equality of women, you are now labelled "anti-family" by many exceedingly wealthy and influential organizations. oo Conferences will bloom with the flowers in Northwestern Ontario this coming spring. There will be a Northern Women's Conference in Sudbury. In Thunder Bay there will be a conference for women who own businesses or women who are looking into'starting a business. The conference, called Business Ownership for Women will be held March 7,8 & 9. It's goal is to assist women to find resources and information and, organizers hope, develop an organization of women business owners. Prior to the conference a series of evening information sessions called 'Adventures in Enterprise' will be held in ten small communities throughout the region. These workshops will give interested women an insight into help available for women entrepreneurs or potential entrepreneurs. from RFR For information call conference coordinator Susan Lappacher at Confederation College, extension 400. (Out of towners call toll-free 1-800-476-6110 extension 400). The college is also hosting a conference on affirmative action which is open to trustees and senior administrators in education. oo A Young Women's Conference will be held April 25 and 26 at the Valhalla Inn, Thunder Bay for youth between the ages of 15 and 24. (These are the age criteria given for the United Nations International Youth Year.) The workshop will look at issues affecting young women and discuss the skills which would help young women deal with the issues. This is a conference for and about youth and as far as possible all the resource People and workshop people will be in the 15-24 age range. For more information call conference co-ordinator Lorri Yasenik at Decade Council 3453606. This local conference will not duplicate the format of another cono inn lei held this year ,and soun y'c of the participants were young people. oo Do your part. Send Brian Mulroney a New Year's card asking the government to support funding for organizations which work to advance the status of women. The virulent right wingers have mounted a high profile campaign to cut money to "anti -family" orgarlizations. HERizons maganine, An for one, has experienced problems. article from''Campaign Life News' (August 1985) states that the Department of Secretary of State has "spent Millions in taxpayers' money ... to set up a chain of pro-abortion, antifamily organizations" and what is more this money is given to groups which "seek change in the social institutions of our country". (t) What sort of women's activities would Campaign Life prefer to sponsor, you ask? In the final analysis none. After putting in a half-hearted plug for REAL women, the article sweeps them aside as well, by saying "The real question is whether the government should, especially in times of financial restraint, be funding any women's lobby groups.... let alone these minority of minorities". (Women as minority?) "Why should women be singled out for this largesse when then: are more important areas which could well use these funds?" The article does not state which areas are so important they receive all govern lent grants and women get none. Nevertheless these sort of articles and letters have galvanized an active anti-woman lobby o continued on page 13 NORTHERN WOMAN page 3 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �MAYDAY in the community. NORTH SHORE WOMEN'S RESEARCH Thene waz a vL -Lon. "Women activag involved in thea communities" . A small group of women from the North Shore communities met in different towns seeking to involve women in defining the needs of their communities as they relate to women and finding ways of meeting these needs. They gathered together, showed films, had discussions. Networking with Thunder Bay brought more information and support. The issue of family violence emerged in those discussions. Lack of facilities and support for the victims became a concern. In 1982 a district board called Mayday was formed. A report on physical violence was completed in 1983 which resulted in the formation of the Intermunicipal Committee on Family Violence to lobby for, a North Shore Transition House. This is still ongoing. Plans were made in 1984 to further involve Mayday in the community through seeking funding from Secretary of State to initiate a research project involving women in an analysis of their experiences of single industry,town living. Another journey had begun when Karen Weeks- Kusins from Manitouwadge, Judy VandenEnde, Marathon, Pam McKeever, Schreiber and myself Carol Lepine-Quesnelle, Terrace Bay, were hired to conduct this research project and provide an analysis for each of our communities. On a cold night in November Diana Ellis, representing the B.C. Women's Research Centre, came to Terrace Bay to help the researchers and Board Members plan the project. At the end of the weekend we had defined our purpose, listed our goals and objectives, set up strategies and tasks to meet them. Developing a Pert Chart which listed our goals and what we hoped to accomplish in a certain period of time was an exciting venture. We were amazed at Diana's endless wisdom and energy. As I reflect on this first workshop I recall seeing how different we were - through life experiences, educational backgrounds, ages, incomes and occupations. "How are we ever going to work together?" I wondered. Diana's skills at facilitating showed us our value as women. It was this commonality that enabled us to accomplish our work. With excitement, energy and feeling a little overwhelmed with our work load we, the Project Workers, went back to our communities. An interview guide had been developed. We planned to practice on our. close friends. There was lots of reading material des cribing Participatory Research, interview techniques, confidentiality and public relations to be read. We were to develop a community profile describing our town and the services available. Reading all the information I could find about Terrace Bay gave me a better understanding of my community. "Why was the town built? ,Why are we here?" became interesting questions to ask others. My learning experience had begun. NORTHERN WOMAN page 4 Before we began our interviews we met with Cathie Smith and Margaret Buffington. They would co-facilitate the workshops where we would share, evaluate our progress and plan our next step. These get togethers became the cement and elasticity of the whole project. It was here that we were held together. It was here we were able to Change our direction completely when we recognized the need to. Our meetings began with "checking in". We shared our feelings, joys and struggles. Being homemakers with responsibilities in the home made our work out of the home difficult at times. Day care was a problem for some, as was finding time to do all the work we had done before we started this new job. Sometimes we were able to convince our families to help with child care, cooking, cleaning and shopping. Other times we did the work ourselves or let it go undone. We learned to set priorities. Sharing our frustratins seemed to make it easier. Someone listened. Someone understood. Our biggest joy was doing the work we enjoyed and being paid for it: These workshops also provided a place to learn new skills and receive new energy. Back to our communities we went to begin our interviews. Participatory Research was the method of gathering information that we decided to use, which simply means the researcher is a participant in the community she is studying. Our aim was to present for others the understanding of situations women had seen, heard or acted in. Thirty women between the ages of 18 to 70 were interviewed in each community. We involved women who were single, married, with or without children, working out of and/or in the home. Some were retired, widowed or divorced. Their incomes came from a broad spectrum of occupations, some had high family incomes, others variable or limited. Newcomers, longtimers, women of different nationalities living in different neighbourhoods were interviewed. Through January and February the researchers set up interviews and provided the women chosen with free time to participate, either through arranging child care or visiting women in their homes at convenient times. Researchers in each community followed one interview guide, by CAROL LEPINE-QUESNELLE Because interviews were confidential women felt free to honestly analyze their feelings about living in their town. Interviews were lengthy lasting one to three hours. Quickly writing down everything the respondent said about the specific topics during the interview, rewriting, clipping and filing this information the same day was time consuming but proved to be worth while when we reached the analyzing stage. Example - Employment' File: Because this file contained everything women said about employment the researcher was able to see the trends and their frequency. Therefore Karen Kusins was able to state in her report from Manitouwadge "Approximately one-third of the women interviewed work full or part time. One-third of the respondents would like to work but lack employment opportunities and/ or day care. The remaining one-third of the respondents' husbands did ot want them to work." -By the end of February we had each gathered information from 30 women on numerous topics. Our files were full. "How are we going to break this down?" I wondered. Cathie and Margaret answered my question by facilitating another workshop. We learned to work with raw data and analyze our material. It was also time to pull out our secondary research and note references. "This is hard work, take care of yourself" Margaret warned us. Having each other to call, having Cathie and Margaret to call gave us the energy and sometimes courage we needed to continue the project. We went home and analyzed each topic area. "How are we going to put this together?" was my next question. Networking with Thunder Bay brought Margaret Phillips, a consultant, to present a workshop on report writing. Some of us were overwhelmed with the work ahead of us. I was ready to give Margaret Phillips my raw data and have her` my report: But Margaret turned that around for me. She read some of our data - then told us how good our work was. We could do it Her enthusiasm was catching. She shared her writing experience and gave us many technical tips. Her facilitating skills enabled us to answer the many questions we had. By the end of the workshop we had listed our major themes and decided on guidelines for the report writing. I went home believing in my ability to write and the desire to do it. Continued next page PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �NORTH SHORE WOMEN'S RESEARCH continued As our work load increased our support systems grew. We were to write three drafts. Margaret Phillips agreed to review our work and guide us through this process. During this time the Mayday Board hired one woman from, each community to bring a few of the trends from the research back to the community through public meetings. Women responded by setting up committees to deal with specific issues. When the final drafts were completed, confidential copies were given to local Mayday groups who read the report and made recommendations. The researchers were present at these meetings as well as the Board meetings where the district recommendations were made. Then we had meetings to pull the report and recommendations together. At last the report was complete: This was the process. What makes it more difficult for the women of the north is the label of being "strong". She has a lot to live up to. She must be adaptable, adjustable, a survivor, always managing and making ends meet. She can see the good in everything, make the best of it and is grateful her husband is working and she has a roof over her head and three square meals a day. She is adaptable, happy and strong. Woe, to the woman who expresses her frustrations of living in the north, or is unable to live up to these expectations. She's labeled as being weak, selfish and a complainer. Who hasn't heard the comment "is that all You do-complain?" No one admires her for being honest and wanting to make changes. She's told to deny her thoughts and feelings and "put on a happy face". She's told to be "quiet". It's this denial that keeps the system going that harms us all Joining together, sharing our frustrations, complaining, enables us to see what we don't like and gives us the power to change it. I'm so grateful to all the women who were honest with me in the report, The vision "Women actively involved in theiA communities" has begun. What did we discover about women's lives? The work of caring for the family and community was theirs, regardless if she was working out of the hoMe or not. They shopped, cleaned, cooked, wipped noses and hugged babies. She drove the neighbours to the doctors, kids to the arena and cared for the sick and elderly. Women baked for bazaars, sat on boards and helped out at guides as well as hockey. Her comment often was "Someone has to do it". Over and over again we saw the paid and unpaid work women do in the community. We started to recognize their value. Women's skills became apparent. Pam McKeever wrote in her report "she "Women were the ones who were concerned for their families well being and their communities' safe functioning" stated Judy VandenEnde. But women were not the decision makers. They hadn't planned the home or community they lived and worked in. Their concerns had not been heard in their communities. "Past courses of action continually taken by local decision makers have not been for the good of the residents, but only what was good for profit." I believe this powerlessness over decision making is common to all women regardless of her place of residence. By continually stating the powerlessness women experience denial can be broken and the slow road of change can begin, as the women who have gone before have proven. INVITATION There were many more difficulties Women Pensions Committee. Plan TO BECOME Ain MEMBER confronted by women livingand a oneOF THE to become involved. industry town in: Northwestern Ontario. Please catt Amand at 345-3606. Karen Kusins stated Davy?, "WomenSt. when moving . to the north have to adapt to the environment that has been created b is a nutritionist,-,,counsellor,.money th st.........0. . + manager, organizer and scheduler, a The woman has to adapt to an environfirst aider, an encourager, a teacher, ment where is little room for NORTHERN WOMAN there page 5 change. Acceptance of shift work, lack a dresser, a tailor, a money maker, a Copies of the Mayday North Shore problem solver, a driver, a dynamo who of medical facilities, long cold winT1omen's Research Report may be ters, lack of job opportunties, lack has to keep going. The talents necesobtained from Project Mayday, Box 148 of variety and choice are a part of sary to run a home were not so very Schreiber, Ont. the environment in which she will different from those required to run YOUR VOICE continued from page 2 live." a town or government." itude on the part of women is the real-. I was ver ity. We owe it to ourselves to stand articles on the together on the big issues, equal pay I was brought up and personal choice, human rights incuation and many ; 4NCA iocussed on NoAthwe6tetn coupteis disc T it luding sexual lifestyles. We owe to answers to their The s yecou. 4 aissetis .to plan icon netiument The-in . ourselves to question the thought patthe articles. T Decade Council would like -to invite ; r . . membeu o4 the tissue to become terns that keep us pliant to the role Group-will be abl intetested in the ape women who ; ;. women's icle for future m of dependence. We are in the movement when we move from the posiThank-you. tion of silence CO verbal protest in defense of ourselves or each other, that is as politically correct as you s Dear Sis need to be. It will take only a little new my subscript analysis of why-you did'that to conenclosed $5 mone vince yourself it was overdue. was sorry to.hea To all those happy warriors that' is moving. Hope made my last 10 years in the North brings her joy a among the happiest and most producthe women's move tive in my 70 years, my best wishes satisfaction. Sh for future accomplishments and continAppreciation is ued resistance. Yours in spirit faithful women s whom I know and Gert Beadle ributing to N.W. inspire and give by your generous justice for wome wishes ecN), , PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �ECONOMIC The OZZowing ate excetptis Ptom the keynote addte4 o given by Diana Eeti..4 to the NoAth Shone Nomen16 Con4ekence had in Tettace Bay. Women and economic development. This issue is a national issue. It is most effectively a northern national issue because it is in smaller and especially single industry towns that the issues in women and economic development become clear - the contradictions become clear. This issue does mean something to women. Economic development is not seen to be one of our traditional issues, yet when we put our heads to it, of course we see it should be. I will clarify the perspective from which I speak right now. I am a feminist. For me, that means I advocate for women's rights - I put women first. I start with women's experience as the basis for developing analysis and strategy. I believe, and this is based on my own experience, that all of women's lives are on a continuum based in women's oppressionn. Some of us are in a more privileged ilace than others, but we are all on the same continuum. I also believe this to be life long work. And, I don't want a piece of the pie, I want to re-write the recipe. I believe women are already involved in development.... It's just that our work of reproduction, of caring, of building community, of impacting on the economy is dismissed, or is not seen, is invisible. That work needs to be recognized and understood for its real value - by ourselves as well as others. UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE ECONOMY IS According to the dictionary, economy means "the administration or condition of the concerns and resources of a community." That's not very mystifying. In fact, the word comes from the Greek word for household managemen t The term 'economic development' usually refers to the creation or expansion of the economy of a community, region or country. Who benefits from economic development? The first prioity of any economic development is to create profit. I'm not saying that this profit is necessarily a bad thing. Its where the profits go that concerns me. I believe that large and small economic development projects must be overseen and managed in a humane fashion with people's concerns in mind. How are communities affected by economic development? Industrial and resource development greatly changes the social and economic environment of a community or region. Ideally it creates jobs and develops new areas. However, this can create problems. Populations increase as new workers arrive, often with families, yet the community and regional infrastructure does not expand to meet the needs of the expanded population. Boom and bust development puts a strain on the services and social fabric of even the most stable community. Many serious problems can occur because of NORTHERN WOMAN page' 6 the rapid change in a community as new people, money and a whole new way of life engulf it. In general economic development has not been accompanied by a concern for the human needs in the area being developed - or human needs has meant only the needs of the workers, usually male. The well being of the workers is a concern of the company but usually only insofar as it affects their productivity in the workplace. The needs of the rest of the people who make up the community (that men live in too) - the women and children - are rarely seen or nrovided for. OP/ViENT seen them and does not take their needs, their work, their contribution to community into account. Existing medical, dental and counselling services are not planned to meet the needs of increased population. There are seldom medical practitioners with specific expertise in obstetrics, gynecology or pediatrics. Homes are designed by people who have no intention of living in them. Suburbs consist of endless curving streets cresenting in on one another, with no sidewalks to push the stroller and walk the toddler on, with no corner grocery store for a quick purchase of the loaf of bread that we just ran out of with three lunches to make. Community centre and recreation facilities are inadequate - or adequate only for men's recreation needs. UNDERSTANDING THE EXCLUSION OF WOMEN WOMEN AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT The traditional view of women in economic development has been, at best, to consider them as manipulable members of the paid or unpaid labour force. In some cases women's economic development concerns are assumed to focus only on affirmative action and employment. Even when this limited view is acknowledged it is not necessarily planned with women's interests in mind. A B.C. coal town planning study investigating the possibility of non-traditional work for women being made available stated: "the effect of increasing the proportion of females in the direct labour force is to reduce the projected town population.. the potential reduction in services and housing requirements may be considered important in policy analysis". These planners showed they had no understanding of women's work inside and outside the home and the needs that arise from that work not the least of which is adequate child care and family support services. The most horrifying revelation of their scenario however, is the way the living needs of women and children were to be bartered for supposedly decreased infrastructure costs. They were not seeing the labour force work as being intrinsically valuable to women - it was seen as a way to decrease the overall population and thus provide fewer services. As a result of this kind of thinking, women and families living in towns or areas created or expanded through economic development face particular hardships due to inadequate planning - planning that has not How can we understand the exclusion of women and women's concerns? This exclusion means the failure to see the sexual division of labour as significant to the process of economic development, with the result that only "men's work" is defined as relevant. Women's work is invisible or dismissed. By the sexual division of labour I mean just that - the way the work is divided between the sexes in our society. Exclusion of women means the family, household and domestic sphere are defined as marginal and the work of the domestic domain and the character of the domestic economy remains invisible, unexplored and unconsidered. And that's the work we do. Exclusion means there is a failure to raise any questions that specifically concern women in the process of development, based on the lack of recognition that these issues are of crucial concern to women. Wo- men and their work are considered irrelevant to the process of economic development. I'm going to offer an analysis of why this exclusion occurs. Dr. Dorothy Smith describes the work of administration, management, organization and government of our society as communicative work. The ways in which we think about ourselves, one another and our society are given shape and are distributed by the specialized work of people in universities, schools, television, radio, newspapers, book publishing - by all the organizations forming what she calls the ideological apparatus of society. But, and this is a big but, Smith contends women have been excluded from the work of producing the forms of thoughts, images and symbols in which thought is expressed and ordered - the books, bibles, media, etc. There is a circle effect in that men attend to and treat as significant only what men say. cont'd on next page- PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �WOMEN AND THE ECONOMY continued. Smith points out that ... "women have been deprived of the means to participate in creating forms of thought relevant or adequate to express their own experience or to define and raise social consciousness about their situations or concerns." Smith makes it clear that this exclusion of women from the making of our culture is not the product of a biological deficiency. "The forms in which women's silence and exclusion has been practiced arise differently. Some have arisen inadvertently as a side effect of where women are in the world - the private rather than the public world. Some have been a process of active repression or strong social disapproval of women's intellectual or political leadership, others result from the way society is organized through socialization, education, work and communication". The final point from Smith's analysis is that the deprivation of authority and the ways we have'been trained not to get involved in issues/ topics other than those defined by men has the additional effect of making it difficult for women to treat one another as relevant figures. "We have difficulty in asserting authority for ourselves, in grasping authority for women's voices and for what women have to say. This leads to deprivation of the essential basis for developing among ourselves the forms of thought and images which express the situations we share and make it possible to begin to work together. We take for granted that our, thinking has to be authorized by an external source of authority. This is why I see the research study just completed by Project Mayday as revoluntionary material. It is women speaking to other women in an authoratative manner about their own experience. When we as women treat one another and ourselves as people who count, then we can break out of our silence. We validate our experience. We believe from our most internal places that we have the right to speak, that there is something of value to say. In un derstanding the nature of the oppression we make decisions about how to work to alleviate it in our personal lives and move outward from there. THE INCLUSION OF WOMEN An economic framework that includes women is one which says first of all that- the sexual division of labour is integral and not marginal. An analysis of that would look at what is divided, why, how it is divided, and would look at the implications of that. An analysis would also seek to understand how it is that this sexual division of labour has always subordinated women to men. The reality is that in our society there is economic loss for women who have children. She has to make the decision to stay home part or full time, or pay for childcare if she returns to the salaried labour force. The result of the sexual division of labour around the bearing and rearing of children means women are often left economically dependent on men. Given that in our society money equals power and control, this means that many such women have no power and no control over their lives They have no economic choices except those they can arrange with his agreement. In a society supposedly committed to the equal status of women, this is an unsatisfactory situation. An economic framework that includes women would understand what this division of labour means and would do the following: pay women a decent living wage for their work; take into account the extra work of raising a child and offer paid materity and paternity leave for a child's younger years, as in Sweden; provide decent pensions for women not in the paid labour force, and provide good universal childcare. It is actually astonishingly easy to deal with some of these problems. The solutions are there. It first of all takes a belief that children are important and that women are important and that they have the right to be actively involved in making decisions about their lives. In order to include women in the economy you require a framework that begins with the household and/or family and defines this unit as an economic unit with the recognition that the work of the household'is work. WOMEN ARE WORKERSTOO! WOMEN'S WORK AND THE ECONOMY of health care that can deliver better quality and more appropriate pre and post-natal care? The point I want to make with all of this is that women must not be seen as passive recipients, but as members of the household, community and society, with interests and concerns based on active participation. This exercise of including women, families, and children is not something that policy planners should tack on to the end of their considerations. The inclusion of women must begin at the beginning and not just because we're partners of the men, but because we are people in our own right with contributions to make and needs to be considered. How much will this inclusion cost? The only real cost is the cost of changing one's attitude about women and their role. I do think it is a matter of belief. If one believes the inclusion of women is important, then it becomes a priority. Yes, it will cost money and yes, the money is there. We can't afford not to do this. There is great human and economic cost presently being paid by women. DEALING WITH THE ARGUMENTS I want to deal with problem areas others of us have encountered. As any of you who have worked on women's issues know, we often are suspect because we dare to describe ourselves as women rather than girls or ladies. In defining women's relation ---tirTnteintiiMI, we 1.Ye m 3ing 1ntu an area that many feel we don't belong in - they are more comfortable if we only talk about rape, equal pay, daycare. All of the women I have worked with have gone through a baptism of fire as they began to talk about and make recommendations on women and economic issues. Here are some of the arguments we have developed in response. The work of running a household has obvious implications for community planning. It means we understand this work involves, for example, maintaining the domestic home, transporting family members to and from their various community involvements, and linking one's own home and family with the rest of the community. When this is understood then the community should be planned with homes having reasonable access to schools, parks, and at least corner stores. Transportation is another necessity. Another aspect of the work of the household and family is the maintenance of family health. For women, this begins with pregnancy and childbirth and continues after the children are born. Women often tell us they are worried about having their baby in the town. What if there are unexpected difficulties and they have to be shipped out by air at the last minute? Others wonder about the high rate of caesarian sections they know occur at the nearest hospital and wonder if this is a factor of having a baby in an isolated area. It is not possible to have each of these communities staffed with a full time obstetrician, but why not consider models One of the things people will say is "Well, these are human concerns concerns of all people, not just women's concerns.." This statement can have a remarkably,paralyzing effect on any discussion you might be having. Why? Because it is a form of dismissal of the stand you have taken as a woman speaking to these issues and because it, yet again, takes the WOMAN out of the picture. One response might be to say "Yes, but the humans I'm talking about are women" and continue on from there. Or, "Yes, it is a human concern and women are humans with specific expertise on this issue" or just "This piece of work deals with women because they have something'to say that hasn't been heard before so I'm going to talk about it as women's concern..." "THE Hlt1ANS ISM TALKING ABOUT ARE continued on page 14 NORTHERN WOMAN page 7 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �oNs I 4ottowed he to the countny zide I watched in awe as she watked...then tan. Freedom waz het name. She tan when she sett -Eike running, walked when she wanted to and sat down sot houAz to watch the gentle breeze touch petals on zmatt 4tow,enz. She she You and paused, tooked up at me, "Come", zaid, "Take q4 youn shoes and join me. wLU see what I zee, hear what I heat sell what I 4eet." Slowly I removed my shoes. Now ztnange it sett Letting my Beet nest on the coot mo44. She taughed and we zhated the enjoyment o4 my awkwatdness "Come - Let go - tun. Now good it wa-o to tun sot no reason at all - except sot the enjoyment o4 tunning. With anmz outztnetched - 4ingenz o4 the wind 4-tu44ed my hair and touched my 4ace. Now good it was to tun sot pZeasute. MY ROOM This is my /Loom. My tandtady cabs it a zhambtez. It -2S OLE o4 beauti4ut things. On the Root, hand-hooked tugs. In a box, eatty oitz And Copper tooting. An aighan sot, my mother On4inizhed, tying In a taundty bazket. The photon on-the watt Show my divonce -.n 'turn --No huzbgnd in the pictates. When tined we stopped sett in the gnazz and Laughed at our titedness. The breeze touched out 4acez ass the sun warmed us. Out-zttetched I tay - head zotidty on the ground. A sty buzzed by - an ant ctawted oven_ me. My 4eet 4elt zone but aeive. Feet that were bound in 4hoe4 sot zo tong were ative with the pteazute 04 4eeting. -J3Aonze4-baby 4110g4,77404400444 Glued to oak bookendz I bought ,6A0,71 the Manch o4 Dimez. White glue --a bottle o4 ,it- here With bottles o4 ink and shampoo- On the dtesset,.a 4tame I'm tepaiting. Photo atbumz--baby pieta/Les, and My high zchoot diploma Earned seven ueatsptet. Sewing pataphetnalia Needtepoint on a sttetchet.. A closet 4at.l o4 clothing Some secondhand Much I seldom wean. An atatm ctock zhowing 2 a.m.: On the night table, The zteeping pia I didn't take. ovicctel-owL has put zhoez on me again. They were such nice zhiny zhoez = They said they would' protect my Beet. I wouldn't get hutt I can't tun ass steely. The 4hoe4 ate awkwand and heavy. I cannot 4eet In 4hoe4 the gnazz, the ztonez, the twigs. I watk .vet zo much. I don't notice what ,i./s under my Beet. I don't sell they can't hunt me anymore but... the /Locks. I can't reel. the sogness o4 the mo44. What shall I do? -t'eanho - - In the.city where bnoken glans Zies atound and can cut deep, I zhatt wean my shoes. But in the counttyzide My Beet shall not be bound - the pain does not hill thete. I wilt tun, watk and zit son no reason at att - except sot the pate enjoyment o4 sitting. This 4:4 my /LOOM. Susan Cote/ills In the city I wilt weat my shoes. When I want to tun and ptay I witt join a beat team. That's what you .do You can't play without in the city. a reason - You have to beat someone! When I watk I witt watk on thein hand sidewatks. I won't walk on the nice sort lawns. They ate not son walking on. They're 49n Zooking at. But don't spend an hour tooking at them. There iz not much to zee. Nothing .us allowed to _glow thete except green gtass Wean shoes in the ci:ty and you shatZ zutvive! But i4 you t4iL4h to tive come to the counttyside. Remove your shoes and iceet what is under gout Beet. Stop....see what is above your head. Canot Quesnette 1985. PDFNORTHERN,WOMAN compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor page 8 �WOMEN'S FESTIVAL by GWEN O'REILLY The second annual Canadian Women's Festival/Le Festival des Femmes Canadiennes broke loose this Labour Day weekend in Winnipeg's beautiful Kildonan Park. Three nights and two days were filled with sunshine of vatious kinds, including women's music, dance, theatre, humour, poetry, prose and hope. And women: Hundreds of us. Dressed in everything from saris to leather, all being blatantly and di-versely female. Women from across the country of every age, size, colour and political stripe attended. Last year's celebration billed as "Our Time Is Now", marked the first nation-wide women's festival in Canada, and received an overwhelming response from performers, volunteers and audiences, The members of the Canadian Women's Music and Cditural Festival Inc. are determined to make the fest ival an annual event, and this year's performance certainly puts another feather in their kerchief. The introductory message in the Festival programme book mentioned some of the magic that occurred last year during "Our Time Is Now": "For the first time, women heard their own story in music, poems, prose and theatre on stage. The intensity of this experience was best reflected in the flow of energy exchanged between the performers anethe audience. Canadian women are finding each other, creating networks to reduce the gulf that separates us in this vast nation of ours," The mast moving, remarkable thing about this year's Festival was indeed the level of energy and the ease with which it was-exchanged. The performers were at their best, encouraged by an enthusiastic audience all, ready to jump up on their feet to dance, sing clap or cry along. Workshops were staged all day Saturday and Sunday in tents and the night concerts were held at the Rainbow Stage, which is a kind of giant domed amphitheatre in the middle of Kildonan Park. Both workshops and concerts were well organized, and the scheduling made it possible to see every performer at least once, even if you played groupie and followed your favourite performers from workshop to workshop all day long (OK, I admit it) A large crew of fushia-shirted volunteers kept things running womanly, provided special services such as child care, kids activities and massages. A separate tent housed craftswomen and book. record and souvenir, sellers. Womanmade soaps, clothing,jewelry,glass and woodwork and books and information were available. Buttons and T-shirt messages abounded. "Arms are for hugging"-"T'Tomen need Women"-"No Apartheid"-"Choice"-"Immoral Minority-Member" and "Wearing buttons is not enough" were amoung the issues-women were wearing. One of the objectives of the feStival is to promote the status of women in the cultural arena by featuring perfomers who are largely unrecongnized by the general public. Some names in the programme line-up are more familiar than others, fam-. ous even. The majority of performers, however, either have not yet recorded their music or have been ignored by the mainstream music industry. Many of these women have decided to share their message by opting out of the male-dominated system and are now producing their own albums. This courage and hope for the alternatives of the future was reiterated throughout the festival performances and reflected in every face in the audience. Each artist conveyed this message in her own own unique way. Joy Kogawa and Lillian Allen both spoke, and read their poetry at several workshops. Joy Kogawa and her family were amoung the thousands of Japanese Canadians uprooted and shipped to internment camps in the 1940's. During one session, Joy Kogawa discussed her identification with Anne Frank, not as a victim, but as one who endured persecution and continued to helieve that there is enough love to change the world. She believes that there is meaning to be gained from the horror that sometimes surrounds us, and that in finding this meaning we can turn it around. Lillian Allen writes and performs dub poetry-a rhythmical,almost musical combination of simple language and social conscience. She spoke of the importance of peeling off the layers of socialization which restrict us all, in order to reach down to the human core. On the equally serious, but slightly more hysterical side was Sheila Gostick, a stand-up funny feminist from Toronto. She believes that because women menstruate more than men, they tend to be funnier. She revealed that the reason Reagan has "bum cancer" is because he's spent so many years rerouting shit to his mouth. And have you ever realized how feminine it is to be Canadian? "Oh,here, Mr. Reagan,please, take our water,help yourself to a few more natural resources, and sure,. we don't mind if you send us more acid rain." Sheila says that if tough guys have balls, then gutsy women must really have ovaries. Speaking of ovaries, it's also Sheila's opinion that fetuses now have more constitutional rights than do women° The only solution is for women to declare themselves eggs. The Seacows are two actresses involved in many kinds of contemporary theatre. One is from an Inuit background, while the other is an American Indian. Together, they dance and act to dispell the stereotypes surrounding indigenous peoples, feminists and artists. They chose the name Seacows because they both come from sea cultures and identify with the large, gentle mammals from which the legends of sirens and mermaids originate. They also point out that any creature with the power to steal men's souls should certainly be considered dangerous. Oh and of course, there were some musical messages at the festival as well. The Ruggedy .innes, a ninnipe band, took care of the punk rock denartment. They were a little much for my hangover, but everyone else seemed to really enjoy them. Sherry Shute, Gwen Swick and Catherine MacKay rock n' rolled all weekend long and had no trouble keeping people on their feet. Connie Kaldor was her usual vivacious self and managed to steal the show with her closing act on Saturday night. Incidentally, Connie has finally(!) been nominated for a Juno Award. Heather Bishop has teamed up with a very talented woman named Tracy Riley and they did a night show together as well as several workshops. Unfortunately, Heather had the closing spot before the finale on Sunday night, and her performance seemed very short compared to the time alloted for the closing act the night before. Karen Howe and Kris Purdy sang songs for the kids in all of us, and had the audience up dancing, exercising and hugging themselves. Louise Rose, who has studied piano with Oscar Peterson and worked with Duke Ellington, really sang the blues. Three of the weekend's most beautiful voices sang en francais. The passion in Lucie Blue Tremblay's love songs, Suzanne Campagne and friends' soaring harmonies and Christine Bernard's poetry transcended language, luckily for me and my high school French. Both Lucie Blue and Suzanne gave exceptional performances during the night shows. continued on next page PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor NORTHERN W OMAN page 9 �WIEN'S FESTIVAL continued Tracy Riley, Jennifer Berezan and Heather Bishop played to a packed tent at the "Woman to Woman" (lesbian, by any other name) workshop on Sunday, and were rewarded for their courage and talent with several standing ovations. Never,never,never miss a chance to see either Tracy Riley or Jennifer Berezan-they are both excellent singers and song writers. Another scheduled workshop was cancelled and Tracey Riley, Jennifer Berean, Moon Joyce, Kris Purdy, Lillian Allen and three women known only as Rita, Marion and Elaine put on an impromptu rhythm jam. It was great,and was yet another demonstration of the amazing sounds women can make, with or without instruments. Lillian Allen got down from the stage with a microphone is the fact that it results from a and started soliciting sounds and large number of women from all over chants from the audience-somehow I the country working together, and wasn't surprised at the number of providing support for our cultural women who had just been dying to make growth and awareness. This year's a little noise. festival has managed to improve on The fever was high by the time "Our Time Ts Now" by rearranging schedeight o'clock rolled around on Sunday uling and featuring performers and evening. A whole bunch of women were workshops which represent a wider down at the front of the stage dancing range of interest than was available to a Parachute Club tape before the last year. The organizers, volunteers show began. Suddenly,they all got up and performers all deserve congratuon the stage and started a spontaneous lations for their vision and the hard dance party, andwork everyone in put the in audthey've to make it a realience cheered. And it was all over say,ladies,you've ity. As Sheila would much too soon. really got ovaries! Thank you The Canadian Women's Festival was You can support future Women's one=-of the best organized and most inFestival's by becoming a member of spiring celebrations I have ever atthe Canadian Women's Music and Culttended. The festival itself is a wonural Festival Inc. FRIENDS contribute derful thing, but even more uplifting a single donation of up to $49.00, photo by JOYCE MICHALCHUK PATRONS-a single donation of $50.00 or more, SUSTAINERS-$25.00 per month on a yearly basis (pre-paid by cheque). A membership entitles you to receive mailings about concerts, social events, and the festival; a membership card; a discount on festival tickets;and your name printed in the '86 Canadian Women's Festival programme book. Contributions, queries and comments can be mailed to: The Canadian Women's Music and Cultural Festival 3D-161 Stafford Street Winnipeg, Manitoba R3M 2W9 con't. edt:"My reading has university texts so movie instead. It's er Woman". It takes in South America. own, any prison. The interplay between acters, both male, a macho-man. They rerent political realwas humanistic. I book is quite good ........ 'm reading Marge Home. It's a woman's ble, very readable way. All the elements re in it and the sois right. There is people organizing share the experience group." ......, :"I just finished y Joy Kogawa. It af. It is about the way ns were treated in the ells the story of her er family was moved ace and how she ended m her parents." ...***. stions were: (Jane hing by Alice Walker test short story collnd Trouble." (Gwen 0' le's Inland Passage s Politics of Reality: st Theory." (Iris John- son) Women Who Do and Women Who Don't by Rowland."(Anna McColl)"A Diary of Jane Somers by Jane Somers in reality Doris Lessing." * NOVEL PUBLISHED Thunder Bay resident Joan Skelton has just had her novel The Survivor of the Edmund Fitzgerald published by Renumbra Press. The Survivor of the Edmund Fitzgerald features a startling human drama woven around the dramatic sinking of the cargo ship off Coppermine Point. Two strangers, a man and a woman, encounter each other on the frozen shore and together work out their individual and unique fates. (Available at the Northern Woman's Bookstore). 4 ACCESSIBLE An extensive ACCESSIBILITY GUIDE to the City of Thunder Bay has been publishes. The guide contains information on over 400 public facilities and will be of use to individuals with mobility, sight and hearing impairments, seniors and parents with young children. For a copy of the GUIDE contact Ontario March of Dimes, 209-211 Van Norman St., Thunder Bay, P7A 4B6. NOTABLE WOMEN RECORDS AND TAPES will be distributing independent recordings by Canadian women through an annual mail order catalogue. Their premier edition will be available in 1986 and will reflect the diversity of music by women. Recording artists are urged to contact NOTABLE WOMEN immediately with samples of their work. Individuals are invited to suggest records tapes by women to be included. To receive a catalogue write NOTABLE WOMEN, 64 Alice St. Guelph. womonspace pot tuck 4inzt Wednesday o4 event' month cate 345-7802 Laiebead University Women s Centre presents Lauri Conger and Kim Erickson IN CONCERT DECEMBER 21st, 19(55 University Centre Theatre (5.-.30 p.m. Adults $7.00 Seniors & rids $5.00 ge 10 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �CHRISTMAS COMMITTEE JOY ASHAM The she-lves were tired. Year after year they had worked their teeny-tiny fingers to the bone - not doing brain surgery or anything like that - just assembling parts, using knitting machines and working toward fulfilling the philosophical statement of their raison d'etre: "To make a bigger and better Christmas through the manufacture and distribution of more and more, bigger and better toys". Some toys were always changing - they were candid community - some toys were staying virtually the same, but looking glossier all the time - these were called government. The she-lves were more interested in manufacturing community things as this was more interesting work and a change is better than arrest. They had figured out by their value system (called "I left my brain") that community and change was very important to future she-lves and if there's one thing they wouldn't compromise its the future of up-coming she-lves - although they were greatly encouraged to do so. In fact, they were told, if they would quit messing .around with the community toys they could have lots and lots of government toys and if they couldn't use those themselves-, they could barter for the best toy - 'Power ". Of course, they could only acquire so much of this new and best toy - but, some was said to be better than none. - The she -lves thought and thought. The power toy seemed to be attractive - it could communicate what community wanted - and help see that come to pass. They were also told that community was no different from government - that government's value system was very close - that being: "My brain is right". And some she-lves could see this and entered into the compromise two by two, as two lefts were said to make a right. (Value system speaking). made with one extra coat of paint (ordinary she-lves needed Incentive a new word that meant ensuring that there's enough toys to barter for reindeer to feed new she-lves). This program was called PUSH (Power Utilizes She-lves Holistically) and some more she-lves bartered for governmnet and eventually for Power. This new program needed a leader, someone who would inspire the ordinary she-lves to greater and glossier production. The power she-lves squeaked and squeaked and eventually their wheels were greased and a leader was selected. The media she-lves then doodled and planned as everyone knew that "Image" was important - and finally they conceived a brilliant idea: "We'll dress him in the ordinary she-lves colour, instead of the traditional power colour - then the she-lves will see him as one of them". And it came to pass, that a glorious red suit was made and the imagemakers were pleased because the new leader looked so good. And as head of the PUSH program, he was bestowed with great pomp and circumstance, a fitting title: PUSHer. All was good for a while. The she-Ives used their Incentive to make glossier toys, the Power she -lees were kept busy making sure the PUSHer's new red suit never faded and the image-makers did what they did and liked best: talk about this. Then a lowly, ordinary she-lve asked a silly question that reverberated up the power chimney and came out covered with soot. The question was simple. It was a mere WHY? Then all the ordinary she-lves began whisnering, wondering, querying "Why?" for they started to realize that there was no purpose to making glossier toys when community toys were in much greater need. And that need was growing and growing as change had been arrested for a very long time and for most she-lves, this meant fewer and fewer reindeer. It came to pass that finally the she-lves spoke with one voice. Knowing that Power she-lves and the PUSHer didn't understand ordinary language, they traded a reindeer to a consultant she-lve who rephrased the question appropriately and maximized its effectiveness. So the Power she-lves were eventually asked, "Status Quid?" . These new power she-lves realized that what their old co-assemblers were doing (concentrating on community toys instead of government toys) was not helping to make the other toys stay the same but look better. So they developed a way to make sure that bigger and better toys would continue to be . But, Power she-lves still did not understand and before passing the question on to the PUSHer, formed a committee to study, analyze and evaluate it. In its great wisdom, this new committee made a modified interpretation. Off to the PUSHer their modification went: "Status Quo?" The PUSHer got very excited. He wouldn't admit that at times the Power she-lves had ideas better than him, even though they had been smart enough to choose him for their leader. But, this was such a good idea it would ensure that he always had new red suits and that bigger and better toys would continue to be made that he finally, finally with the help of the media she-lves declared to all: "Status Quo:" He became consternated. The ordinary she-lves didn't seem as excited about this as he thought they should be. After all, a Power she-lve had informed him (as Power she-lves were wont to do) that the idea had orginally come from the ordinary she-lves. What the Power She-lve didn't say, however, was that the committee had made the question glossier for his benefit, or remind him that it was a question at all. This was because the Power she-lve had come to know that the toys bartered for Power had only brought a little of the best toy - only enough, really, to control the she-lves certainly not enough to correct the PUSHer. So the PUSHer did not ever learn the meaning of the idea --- but was still convinced it would work, if only the right distribution system was used. He thought and thought. He traded some reindeer. Finally, with much consultation, a new system was developed: "Quid Pro Quo" (Quid Pro Quo: The concise Oxford 'Dictionary, n. Blunder made by putting one thing for another.) A leader for this system needed to be found. The search was long and hard, but finally a suitable candidate appeared and was bestowed, with slightly less pomp and circumstance, the title "Status Quack". The Status Quack needed to design, develop, implement, manage and evaluate the Quid Pro Quo system. As distribution of the Status Quo message was absolutely essential and dissemination had to be faster and better to please the PUSHer, the Status Quack thought and thought. AHAHT The reindeer are not only tasty but they're fast and sure-footed: Meanwhile, Ms. Rudolph was organizing the reindeer NORTHERNWOMAN. page 11 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Read any GOOD BOOKS by JOAN BARIL As the northern winter sharpens it's claws, the northern women turns to her most faithful companion - a good book. What are women reading? For the past two weeks I asked every woman I met. I think you'll find this sample surprising. st RN WOMAN'S BOOKSTORE 9 N. COURT ST. DER BAY, P7A 4T7 344-7979 cayenne Doreen Boucher: (Thunder Bay Physical and Sexual Assault Centre) "I'm reading Understanding Wife Assault; A Training Manual for Counsellors and Advocates by Deborah Sinclair It's put out by the Ministry of Community and Social Services and it's a y good handbook for anyone who wants to help battered women." Deborah Ratelle: "I get into mysteries sometimes. You know how it is Woman's Almanac in winter. I'm reading Dorothy Sayer's .Busman's Honeymoon. I'm also reading Manuscripts of Pauline Archange by Marie Clair Blais. It's the story of y, Friday 11.30 - 6.00 a girl, growing up in Quebec and from y 11.30 - 4.30 the time she was very young, four or five, she kept a diary. Fiction_ Poetry i...t lately Karen "I'm reading Edie Sedgewick's biography. It's an excellent book. Sedgewick came from a prestipeous Boston family. She trained as a high fashion model and then appeared in Andy Warhol movies and became a member of the group surrounding him. It's a tragic story of excess, drugs and eventual suicide. I also saw an incredible movie, 'Keith and Mary'. It's the most erotic movie I've ever seen. A husband and wife, both in their seventies and married for forty-five years, talk about their sex life. They actually make love on camera. 'Keith and Mary' is distributed by City Films of Willowdale. It is half an hour long. It was made in Holland but the couple are Irish. Lynn Beak: "I'm in a murder mystery phase right now. P.D. James is my favourite mystery author. Innocent Blood is a good book by her to start with. I've just finished Willa Cather's Old Beauty and Other Short Stories. It was a peaceful book. Jean Rhys is one of my favorite authors. In a book of short stories, Tigers are Better Looking, she deals many times with the theme of expatriates, wandering people. Mavis Gallant is a Canadian writer who deals with the same expatriate outlook, Canadians at home and abroad. Her latest book of short stories is Home Truths. is...... ? RFR Joy Fedorik: "The Color Purple by Alice Walker is a wonderful book. It soars. I found the first thirtyfive pages hard to get through becaus they were so depressing, but it was more than worth it. I carried this book everywhere. I couldn't put it down. I'll also recommend an oldie, Shulamith Firestone's The Dialectic of Sex. I also loved Daughter of Copperwoman by Anne Cameron. I also rear -a bad book among all the good ones. The Passion of Molly T. is a futurist look at the militant feminist movemer When the author (Lawrence Sanders) doesn't know what to do with the plot he relies heavily on sex and violencE Khya Beaudry: "I'm reading A Poison Stronger Than Love by Anastasia Skilnyk. It's an excellent book. It's about Grassy Narrows. It is helping m to see how we have not understood, or even attempted to understand Native culture. The book emphasized for me that the spirituality of a culture cal die. A sad story. cont'd on pg. IC ,...... * t Mary Smith: "I'm reading Reinventiu the Corporation by John Naisbett, who was also the author of Megatrends. He says we are moving into an information age in which the industrial authoritarian model of organizations doesn't work anymore. I also liked the movie 'The Jagged Edge'. The heroine is a strong, competent woman who was also made very human and realistic. Margaret Phillips: Marian Engel's collection of short stories, put together as she was dying, which makes many of them more gripping". Donna Phoenix: "I highly recommend Dreaming the lDark by Startawk. It's a book about magic and the empowerment of women. I'm also reading Goddesses in Every Woman which is interesting, easy to read psychology. The author, Dr. Jean Shinoda Bolen, was trained as a Jungian psychoanalyst. Although she rejects a good deal of Jung's training, she uses the descriptions of seven Greek goddesses as archetypes to describe various characteristics of women." PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �UPDATE continued from page 3 The Women and Therapy conference, Part 11 will be held in Toronto May 20-23. If it continues the outstanding high level of Part I, held some years ago, this conference should be a first choice of women involved with women's mental health. Write Professional Development Associates, 3 Cameron Crescent, Toronto M4G 1Z7 for information woo eve Ontario's Green Paper on Pay Equity (usually known as equal pay for work of equal value) is out. But don't break out the champagne this is a discussion paper only. But the government says its committed in principle; we've yet to see the practice. Perhaps equally important to women in Ontario will be effective first contract legislation. Federally, there is the promise of pension reform but the reality is family allowance cutbacks and Bill C-49, the most ill-conceived and potentially troublesome law which makes blocking the sidewalks a criminal offense (women only). This piece of legislative never-never is, of course, designed to sweep prostitutes somewhere else. Even the proponents of the bill laugh hollowly at the absurdity of it all. The bill represents a crawling acquiescence to the nation's police chiefs and a deliberate back-hander to the government's own Royal Commission (the Fraser Commissidn) and to groups like the Elizabeth Fry Society. Now that the prostitution "problem" is "solved", stay tuned for a media second. growth of other "problems ", the pimp problem, the massage parlour problem, the escort service problem, the co-brt,lail-street revolving door problem, the hassling on the street of DAY CAR E Day care groups across the region are mobilizing and working energetically to ensure the improvement of day care services. Day care- was made a municipal election issue in Thunder Bay, Red Lake, Terrace Bay and other communities as day care and/or women's groups raised the issue at all-candidate meetings. Thunder Bay Advocates for Quality Child Care also surveyed all municipal candidates and plan to meet with newly elected Council members to further discuss day care concerns. Thunder Bay Advocates have also discussed day care with Jim Foulds MPP, stressing the need for day care to be given a much higher priority within the Liberal-NDP accord. young women who are not prostitutes as in the days of the old vagrancy laws. Nairobi, July 1985 According to the mainstream media Nairobi was a mishmash of political divisions and lost hotel reservations. According to women's magazines a different perspective appears emphasizing the size of the gathering, the difficulties trying to chose among the great numbers of workshops and events, the learning, networking and befriending. $oo The following is a pot pourri of quotes. (From Leticia Shahani, Secretary General of the conference commenting on the results of a questionnaire of governments which showed obstacles to the advancement of women) "Some of the major obstacles traditional attitudes towards are: women,the low priority given to women's issues and unfortunately the worsening 'world economic situation. In some countries, the absence of peace has been identified as a major obstacle" - the concise words of a bureaucrat emcompass vast pain. (From the U.S. magazine Off Our Backs on N.G.O. conference) "13,000 registrants ...grass roots feminist groups from Northwestern Ontario was well represented at the Coalition for Better Day Care Conference held in Toronto in October. The Coalition was restructured better represent local day care advocacy groups and individuals. Holly Rupert of Red Lake was elected as an individual member to the Coalition Council and Ruth Wells has been appointed T.B. Advocates representative to the Council. A well-organized and impressive lobby of provincial politicians was held the day following the Conference. At this lobby our delegates focussed on tsthe "indirect subsidy" issue. The Hon. John Sweeney, Minister of Community and Social Services announced that the elimination of the indirect subsidy was postponed until December 31, 1986. A reprieve but not a solution for our municipal centres. He also advised that he would deal individually with any centre experiencing financial problems. The federal government has just announced the establishment of the Parliamentary Task Force on Child Care. This Task Force is extremely important, in that its work will point the direction for day care policy in the years ahead. In a sense this Task Force is our last chance to influence the development of adequate day care policy. It is vital that submissions from individuals as well as groups be made to the Task Force. If you are concerned Third World countries may have been better represented than "western women's groups .. hundreds to thousands of women were walking about meeting groups, signing lists, being networked... bewildering array of workshops ... by the end of the first day (various) groups had begun to appropriate space on the lawn and to spread out over tables in the courtyard ...conferences and rallies as well... the Peace Tent...Tools and Tech demonstrations of "how to".,films ...(Emma Kivisild, Kinesis) "something that sets Nairobi apart from Mexico City in 1975 and Copenhagen in 1980 - the involvement of the Third World women in setting the agenda and the leadership roles taken by Third World Women ...Third World lesbians at the Forum were vocal and visible, refuting the myth that lesbianism is one of the products of decadent capitalist societies...women were not able to emerge from Forum '85 with strategies. What we did achieve was building invaluable networks, both regional and global. It is these networks that will solidify our gains - most importantly the development of a much more international and inter-racial focus for our movement," AiAl about the future of day care please plan to make a statement to the Task Force, or relate your personal experience so that we may use it in our brief. If you are willing to make a submission (eg a letter, a statement or a brief) or share your experience with ussthe NWO Regional Day Care Committee would like to hear from you. The Committee has resource information that might be helpful to you in preparing your statement. For more information contact NWO Regional Day Care Committee, Box 144, Thunder Bay, P7C 4V5, or telephone Women's Centre 345-7802. LARC LARC (Lesbian Archives and Resource Centre, Mb & N.W. Ont.) wants work especially by lesbians who are: healers, native, rural, pagan, differently abled, separtist, poor and working, over 50 or under 20. VOICES for Lesbian Survival focuses on healing; includes LARC reports. Subs $8 for 3 issues; sustaining sub $20. Single issues $3. Write LARC/VOICES C/O Isabel Andrews, R.R.#2, KENORA, Ontario. P9N 3W8 VIOICE NORTHERN WOMAN page 13 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �um IV) ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT continued from page 7 The other side of the statement about "these issues being so useful and important that they are all people's concerns" is the one that says "Oh, but these are only women's concerns". The implication here is "where are the men ?" Again, this is a way of subtly diminishing us and our work. It may be unintentional or intentional. The only response here is to state emphatically that the study/research had its focus as women so that's what it talks about. One might add that a review of the literature shows remarkably few studies focussing on women, so this one is a landmark study! A very common remark is that "all the women do in this study is bitch/complain/nag" etc. People talk a lot about women complaining. I used to respond by anxiously saying "but we're not complaining..we have legitimate concerns here..." Then I decided that to complain was a good thing. The dictionary defines complaining as "expressing dissatisfaction or stating a grievance", and that's what we're doing. Part of what is happening with this kind of remark is a put-down of women who are not satisfied with the status-quo. Feminists are sometimes told that we don't have a sense of humour. That means we don't smile enough. We don't assure those who might be oppressing us that we really aren't hurting: I think we should own up to complaining and say "of course we are complaintng - there are lots of unsatisfactory situations regarding women and economic development and we're saying something about it" and then get right into the discussion. Let's not deny our complaints. Instead, turn their complaints about us into a way for us to talk about the issue. We are all familiar with the remark "Well, you're just a bunch of women's libbers, my wife wouldn't be concerned about those issues" or "I don't want to join up with you, you're feminists and you hate men and I still want to live with my man" etc. Depending on who says it I either feel a pit of anger welling up in me, or emphathetic feelings when I know a woman who is saying it is in fact afraid of seeing the possibilites of her own life. Usually people are trying to denigrate the work at hand by declaring it the work of a few radicals who don't represent the majority. I always respond directly by stating clearly what I am and what I believe in. Yes, I'm a feminist and here's what it means to me... then I state my definition and then continue talking about the issue at hand. I also clarify that I'm not pretending to represent the majority of women. Women are not monolithic - we do not all think alike. No piece of research ever represents everyone. But we can always state clearly that the research does represent the women we spoke to their concerns are valid. It is important to remember that many women do not dare use the word feminism, (or women) even though they may believe, or want to believe. It is hard work being a feminist. The challenge of it begins at our very core, in our own homes, in our relationships. As for the R.E.A.L. women who claim that feminists break up the family? Anyone who reads the Project Mayday report will see how strongly the research argues to have women's work and life recognized and given its full due. I am a feminist and I am pro-family. My pro-family ideal is that of a non-stereotyped, flexible, interdependent, social and economic unit where all members participate in decision making. We must unpick the pro-family rhetoric of the New Right and insert our own definition of family. It is worth remembering that many men will dismiss us because they don't know what we're talking about. And many men will dismiss us because they know exactly what we're talking about and they don't want us talking Many men will not dismiss about it this work and will learn much from it. We need to help those men develop ways of talking about our work in their own worlds. A particular problem of working on contentious issues in small communities is the way we are so easily pinpointed and scapegoated. Be ready for that. Build support into your work, have networks, allow yourself some time off if you've been in the front lines too long, develop a thicker skin. Be prepared. In closing I want again to outline why we have a right to be involved, and I'm drawing from a speech by Gene Errington. "We have a right to be involved because we have an expertise that is simply not being incorporated, simply not being recognized, not being included.... We have a right to be involved because we are the ones who live in isolation.... It is women who have to be concerned about the safety of children. We are the ones respon sible for nurturance. Shopping is not a trivial issue to talk about. We have to work with whatever is given and if that is insufficient then our work is very difficult. We are the one responsible for family life. And ... we have the talents and abilities to offer in the public world, and we have the need for personal satisfaction and for adult companionship and for our own growth. We have a right to be taken seriously. ... We need to define our terri- tory that has not been extended to us We need to share our concerns and communicate on a new and different level. We don't want to influence from the background, we don't want tokenism. We need to locate power, learn about it, how to get it, who has it, how we can wield it for a better world. We have a right to be involved in economic development because we have a right to take part in the decisions that affect our lives. We are the experts on our needs, and the needs of our children, and the needs of our families, and the development of our communities. We, quite simply, IS are the experts on the quality of life. c. 7' \.4k4 by DONNA PHOENIX REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH HAZARDS "It's hot just pregnant women. The breast fed child and the male testes are vulnerable too." This was one of a number of disturbing facts I was presented with in early September at the Reproductive Hazards Conference in Toronto. The meeting centred around the right to work and have healthy children, and further revealed that: in Canada 50% of all conceptions do not result in live birth; of the babies that are born 7-10% have obvious defects for which there are no known causes; 15% of Canadian couples are infertile; and, in general, the sperm count of the North American male is declining. These statistics were compiled by the Ontario Federation of Labour. While policies for the control of reproductive hazards have tended to centre on the removal of pregnant, or, in some cases of all women of child bearing capacity from workplaces, all workers have the right to know about dangers in their place of employment. Become informed: Ask your steward or your employer to what substances you are exposed. Learn the facts about the harmful effects on your reproductive organs. Get involved with your Health and Safety Committee, if you have one. One of our strengths in the past has been the sharing of information. Ask if other women/other workers wives have had children with birth defects, problems conceiving or if they've had miscarriages. Read labels. Tell your doctor where you work and what chemicals you or your partner have been exposed to. If you want more information on this topic contact Donna Phoenix at Northern Women's Centre. (From K Blom and J SIeIIma4Lead. New Petspectnees on all Old Problem) NORTHERN WOMAN page 14 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �411 Department of the Secretary of State of Canada CanacE Secretariat d'Etat du Canada UNITED NATIONS DECADE FOR DECENNIE DES NATIONS UNIES POUR LA WOMEN 1976-1985 FEMME 1976-1985 The Decade for Women, proclaimed by the United Nations to eliminate discrimination against women will end in 1985. The co-operative efforts of women working to achieve this goal will however continue. La Decennie pour la femme, proclamee par les Nations Unies afin d'eliminer la discrimination envers les femmes, prendra fin en 1985. Toutefois, les efforts deployes collectivement par toutes celles qui cherchent a ametiorer la condition feminine n'en resteront pas la. A poster in full color, acknowledging and celebrating the work of women over the past decade, has been produced by the Government of Canada and is available free of charge from: Une affiche en couleur a ete produite par le gouvernement du Canada pour saluer et celebrer le travail accompli par les femmes au cours de la derniere decennie. Vous pouvez l'obtenir gratuitement en ecrivant a l'adresse suivante : Communications Directorate Department of the Secretary of State of Canada Ottawa, Ontario Kl A 0M5 Direction des communications Secretariat d'Etat du Canada Ottawa (Ontario) KlA 0M5 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor NORTHERN WOMAN page 15 �PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor WINTER '86 EQUAL OPPORTUNITY PROGRAMS Thunder Bay District 9 : IN: Intercity Shopping Centre, December 11-14 (9:30 a.m. to closing). Wednesdays 7:00-10:00 p.m. January 22, 1986 February 26, 1986 INSTRUCTOR: FEE: Al Bonazzo $18.00 ROOM: 149, Auto Shop, Dorion Bldg : Section 98 DATE/TIME START DATE: COMPLETION: : WT 843 Motor Vehicle (WOMEN KNOW YOUR CAR) In this elective post-secondary credit subject, women will learn the basic procedures of car maintenance and general operations. Section 99 DATE/TIME Mondays 7:00-10:00 p.m. START DATE: January 20, 1986 COMPLETION: February 24, 1986 **NEW** MAIL - : GS 026 99 ASSERTIVENESS TRAINING (FOR WOMEN) This elective post-secondary credit subject will provide women with the skills necessary to negotiate honestly for the things she wants--on the job, at home, in the community. Assertion is not be confused with aggression. Assertion takes into account the rights and feelings of others. DATE/TIME Thursdays 7:00-10:00 p.m. START DATE: January 16, 1986 COMPLETION: March 20, 1986 INSTRUCTOR: Ivy Cook FEE: ROOM: $30.00 265, Shuniah Bldg To receive a registration form, call Community Programs 475-6116. Northwestern Ontario residents may call Toll Free 1-800-465-6961. Applications must be postmarked no later than JANUARY 5, 1986; no postdated cheques accepted. MALL Registration: REGISTRATION INFORMATION Commencing Tuesday December 3rd, 1985, registrations will be accepted in the Registrar's Office (Shuniah Building) daily from 9:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Monday to Thursday. Friday registration takes place 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. PROGRAMS For further information contact the Chair Secretarial & English as a Second Language. Hospitality (807) 475-6318; or your local Canada Employment & Immigration office; or the Women's Employment Centre, 130 S. Syndicate Avenue, Thunder Bay, ON P7E 1C7 (807) 623-2731. BASIC TRAINING IN SKILLS DEVELOPMENT (B.T.s.D.) Academic Upgrading Grades 8-12; For further information on CAREER PLANNING FOR WOMEN, W.I.T.T., I.N.T.O., contact the Chair Industrial & Motive Power (807) 475-6215, or Women's Employment Centre (807) 623-2731. No program schedule for Winter Semester. Students study helps women to explore opportunities for employment in non-traditional jobs. job search skills, goal setting and plot a career path. Work placement gives women actual job experience. INTRODUCTION TO NON-TRADITIONAL OCCUPATIONS (I.N.T.o.) is an, 8 -week program that Start Date -- February 3rd, 1986 WOMEN INTO TRADES & TECHNOLOGY (w is an 18-week program designed to expose women to all aspects of practical trades training and the world of Hi-Tech. Start date -- January 6th, 1986 to enter appropriate employment or begin suitable training. CAREER PLANNING FOR WOMEN is an 8-week program to assist women entering or re-entering the labour force to understand present employment conditions, to select realistic career goals and For further information, contact the Program Co-ordinator (807) 475-6390. 99 : 99 : ASSERTIVENESS TRAINING FOR WOMEN-PART II This course has been designed to provide an opportunity for review and development of advanced assertive skills such as negotiating and identifying communication barriers. Specific issues including those brought by the participants will be addressed. Wellfunctioning relationships in employment guarantee job satisfaction as well as potential advancement. Personal relationships will also be enchanced by fine-tuning these skills. DATE/TIME Wednesdays 7:00-10:00 p.m. START DATE: January 22, 1986 COMPLETION: March 26, 1986 INSTRUCTOR: Mary Fedorchuk FEE: ROOM: $30.00 380, Shuniah Bldg *PRE-REQUISITE: Assertiveness Training Part I ZA 350 258, Shuniah Bldg **This subject may be used as a credit toward the Equal Opportunity Management Certificate. INSTRUCTOR: tba FEE: ROOM: $60.00 INTERVIEWING, RECRUITMENT, SELECTION AND ORIENTATION This subject examines the various types of situations encountered in the business environment from selection through counselling, Methods discipline and grievance interviews. of instruction will involve group interaction, case studies and role-playing. Resume analysis and preparation will be discussed in conjunction with selection interviews. DATE/TIME Tuesday & Thursday 7:00-9:30pm START DATE: January 14, 1986 COMPLETION: April 3, 1986 PR 303 : WOMEN IN HISTORY Why have the lives of women in history been This course _forgotten? How did it happen? will help you understand women's lives today by looking at the saga of average women's Through the use lives throughout the ages. of flims, slides, pictures, handouts, lectures and discussion, we will explore ancient to modern times. No previous courses in history necessary. DATE/TIME Wednesdays 7:00-10:00 p.m. START DATE: January 15, 1986 COMPLETION: April 23, 1986 INSTRUCTOR: Joan Baril FEE: ROOM: $45.00 342, Shuniah Bldg taken full-time during the day or part-time (evenings) through Community Programs. 99 GS 221 GENERAL ARTS AND SCIENCE DIPLOMA PROGRAM emphasizing Women's Programs Curriculae may be For further information, contact the Director Equal Opportunity Programs (807) 476-6278. Subjects in the EOM program may be taken during the day or as offered during the evening through Community Programs. This one-year certificate program is divided into two parts: one semester-September to Decemberin the College; second semester -January to April-in a field placement environment. Field placements and job opportunities will not necessarily be in the Thunder Bay region. **NEW**BUSINES DIVISION -EQUAL OPPORTUNITY MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATE PROGRAM(Post- Basic) Ct. The Confederation College of Applied Arts & Technology 99 WOMEN & STRESS MANAGEMENT This elective post-secondary credit subject is intended to examine situation stresses, in our lives, family, job, social relationships, conflict, change, developmental crises, etc., as well as potential sources of stress they bring to every situation because of their personality, their own belief system,, their life rhythms and their problem-solving. A lifestyleand attitude approach to changing their stress response will be developed by each individual. DATE /TIME Mondays 7:00-10:00 p.m. START DATE: January 13, 1986 COMPLETION: March 17, 1986 ;INSTRUCTOR: Shirley Stevens FEE: ROOM: $30.00 342, Shuniah Bldg GS 143 Toll Free: 1 - 800 - 465 - 6961 Northwestern Ontario Residents may call (807) 475 -6232, YOUR SUGGESTIONS, CALL EQUAL OPPORTUNITY PROGRAMS WELCOMES : ZW 013 99 TOWARD CHANGE: WOMEN AND DISABILITIES An opportunity for women with disabilities to come together to address difficulties they face in their daily lives and to make effective changes that will enhance their self-image and increase their coping abilities. This will happen through a combined orocess of presentations, films, discussions, skill sharing, etc. DATE/TIME Mondays 7:00-9:30 p.m. START DATE: January 20, 1986 COMPLETION: March 24, 1986 INSTRUCTOR: Margaret Buffington/Wave Watson FEE: ROOM: $25.00 156, Shuniah Bldg : ZW 012 99 FEMINIST COUNSELLING A practical guide designed for counsellors working with women, based on a peer relationParticipants will develop skills, ship. using women's experiences, mutual assistance and support as tools in arriving at collecThe tive solutions in problem-solving. course will be of particular interest to individuals working in self-help counselling situations in community organizations. DATE/TIME Mondays 7:00-10:00 p.m. START DATE: January 20, 1986 COMPLETION: March 24, 1986 Leni Untinen/Dawn St. Amand INSTRUCTOR: FEE: ROOM: $30.00 175, Shuniah Bldg : ZB 293 99 FIRST STEP-COMPUTER PROGRAMMING FOR WOMEN An introductory course in computer fundamentals designed to give women an understanding of the capabilities and terminology associated with computers. Upon completion, students will be capable of designing some of their own "BASIC" programs such as budget or mortgage payment calculations. Students will have hands-on experience with computers. DATE/TIME Tuesdays 7:00-10:00 p.m. START DATE: January 21, 1986 COMPLETION: March 25, 1986 INSTRUCTOR: Anna Melville FEE: ROOM: $30.00 344, Shuniah Bldg �Second Class Mail Registration No. 5697 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Don't forget to renew your subscription! Here's my sub: p2 EDITORIAL p2 YOUR VOICE p3 UPDATE p4 MAYDAY (North Shore Women) p6 WOMEN AND ECONOMIC DEV'T. p8 POETRY p9 WOMEN'S FESTIVAL Name Address (postal code) Individual $ 5Institutional $10 ************************ ************ IS THERE AN ASTERISK ON YOUR. LABEL?? PLEASE RENEW. YOUR SUBSCRIPTION 011 THE CHRISTMAS COMMITTEE ************************************* p12 READ ANY BOOKS p15 SUPPORT OUR p16 ADVERTISERS WORKERS THIS ISSUE: Kimberly Ashton, Lenny Ashton, Susan Chopp, Elaine Goodwin, Noreen Lavoie, Karen Maki, Anna McColl, Gwen O'Reilly, RETURN TO: THE NORTHERN WMAN 69 N. COURT ST. THUNEER BAY, ONTARIO P7A 4T7 `Margaret Phillips. ReturnPostage Guaranteed Northern Woman Journal 69 N. Court St., Thunder Bay, Ontario P7A 4T7 (Four Issues) $5.00 $10.00 Busineo0 or Ins4tution PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Northern Woman Journal Description An account of the resource Northern Woman Journal Published in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Northern Woman Journal (originally called Northern Woman) started in 1973 following the first annual Northern Women’s Conference in order to keep the conference attendees connected. Initially serving as a newsletter of events, local issues, and women’s resources, the Northern Woman Journal quickly became a diverse publication reaching national and international readers. Not only did it serve as a newsletter to keep local women up to date on feminist issues in Northwestern Ontario, but also as a safe space to discuss women’s resources, law, politics, economics, health, racism, sexism, homophobia, feminist organizing and activism, transnational feminist issues, poetry, feminist reading, feminist art, and women’s diverse lived experiences.One of the longest-running feminist perodicals in North America, the Northern Woman Journal reached its end in 1995. Throughout its 22 years, the Northern Woman Journal was produced by its many collective members, with membership evolving year to year. For many years, the journal worked closely alongside and shared space with the Northern Women’s Centre and the Northern Women’s Bookstore. With the exception of a year-long government grant in the 1970s, the journal relied entirely on subscription fees and donations in order to maintain publishing, which presented challenges throughout its entire existence. As stated in an early version of the editorial policy, “only by a free and open exchange of views and opinions will we develop a basis for unity which can be used as a basis for action.” Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Northern Woman Journal, Vol 9 No 3 Description An account of the resource Vol. 9, No. 3 (December 1985) Title: Northern Woman Journal Topics include: Side Effects play at Kam Theatre Depo provera Women & pharmaceuticals Journal funding Lakehead University Women’s Centre Project Mayday Les Elles du Nord Kenora’s Women’s Place North Shore women’s research, Project Mayday Women and Pensions Committee Women & economic development Exclusion of women from the economy Women’s work & the economy Poetry Women’s Festival, Winnipeg Feminist book list Women & Christmas Women and Therapy Conference Pay Equity Transnational feminism Daycare access Reproductive health hazards United Nations Decade for Women Confederation College programs for women Authors/Contributors: Joan Baril Carol Lepine-Quesnelle Susan Collins Gwen O’Reilly Joy Asham Kimberly Ashton Lenny Ashton Susan Chopp Elaine Goodwin Noreen Lavoie Karen Maki Anna McColl Margaret Phillips Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Northern Woman Journal Collective Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1985-12 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Published on this site with permission. Language A language of the resource English https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/16/2790/1986_Vol_9_No_4.pdf e1e08c615091d8e334dc4f67067a9644 PDF Text Text $1.50 Northern Woman Journal 1986 VOL.9 NO.4, THUNDER BAY, ONT. APRIL PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Dear N.W.J., Part of my problem with pornography is that it affects me on such a gut level. I realize in order to appear rational I must (like the pornographers and their supporters) argue the issue of censorship and human rights in a calm, controlled manner, but I can't. When I see these images of women and children in magazines, film and video I get angry. Angry that our society condones this exploitation. Pornography is not just sold "under the counter" any more. We see the hate imagery on our television screens and now it's beginning to be delivered'to our homes by Canada Post. A number of businesses have received a piece of junk mail peddling pornography. It came to the Women's Centre in a white envelope titled MATURE VIEWERS ONLY It contained a glossy,full colour fold out selling "Highest Quality Erotic XXX Video Movies",which are"totally uncut, U.S. version". The pictures and text were quite explicit about the merchandise. When a member of the Women's Centre called the Post Office to complain about this, the postmaster explained that Canada Post had checked with their legal advisors and they were within their rights to deliver this type of thing. Since it is our understanding that the Post Office is paid to deliver "Householder Mail how complicit is our postal system in condoning the spread of pornography in our community? On an intellectual level it coulC be argued that our human rights are being violated by delivering pornographic pimp-mail to someone who feels that pornography is synonymous with misogyny. But again my response is an emotional one. I feel pornography is men degrading women. I feel violated by pornographic images. I don't want to see them on television, in movies or in bookstores. I certainly don't want them delivered to my home. Carolyn P Greenwood. BEENDIGEN(Crisis Home for Native Women) 622-5101 WOMEN'S HEALTH INFORMATION NETWORK #4 Ste. 17, 8A N. Cumberland 344-1410 PHYSICAL AND SEXUAL ASSAULT CENTRE Office: 345-0894 Crisis: 344-4502 COMMUNITY REFERRAL LINE (LSPC) 345-4009 345-5841 Dear NWJ Readers: Those of you who read the NORTHERN WOMAN editorials understand the financial dilemma that the Jourru is experiencing. (In fact you may be getting tired of reading about the financial problems.) The current situation is that wE have scraped together enough money tE pay the last printing bill; we are bE hind in our rent; and we have anothe] publishing date fast approaching witl no guarantee of the $ to pay for the printing. Obviously, some creative money raising ventures must be considered. One rather attractive possibilil is to become a member of the Canadiar Periodical Publishers Association, which means that the Journal would bE distributed to all bookstores across Canada who would take us, and we woul get 45% of the sales. Not only would this bring us new revenue but it wou] allow the Journal to be widely circulated, thus increasing our fame and prestige. The only drawback to this schemE is that we have to pay $100.00 to re ister with CPPA (and we ain't Rot the $100). So we are making this appeal. We need 20 donations of $5 (or 10 dor ations of $10...or 50 donations of $1 to make this project go. We ask you to participate. Please give your donation to any Journal member, or leavE it at the Women's Centre. Thank You. Other fund raising ideas will bE welcomed. Is anyone interested in helping the Journal fund raise? plgaii call Carolyn Greenwood at 345-7801-" with your ideas and support. SIMONE DE BEAUVOIR, a foremother of feminist literature one of the leaders of the existentalist movement died earlier this week. A novelist, a playwright and historian;she leaves behind a legacy of important work. Perhaps her most famous workTHE SECOND SEX was published in 1949. Her later works, such as THE WOMAN DESTROYED and A VERY EASY DEATH,move us, disturb us, and provide us with comfort while telling stories that we share a common experience with. She will be missed. RESOURCES FOR WOMEN IN THUNDER BAY.. SEC. STATE WOMEN'S PROGRAMS 28 N. Cumberland Street, 3rd floor Lisa Bengtsson 345-2316 CONFEDERATION COLLEGE WOMEN'S PROGRAMMES. Ruth Cunningham 475-6278 WOMEN'S DIRECTORATE, Ontario. 435 James Street, P7E 6E3 Joy Fedorick 475-1691 HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISION, Ontario. 435 james Street, 475-1693 FAYE PETERSON TRANSITION HOME' 623-6600 LAKEHEAD UNIVERSITY WOMEN'S CENTRE C/O Student Union 345-2121 NORTHERN WOMEN'S CENTRE 69 N Court Street, 345-7802 or Our Voice Feminists in Solidarity Feminists in North America are trying to raise awareness and concerns about the women's movement in the Third World. The group is particularly concerned about the region of Central America, where women have to face poverty and repression, as well as oppression in work and family life. Feminists in Solidarity prepares educational programs, direct action and material aid campaigns to forge international links among women. Contact: Feminists in Solidarity, 108 E Coven Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19119, USA. cover I chose this photograph because of the obvious closeness between these women. To me it expressed the enduring friendships which are possible between women. While they are not(strictly speaking) "Northern Women", I felt they typified the feeling of International Women's Day. As women we are interconnected as mothers,daughters,lovers and friends: sisters from birth to death. Carolyn P. Greenwood, I NORTHERN WOMAN page 2 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �by JOAN BARIL eoe International Women's Day, March 8, turned into a women's weekend in Thunder Bay. For film buffs it started on March 7 with a screening of the 1928 classic, "The Passion of Joan of Arc". Later that evening came a party at the Ramada Inn. Two major events were held on Saturday, a conference at Lakehead University sponsored by the university's women's and the "End of Decade" centre meeting of the Northwestern Women's Decade Council. The day culminated in a concert by Heather Bishop and Tracey Riley at the Heritage Community Centre.... .s Karen Maki of the Northern Women's Centre startled the four panel members of the Taskforce on Pay Equity by quoting the Bible to them, namely Leviticus 27:1-8 which states the value of a man is fifty shekels of silver whereas a female is thirty shekels. Its about time the situation was brought to an end, Karen suggested, and went on to describe the poverty of minimum wage women and the necessity for an effective pay equity , policy... eee New faces: Faye Peterson House has a new coordinator, Roberta Couch. As ever it was a busy year at the House which ran near eighty percent capacity last year. The related problem which battered women in Thun der Bay face is the scarcity of affordable housing to move into after the shelter. This concern, as well as the funding for transition houses, will be the focus of the June 6,7,8 meeting of the Ontario Association of Interval and Transition Houses, in Waterloo. Kenora's new Family Resource Centre has applied for membership but the centre is still not open. ay. ..Women in Crisis-Sioux-Hudson North is the name of the Sioux Lookout transition house which opened last summer with Pat McGinnis as director. From the opening to the end of the year, they ran at ninety percent capacity. .0 edle Another Thunder Bay problem is the lack of feminist counsellors and therapists. In this respect the mental health committee of the Decade Council is bringing in Susan McPhail, a feminist therapist, to do a workshop in Dryden April 14 and 15; Thunder Bay April 16,17 and Terrace Bay 19,20. The workshops are designed for women working with women. Interested women should phone Dawn St. Amand at (807)345-3606. see oleo The "End of Decade" luncheon and meeting honoured several local women who had worked for Decade Council during the past ten years. Presented with scrolls of appreciation were Leni Untinen, Elizabeth Poulin, Lauri Cunningham, Barbara Street, Leona (Lang) Watson, Bernice Cain, Julie Fels, Margaret Philips, Joan Packota, Lisa Bengtsson and Margaret Lanchok. As well, everyone got a copy of the poem by Leni Untinen. o ave Kenora's Women's Place have hired two workers to look into health and legal issues of concern to battered women. KWP is also running a twentyfour hour crisis line staffed by volunteers 000 ...Project Mayday has hired Linda Pattison to work with groups in Marathon, Schreiber, Terrace Bay and Rossport to identify direction's for action. In March, the Mayday women have planned workshops for every Wednesday.os ...Red Lake women will also run a by CHERYL HODGINS workshop series starting on April 5 with a look at Women and Financial ManA Lobbying Workshop sponsored agement.000 by Project Mayday was held in TerbeStav tuned for more information race Bay on February 8. Carol Quesabout the Northern Women's Conference nelle, a member of Mayday's Board in Sudbury tentatively scheduled for of Directors, explained the reason this coming June. There will be funds for the workshop. available to help Northwestern Ontario "After the North Shore Women's women to attend plus lots of "how to" Conference was held here last Octoworkshops on keeping groups together, ber, lobbying skills were identified lobbying and using the media.. as a major need of the women. After all, before we can get anything from 10Geralton Women's Conference, the government, we have to know how May 30,31, will feature Maud Barlow to ask for it effectively." (former advisor on women to Prime Min- V Leni Untinen, who facilitated ister Trudeau), and the Nellie McClung a lobbying workshop at the Confertheatre troupe.., ence, facilitated this one as well. Women's Health Information NetUntinen's vibrant personality and work (WHIN) is offering memberships at superb communication skills were five dollars each. Members receive key factors in the Workshop's sucfour issues of their perky periodical cess. During the Conference follow"Health Network News" as well as accup, when plans for a lobbying workess to all information and activities. shop were discussed, women who had Send fiver to 8A N. Cumberland St., attended the fall workshop agreed #17, Thunder Bay, P7A 4L1.01040 that though the information was in..Congratulations to the Thunder valuable, it was Untinen's charisBay Physical Assault Centre which was matic presentation that made it come presented with the Ontario Crime Prevalive for the women. The message was ention Award by Solicitor General loud and clear: "get Leni to do the Kenneth Keyes in recognition of ten workshop!" years service. Untinen, who is coordinator of the Northwestern Ontario Women's Blame it on Baby. The doctors Decade Council, has successfully lobwant the maternity section of the Nipigon hospital closed.-( levels of government for necessary Labor Pains p.4) Although the doctors' but contentious issues such as Tranrationale is that there are too few sition Houses for battered women in deliveries to keep their "skills sharp" N.W.O. many observers believe the true reaDuring the workshop she detailson is they don't want to be bothered the five components of lobbying: ed with pesky babies who have the your people, your resources, the nerve to be born in the middle of the other people, the issue, and the night. At a public meeting in Nipigon strategy. She gave an in-depth analthe doctors and a doctor's wife testysis of each, their interactions, ified that- obstetrics keeps a doctor their individual and collective efon call, interrupts parties and home fect on the outcome of the lobby, ani life and that it has been disruptive contingency plans to implement when to family life doing the usual twentythe unexpected happens. five deliveries or so a year divided Information was practical, and among the four of them. When it was included suggestions on everything suggested that one of them devote from where to borrow a typewriter to his/her practice to obstetrics in orwhom to contact in specific minisder to have at least one set of skills tries. continually sharpened, this too was Untinen emphasized the necessit not acceptable. Too disruptive. of maintaining support and cohesion Since women who had personal within the lobby group if it was to experiences to relate were not allowsurvive and succeed. She offered ed to testify at the meeting, very practical advice on how to avoid con little was heard about the interruptflict within a group, and suggested ions to home life, the pain and expenways to cope with it should it inse caused by a policy that expects evitably arise. women in labour to go to Thunder Bay The signifigance of statistics for the delivery. was discussed; when to use, and not As for the tiny newborn, what use, them. about her? Doesn't s/he have a right At the end of the afternoon, th to the most favourable and safe atmoswomen role-played a situation. Half phere in which to leap into this of the participants acted as a munworld; a relaxed and comfortable mother icipal town council, the other half with a helpful and relaxed husband or as a lobby group. friend, a birth where the emphasis is The exercise revealed to the on the baby and not on the transportawomen just what skills they possess, tion o and the effectiveness of Untinen's presentation. Lobbying Workshop - continued on page 1 NORTHERN WOMAN page PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �NO MORE LABOR PAINS by KATHY THOMPSON Women living in the communities serviced by the Nipigon District Memorial Hospital have been forced to have their babies in Thunder Bay- over 100 kilometres from their home. The doctors practicing in this hospital ceased deliveries in November of 1985. They stated that in 1985 there were 24 births at the hospital. With three doctors handling deliveries, this means that on average each physician delivered eight babies. Soon after this decision was announced, the Committee for Re-Instating a Birth System was formed. CRIBS is comprised of approxiamately 15 local women, some planning on having children, and some whose families are complete. CRIBS set out to have this decision overturned by first voicing our outrage and concern in the local paper, and then by circulating a petition to Gilles Pouliot, MP Lake Nipigon. who plans to Present it in the legislature in April. With a population of 2400 in Nipinn, the 550 signatures proved that this decision was an unpopular one. Due to this public support and outcry, a forum was finally organized in March by Don Ross, Hospital Administrator. CRIBS set out to put together a brief outlining all our concerns. When the decision was publicly announced, the doctors reassured their patients in a letter which appeared in the paper that they would continue to provide prenatal care, and that women wishing to return to the Nipigon hospital for the remaindbe er of then. hospital able to do so. This was all the information that was given. After speak ing with several women who were pregnant, or had recently given birth after the decision was made, it became obvious to us that the labouring woman was on her own. They were discouraged from coming into the hospital for a medical examination by their doctors, and were instructed to proceed directly to Thunder Bay for delivery. This information was quite appalling to CRIBS, and proved that this was a decision that was made in haste by the local physicians, with no consideration given to the risks to both mother and infant. The risk of travelling over 100 kilometres in labour without medical attention was the tip of the iceburg. In this northern community weather conditions, and traffic can seriously lengthen the trip or cause hazardous driving conditions. There is risk of delivering on the highway, the risks associated with unknown doctors in Thunder Bay (the average patient will see the physician delivering her child once or twice prenatally). The staggering Caesarian rate in Thunder Bay was brought to public attention around the same time as the Twenty-eight percent of decision. all deliveries in Thunder Bay hospitals are delivered by Caesarian section, while the national average is eighteen percent. Therefore, women in our communities are at greater risk of going through major surgery. Several women in the area were having induced labors by physicians in Thunder Bay who were worried about these women being on the highway in labor- - there are major risks involved with inductions. NORTHERN WOMAN page 4 Along with the risk factors, another concern of ours is inconvenience and financial burdens. Some women do not have private transportation available to them, and ambulance service was not provided. The major industry of the community is pulp and paper, which means many fathers could be out in the bush while the mother is in labor, posing another problem for the mothers having to make the trip. Childcare for children at home has to be arranged for an additional 2 and a half to three hours, when fathers visit with the new mother, just for his travelling time. It was also suggested by some physicians, that some women would have to go to Thunder Bay one or two weeks prior to their due date, which poses an incredible financial strain for women without family or friends in Thunder Bay. Many of the women who have given birth in Nipigon were very pleased and happy with their birth experiences. Very little if any interventions are used here, and it is as close to a "natural childbirth" as you can have in a typical hospital setting. Analgesics are not used as there is no anasthesiologist available; therefore, forceps are not used, inductions are not performed, and neither are caesarians. In the past, when complications arose requiring more fP Re:Birth. more sophisticated technology and facilities, women were sent to Thunder Bay by ambulance. Many other factors contributed to a good birth experience. In a small town, chances are that the laboring woman knows many of the staff, making her more comfortable and at ease. Besides fathers being allowed in the labor room, women wishing to, could have "support" friends or relatives with her. After the birth, rooming-in is allowed in all rooms. Visiting hours are convenient for family and friends providing needed support during the post-partum period. And sibling visitation is allowed any time during those visiting hours with no restrictions. None of these practices exist in Thunder Bay. All of these risks, concerns, and burdens were outlined in the brief CRIBS presented at the forum with the doctors, Ministry of Health officials, and hospital representatives, along with some suggestions for an alternative birthing system. The first suggestion was to have one physician handle all obstretical patients. This would enable the one physician to maintain his or her obstetrical skills. Also to train or recruit obstetrical nurses to the area. This suggestion was not acceptable to the physicians, as they explained that one of them would then be on call 24 hours a day 365 days a year. How this would differ from what other physicians who handle obstetrics around the country is not known. They stated that they are currently on call 1 out of 3 nights, and that this added responsibility would burden their family life. What CRIBS learned from this meeting is that because women in the area are close enough, by the doctor's definition, to Thunder Bay, we would be safer to make the trip. Maintaining their obstetrical skills is obviously not the issue, as this can be easily rectified by having one doctor handle all obstetrics, which they are unwilling to do. The battle Currently facing the committee is to keep the obstetrical facilities at the hospital intact. We learned that the two beds used for maternity patients in the past will now be used for other patients, if necessary. This means that women who are able to return to the Nipigon hospital for the remainder of their haspital stay may not be albe to do so if those beds are occupied. There are plans to build a new hospital here in Nipigon, and it was learned at this forum that complete obstetrical facilities are not included in the plans. Currently in the plans is an allocation of a portion of the emergency room for emergency deliveries. Therefore, the decision made by these four doctors is a decision our community will endure for a lifetime. If another doctor comes to Nipigon to practice who is willing to handle obstetrics, it will not be possible for he or she to do so, as the facilities will not be available. CRIBS plans to lobby the Ministry of Health, and the Hospital Board to keep these facilities. We also plan to present our needs to the Midwifery Task Force recently formed by the Ministry of Health. We feel that a midwife would meet the needs of the community, and fill the loss of this important health service. We feel that the decision made here in Nipigon will become a trend in small communities across the country due to the decreasing birth rate, heavy work load, and increase in malpractice insurance. We were told by the Ministry of Health that it has already become a trend. This decision was recently made in Blind River, and we were told that it is working out well there. The next community to fight such a decision as this, will be told that it has happened in Blind River and Nipigon, and that it is working out well in those communities. Our Question is FOR WHOM? PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �.Native Women's Status by LYNN BEAK STATUS REINSTATE NT In Bill C-31 the federal government has introduced new rules governing Indian Status and Band membership. Bill C-31 was passed in June 1985, as a direct result of the Equality Rights section (#15) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (which came into effect on April 17,1985) and the years of lobbying done by dedicated Native women, and the women's groups that supported them. The most important changes brought about by Bill C-31 are: (1) separating Indian Status and Band membership so that Indian Status is conferred by Indian Affairs based on the Indian Act, and Band membership may be conferred by Bands based on their membership rules (if they choose to develop rules); (2) reinstatement of many men, women and children who lost their Status due to Indian Act rules, or who chose to "enfranchise" and now wish to return to Indian :status; (3) initial registration of the children of reinstated people; (4) no further conferring of Indian Status upon people (women who married Indian men) who are not of native ancestry; (5) elimination of differential treatment of "illegitimate" children; (6) recognition of adoption as a means of gaining Status (but NOT losing it) when a child is adopted by Status Indians. WHO APE ENTITLED Indian Affairs will now confer status upon the following groups: people who were registered (or registrable) prior to April 17, 1985, under the old rules; reinstated people; and the children of both groups. Those who can apply for reinstatement include: (1) Indian women who lost Status due to marriage to a non-Indian man (about 12,000 women); (2) children of the above women born before Status was lost; (3) illegitimate children of Indian women who were protested (where their fathers were proven to be non-Indians); (4) children who lost Status at age 21 where their mother and paternal grandmother only acquired Status through marriage; (5) any one who enfranchised (gave up Indian Status) and their spouses and children; (6) any one who lost Status for a variety of reasons, such as living in a foreign country without permission, completing post-secondary education, entering religious life, or obtaining full-time employment. HOW TO APPLY Indian Affairs and local legal clinics have application forms for reinstatement. If a person had Indian Status at one time, they do not need to prove their parentage to Indian Affairs, but must simply provide enough information to determine that it is the same person. Therefore, they will normally need their band name and number, birth date and name of parents, siblings and minor children. However, if the person who wishes to apply for a registration is the child or grandchild of someone who had Status and lost it, then that person will need to prove their relationship to the person who had Status. In most cases a certified Statement of Live Birth, obtainable from the Registrar General's office, will suffice to provide names for both mother and father. Where the father is not listed (and that information is necessary), the person will need an affidavit from the man admitting parentage, or a Children's Law Reform Act paternity declaration. Anyone applying for Status should collect all their documents and then complete the application form. Try to obtain as much information from your family as possible, to assist Indian Affairs to locate your family line. Confirmation of re-registration is taking up to six months, since there are approximately 70,000 to 100,000 people entitled to apply for Indian Status. Benefits such as education assistance will not be granted prior to the date of the application so hardship will be caused by this delay for many people. APPEAL PROCESS Everyone who thinks they may be entitled to registration should apply. It will not be granted to you unless you apply. If an application is refused an appeal is available. The appeal is heard by the District Court in Ontario, and the appeal must be seilffrrOrrietireitOftWomerpmertsftimo cial protest decision by the Indian Registrar. Anyone who is refused Status should contact a lawyer to determine if the decision was properly made and should do this quickly, because of the 6 month time limit. VICTORY Although the amendments did not eliminate all problems with the Indian Act, they are a victory for women. In future, native women will not lose Status for marrying a man without Status. All women who lost Status, their children, and anyone else who ever lost Status for any reason can now be reinstated. The direct benefits from the Charter of Rights have been few, and we must celebrate the ones we have achieved. WE AS HUMAN BEINGS ARE A PARTOF THE EARTH AND SKY. OUR POWER COMES FROM THE NATURAL WORLD. EARTH AND SKY GIVE US OUR POWER, NOIIWRI'l.WW, .RW.5 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �UNIVERSITY WOMEN by GWEN O'REILLY Women's Centre Coalition Conference Women's centres exist on university and college campuses throughout the country, each attempting in it's own way to improve the status of women. Unfortunately, institutes of higher learning, although frequently considered the vanguard of social and scientific advancement, are also bastions of traditional male domination. The idea of a women's centre coalition has been growing throughout campus centres due to continued threats of closure, funding problems, space cutbacks, and various ongoing battles with administrations, student government, and engineering students. Women's centres everywhere face similar frustrations. In October, 1985, Ryerson and York Women's Centres met to discuss issues concerning their organizations. It was decided then that these women would initiate a concerted effort to make the Coalition a reality. The major intent of the conference was to develop an increased and continued awareness among campus women's centres of each others achievements and problems, and to establish a provincial and national communication/support structure among centres. Resources for the conference were provided by the Ontario Federation of Students. On February-7th, 1986, sixty women representing fifteen schools from across Canada( mainly Ontario) met in the middle of a ferobious Toronto snowstorm. The conference commenced with a speaker and a wine and cheese social The keynote address was given by Johanna Stuckey, a self-proclaimed "Early( circa 1969) Canadian Radical Feminist", and founding member of the first university women's centre in Ontario at York. She outlined the herstory of the university women's movement throughout the sixties and seventies, and spoke about the recurring problems caused by external attacks or disapproval, internal conflict, and that old devil, burn-out. In summing up, she passed on an important thought: "...two-things I do know now: that I did not know in 1969: first, that most people are not logical about sex roles and sexism, and second, that change comes slowly in society at large, and even more slowly in universities and colleges, the bastions of tradition. I used to think (mistakenly) that all I had to do was demonstrate clearly the injustice of society's and men's treatment of women, and they would immediately change." Johanna learned the hard way. We as organizers and activists of the eighties, are fortunate to have her wisdom to guide us. Saturday morning, the group gathered at the Ryerson campus and got down to work. Most of the day was spent listening to representatives from each school introduce themselves and describe their centre's situation. The amount of information, ideas and helpful suggestions shared was astounding. Campus women's centres exist in an amazing diversity of situations. Some centres, like those at Simon Fraser and McGill, reported a large, annual budget ($5,000 to $7,500), excellent space, extensive resource collections and a relatively large membership. The Guelph centre ran and won a student referendum for funding, and now claims $12,000 to $14,000 annually from student activity fees. Their impressive budget has not, unfortunately won them sufficient space. By contrast Ontario College of Art has one interested (committed!) woman, no funding, space or other means of support. Other centres fell somewhere between these extremes. Space but no funding. Funding but no space. Many are at the mercy of unsympathetic student governments. Ryerson is threatened with closure, Carelton with space and funding cutbacks. York representatives related a frightening story of a persistent lunatic who harrassed them with hundreds of phone calls and bomb threats. Waterloo established a personal safety service after two women were murdered on campus during Oktoberfest. Almost everyone had a horror story to tell. of preference, has internalized the social biases of homophobia and heterosexism to some degree. Since animosity dissipates group energy, it is important that women understand and confront their own homophobia and heterosexism. The seminar did indeed reveal many persistent stereotypes commonly (if secretly) held by straight women and lesbians about each other, however, in soliciting these misconceptions, the leaders aroused a great deal of hostility which was not properly dealt with during the course of the workshop. Sunday's proceedings started off slowly, but soon gained momentum. OFS representatives Leanne Macmillan and Janet Maher gave a seminar on organization and action for women's centres. They discussed the details involved in choosing, or clearly identifying an issue requiring action, recognizing target groups in order to attempt change, and also which tactics and strategy effected the most gain with the least pain. The presentation included information on resources and funding possibilities, as well as outside alliances which might be available to campus women's centres from the surrounding community. The final session was somewhat to talk r about, and people slowly tric i g u to catch planes and buses. The newly formed Coalition still managed to make some important resolutions. It was decided immediately to announce the formation of the Coalition and send the minutes of our first meeting to women's centres across the country. A list of centres in crisis MaS circulated and representatives from the Heuberships ranged from 1 to 150 centres attending were asked to write members, with the actual core"organiletters of support to the student zers" always comprising a smaller subunions/administrations involved. Sevgroup. Political positions were equalen regional representatives were choly varied, and generally governed to sen to form the Coalition Committee, some extent by sources of funding. whose responsibilities include the Centres such as Guelph are obliged to development of an inter-centre newsmaintain neutrality (i.e. no position letter, and planning for the next on abortion, men are allowed in the conference, scheduled for the fall of centre), since-their funding comes '86. In addition, a resource booklet directly from student activity fees. of profiles of all campus women's Several of the more established centres centres is being compiled, and should have paid co-ordinators. Regardless of be ready for distribution by the fall. situation, all centres expressed a Requests for information have already need for community and support from been sent out, and the regional reps a coalition. plan to meet at the end of May to put After a lunch break and a dramatic it all together. poetry recital by Taylor Greene, a Delegates left the conference with Toronto performer, the Saturday sessa bouyant feeling of renewal and many ion continued with more round table newly made friendships. A great deal discussion. The afternoon also includof work and sharing was accomplished ed a workshop on lesbians and straight over the course of two days, especially women working together. This presentaconsidering the majority of the women tion was coordinated by Side By Side, attending had never worked together a non-profit, feminist resource group, before. There is no substitute for the and presented by Natalie Zlodre and sure knowledge that there are other Maggie Redmans. committed women out there working Starting from the assumption that towards the same goals, and experienall sexual/affectional preferences are cing the same frustrations achieving valid (including bisexuality and celithose goals. The Coalition of Campus bacy), Maggie and Natalie attempted to Women's Centres is now a reality, and deal with the stereotypes and resultpromises to become an effective vehiing "horizontal hatred" surrounding cle for creative and supportive exchboth straight women and lesbians. They ange among campus women's centres. pointed out that everyone, regardless Hurray for us! W9W, ,P PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor NORTH VII\j , �ENTRY RE ENTRY AND EXIT by JOAN BARIL .. . Want to be an educational adminiistrator? Set up your own school? Say no more. If you qualify, the federal government may give you more money per student that it gives to the community colleges. You too can have your own "alternate education system" as one CEIC official phrased it. And the best part is you don't need any experience, either in education or in the courses your training program could offer. "Anyone can apply." as the CEIC official repeated many many times at a public meeting at the Lakehead Labour Centre March 10 called to explain the program. The new CEIC offering is called Entry-Re-Entry and it is one segment of the new Canadian "Job Strategy". First, let's see what the program is not. It is not an employee training program. It makes sense, I believe, for the government to give money to employers to train workers or prospective workers-the sort of on-the-job training which has been funded for years, the kind of thing where a typewriter repair business trains people to repair typewriters and perhaps in related fields such as customer relations. But Entry-Re-Entry is an entirely different kettle of CEIC fish. Through it, the typewriter repair owner may apply bo train anything he or she wants; bartenders, cooking, waitressing, secretarial and so on. A proposal is submitted and if accepted "teachers" Are hired on contract, eligible trainees are rounded up and eh voila! - mini-school! Next, our education entrepeneur can collect up to the maximum of $60.00 per student, per day. So get out your calculators, gentle readers, figure out the take for ten students for a month of twenty teaching days. Now multiply a bit because at least one Thunder Bay entrepeneur is consdering up to one hundred students. He'll be pulling in close to half a million dollars. To put your total figure in perspective, consider that Confederation College recieves $24.00 to $26.00 per student, per day for training federally sponsored studentsl and note that these students receive all the advantages of attending a solid community-based educational institution which offers (besides qualified teachers) such services as health facilities, counselling, and sports programs. %It t: ... ............... CEIC is looking at at least eight projects in Thunder Bay alone, involving 200 students or more. Doubts have 10.1tiltmoniter the enormous fundstoinvo been expressed about CEIC's policy ,S1s. and the quality of instuction Sudbury office, 600 miles away using one CEIC officer to do it However some or all of this mo function may be taken over by college. Not to mention a recognized diploma at the end of it all. Students in "alternate educatioal systems" run by "the private sector" will not receive any piece of paper recognized as anything. For example, trainees in a local program who will study mathematics and English will not receive certification that they have achieved a particular academic grade or level. Also there is no guarantee of a job after training. In fact concerns have been raised suggesting trainees may end up destroying their own job opportunities. During the course of training, students "on-the-job training" will provide prospective local employers with free labour, lessening the number of real jobs available in the field they are working in. Who are the prospective trainees and what do they get out of signing up? Entry-Re-Entry is aimed at youth and women who have been at home for three years or more. The trainees will receive a living allowance while they are attending the program or, if applicable, continue on unemployment insurance. If we ask what women and youth need to enter the labour force, the answer is surely-jobs. Home-bound women also may need affordable day care. But youth and women will flock to Entry-Re-Entry because they get paid to do so, or perhaps they'll be steered into it by social workers or welfare officers or perhaps they'll sign up because the words "training program" have an appearance of offering something worthwhile. Once enrolled, they are no longer a blot up the unemployment statistics and it all looks so good when the issue of unemployment rolls around at Question Period. The local women's centre has its own concerns about the type of training offered to women- service, tourist and industry jobs for the most part, waitress, bartenders and retail clerk. But according to Dena Morrison (from the Sudbury CEIC office which will moniter the Thunder Bay program) " not trad" is "downsized" which to you and me means the focus is off helping women into the non-traditional higher paid jobs. In short, after a period of luring women into a brief flirtation with non-traditional occupations, Manpower, it seems, is tossing us back into the cheap labour Existing educational inst have complex networks of check balances to ensure the Ministr Education's regulations are me things are kept honest. Colleg Universities and school boards elected or appointed governing ies. They have inspecters, aud internal checks. They have pri or chairmen to moniter curricu and teaching. They have studen cils, appeal systems and local ory boards. Community training ects such as "Down to Business have grown out of community or ations and have community boar Entry-Re-Entry lacks these che and in-puts. Local Advisory Co (LACs), which are now being se will have an advisory function In a time when the averag dent loan barely pays for the trip to the bookstore, when ex educational institutions are b squeezed for funds, when the s ship system is so meagre that not provide higher education t our brightest students, when t eam of getting a summer job to one's way through winter class often just a dream, when appre ships have dried up, when the daycare is going through the r the subsidy system is collapsi when government money is neede help students get a real educa we see our government pumping into "the privatization of the ational system" and handing ou mous sums to "the private sect set up "alternate educational NOTES 1. English Second Language, $2 federal trainees per day; BTSO grading) $26.00, other college rams higher. 2. Down to Business is being p down. "Immigrant women are no the focus", says CEIC. pool. NORTHERN WOMAN PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Part One Easter was ... a crisp white blouse ... plaid skirt ... tightly curled hair ... keeping quiet in church when so much excitement stirred inside as thoughts of easter eggs ran through my head. Easter was ... the long ride home in the child filled car ... bursts of laughter ... shouts ... tears ... being quiet ... waiting to get home as thoughts of easter eggs ran through my head. Easter was ... home at last ... children shoving ... father laughing ... mother giving instructions Take off church clothes ... no fighting ... no eating before breakfast. Easter was ... the smell of bacon cooking ... children changing ... pushing ... laughing ... running finding a melted hen in a basket by the window. Easter was ... a taste of warm melted chocolate before breakfast. Part Two Easter was ... NO LIPSTICK ... NO EARRINGS ... NO HIGH HEELS ... ISN'T HER SKIRT TOO TIGHT ... WB'RE GOING TO CHURCH; Easter was ... washing again and crying for high heels and lipstick ... smiling at priests and parents' friends who whispered "what a nice girl" as thoughts of tight skirts and boys ran through my head. Easter was ... aprons ... cleaning ... keeping the kids out of the chocolate ... smells of bacon and eggs. Easter was ... walking down main street arm in arm with my friend Joyce ... Laughing in our red lipstick ... clamp-on earrings ... long tight skirts soft sweaters ... bobby socks in high heels ... hats and gloves that covered heads and hands. Easter was ... enjoying the.whistles from the boys. Part Three Easter was windows and walls ... 40 days of washing curtains polishing furniture ... baking cookies .., sewing dresses ... hiding new white socks and black shiny shoes. Easter was ... 40 days of mass ... rosary ... stations of the cross ... sorrow ... guilt. Easter was ... a night of making maps and hiding eggs ... quietness ... butter cookies in the tin ... hot bread on the counter ... jellied salad in the fridge ... family's new clothes laid out. Easter was ... NO TREATS BEFORE MASS ... EVERYONE TO CHURCH ... rushing ... pushing ... silent tears ... smiling. Easter was ... cooking bacon and eggs ... wiping melted chocolate from a little face before breakfast! ... remembering warm melted chocolate. Easter was ... keeping children quiet ... feeding many ... washing dishes ... gossiping in the kitchen ... playing cards ... laughter ... noise ... tiredness. Easter was done on Sunday night. Part Four Easter is ... remembering Easter .., gently kissing the past goodbye ... letting go of guilt and sorrow. Easter is ... time alone to love all of who I am as a woman in Transition ... fallible ... wonderful ,.. courageous ... needing ... asking ... receiving ... giving . Easter is ... planning a day of ice fishing ... sharing moments ... a meal ... with friends. Easter is ... believing in Parts One ... Two ... Three ... Four ... believing in Parts Five ... Six ... Seven ... that are to come. Carol Quesnelle NORTHERN W OMAN page 8 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Bette CoUcvi Woman Noriliwcstern On-taiio Wornens Paack Council 1q76-1.786 ter:: 7thrs a-ne taugi-iter: and in fowns`ti and ci-fies, women corn& Front iso(a-f-ion. flicy had Anow.n. Togeffie-r tricy were- -not atone. fo sham, 1.0 speak Each ane -the same, milt, on(' uniee To change the -ruCes -Mal ept us still To hear. -fo To hare' , flee female age: 32 Tatk oi iututez, Puncuated by netvouz Zaughtut Ins aLway4 vague. We zit, Hunched oven ()ems, Dreaming to each other oi land, And houzez buitt by woman-hand6. Wand's ticochet a/wand the table And the sound o6 laughter Itoa/tis in OWL eaAz. Everything zeemz pozsibte, No wiish too-ab4und. We Zook up, Stitt taughing, A4 youn wands zhattet out dneamz With the Sudden, vivid ctanity oi ate our beano . " Who the hat us going to kite a 53 yea/t-ad £ady Zabo/tee " Many-Ann it on Will To fee( fife power gained in sharing dernatith-afc strrnqfit carinq To char t -the- :path_ to clime 6, foJart` T -work .for one, to gain for- all A -woman safe, a child's -trus, Pn'antS situ:Wed (ficartis were crushed , To (ift :us old. of 7,01)ei-fy Pernariding our .e'..9.1106-ty of our Earth -PrE -se.1-0aficti, of ow- -worth Thoughts we Feel,' oul sypken. -ward will be heard P-ronhsiliq t he- shadow of -the dale Not a caiLse The Decade, oct of Cove , ri )oal5 710f ye Norffi,ern -women haVe brquit ( won a, pccae, Jio guiester Li_ QntarLv tlionuiris sfIcia commitment" an aciliedetne,nt? 3n, cele:6.catt'on, o Wandeting the ztackz I zeanch out titteS. ("The L064 04 A Panent") ("On Death and Dying") Nothing appeatz. I teatize, With come dizgurt, That I am tnying To con4nont your death With iactz, 6igutez, logic. How did I believe That this cowed be "tead-up"? Wa4 I Zooking bon "zeti-hete? ("G/tie6 to Gninning: A Step-by-Step Manuat") Penhapz a zchotaitty tationatization oi mourning? Something I could digezt and then did card, Hoping, atiso, to dizcakd The iutitity o6 wondering What you Might have thought 04 thingz I had never Been able To say, Many-Ann NORTHERN OW page 9 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Fiction JESSE'S bit of money comin in. Only trouble is I'd feel a whole lot .better if Billy, my oldest, didn't keep comin home lookin worse than when my old man lay a beatin on him, and nothin to say for himself. Seems I spent sc long just tryin to get a job and a place to stay that I forgot how to talk to my kids. I still don't have much time tc be with my kids. Money is real tight Food for seven kids, some stuff for the house, clothes for my four older for school, pay back some of the mot ey my cousin lent me, the cheque juE won't go that far even with the clot and stuff my social worker finds me, Never mind that sometimes I get so sick inside for my town and my old man and the bush that I got to get out of the house and spend some mon( on goin for coffee or bingo to talk to some people I know from around where I come from. Around this time I'm still tryin, you know... STORY by ROSE PITTIS Brian Mulroney, if I could write good I'd sure be sendin you a letter. Lyin here lookin at these puke green walls, me, and lookin back at my life which has been that same colour for a long time. I been seein your dogeared face on the front of a lot of old magazines lyin around the ward and I been thinkin how your social programs with all them social workers managed to help me sell my pride, lose my kids, and trade real life for this psych hospital. I also been seein that angelfaced old lady of yours on a lot of old magazines. Glorified wife and mother of this land with three kids to look after, always smilin. That smile begins to look like a smirk to me 'cos I know what put it there. Money. What I want to know is if I kept my seven kids with me for so long, with a smile on my face and no money, how come they don't put me on the cover of Chatelaine? How come they didn't give me a goddamm god medal! Had my first kid when I was 16, me, maybe ten years ago. The next six years are kind of a blur now. Seems like I -Was either carryin a kid or feedin one, drinkin or soberin up all the time, with my old man takin a swing at my head sometimes to keep things interesting. So I hit rock bottom, find our Maker down there to help me out of the hole and I quit drinkin. Thats when I start feelin the pain of livin again... First its the birth pains, then its the beatin pains, then its the pain inside when I see those swings missin me and landin on my three oldest. Thats when I know its time to leave. So thats the first part over... I drop the old man and the bottle, pick up thekids and the good Lord, and head out of that town down the highway to Thunder Bay where I got a cousin I can stay with. My cousin's got three rooms,three kids and an old man that drinks. Its good its summer and the kids can be outside all the time, though there seems to be more trouble for them to get into than where I come from. I spend my days walRin around lookin for a place to stay and a job to pay for it. I spend my nights listenin to the kids screamin, and sometimes I get out for a coffee, or a bingo. Bout a month goes by and I start to figure out that it doesn't much matter if I find a job, cos there isn't any places to live anyway. My moneys almost gone, my cousin's goin crazy just havin us there, and I have this strange feelin my kids are doin stuff they shouldn't on the street. Around then there were times I'd be so tired of tryin, it took the last of my strength to get me by that hotel door and into that coffee shop. So I use my cousin's address, ignore that twistin pride in my belly that says me and my old man never asked anyone but family for anything, and head out to get signed up for welfare. They all talk a different language down there. I sort of feel scared of them for a while, especially this women who comes to ask questions about my kids and where I'm livin. Says she's my social worker and seems there's some problem with me livin with family that's got a bit of money comin in. So I borrow some money, enough to move me and my kids into a motel for a week, the kind of place I swore-I'd never see again after I quit drinkin. And they give me money for movin out of a family place and into this hole. Seems there's this cheap housing the city's got but you have to be on a list. Always thought you got points from the Lord for havin good healthy kids and standin on your own two feet but this place gives out points for just the opposite. The worse off you can prove yourself, the more points , you get, and the higher up on the list you get. So I scrounge up my points, ignore that twist in my belly again, and end un with a place to stay and a Maybe a month down the road frc that time my body starts to give out on me and I got to go to the doctor. Somehow its hard to get all this ne) part straight in my mind. I guess 7, social worker gets me someone to cor in and help me with my kids during the day. Called a homemaker. Seems like an OK person but used to be ab] to make my own home, me. Now the do( tells me I have to go into the hospital for tests, and with some troub: my kids get into and not going to school the way everone says they she uld, some woman comes round askin questions. I can smell children's aid on her a mile away and the next thing I smell is that fear sweat con out of my own body. This one seems be just lookin not stealin but now can't go in for tests and leave my kids at home waitin for her to show again. I don't like to complain so mud but, Lord, those pains weren't gett: any easier so I get my social worke to find me someone to take care of kids when my cousin can't and then go into the hospital. Seems like it a bad joke they're all playin behind my back. Sitter quits, my cousin go( on a binge, nowhere for my kids to stay. So here I am in the hospital with tubes and bottles hangin off m: body and that woman comes back to c eck on my kids and she and my socia worker say they can get real good h mes for my kids...but nowhere for them all to go together. Around thi time is when I stop tryin for awhil continued on page 11 ,NORTHERN WOMAN pageweb 10 optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor PDF compression, OCR, �... continued from page 10. Then my brother comes through town. He's off the bottle lookin for a job and no place to stay. I get out of the hospital and they give me my kids back. I have to go into the hospital for an operation from those tests soon so I figure my brother can look after my kids. Only trouble is I find out some rules I didn't know about. My brother can't live at my cheap housin maybe cos he's not on welfare and he can't give my address so he can't get welfare cos he's not supposed to be livin there. He's got no money to get another place, doesn't know anyone in town and,-me, I got no energy left to help him out. They can't find me another woman to stay with my kids so I say why don't they hire my brother as a homemaker to keep my kids at home and save them a whole lot of money as well as savin my family. They look at me as if I'm just some crazy old woman even though I'm only 26 and used to be able to think straight once in awhile. This next part is kind of hard to tell, even to myself. I got no choice but to go into the hospital, say bye to my brother who's headin out to look for work down by Marathon, watch them take my kids and send them all over town to those good homes where they got no real family. Except one other choice... I got a bottle of pain pills the doctor gave me to keep me goin til I get in for my operation. Oh Lord, those beatin's my old man gave me were nothin to the one you're layin on me now! I've been in the bush, nightime, in the middle of winter alone and half drunk out of my mind, and I've seen the way out better than I can see the way out of this one! So I take those pills down, me, with some tea to make them go down smooth and I wake up lookin at these puke green walls and pretty pictures of you and your sweet old lady, Brian Mulroney. You can take those social programs and shove them and you can take a look at this slash across the dog-eared face of your wife too. I give up my old man, the booze dreams, my land, my kids, and now I just realized I give up the Lord. I got nothin but a bit of that old twistin pride still left in my belly, and its whats goin to get me out of here. ........................................................................................................................... ...........................+.......**....*.............................................................. Depo --active Contact the CANADIAN COALITION ON DEPO-PROVERA... DEPO-PROVERA, c/o 58 arthur St., is an injectable synthetic hormone Ottawa, Ont. K1R 7B9. Get in touch now being considered by Health and with a women's centre or women's healWelfare Canada as a contraceptive. th centre in your area. Write to the BANNED IN THE UNITED STATES, this drMinister: ugs safety has not been proven. Many The Honourable Jake Epp people feel that there has not been Minister of Health and Welfare enough research on its long-term eff16th Floor, Brooke Claxton Building ects. It often given to women without Tunnyr's Pasture their "informed consent". Women's groOttawa, Ont K1A 0A6 ups, health, consumer and international or to your Member of Parliament development agencies have joined tog(no postage necessary!) ether to delay approval of Depo Provera by Cheryl Hodgins for contraception until its SAFETY HAS BEEN PROVEN. As a country manufacturing Depo Provera I was cleaning the bathroom the The Canadian for export, we should be concerned that other day when suddenly,somewhere beWomen's Movement it is available "over the counter" in tween pouring the javex into the toimany Third World countries where womlet bowl and wiping the tub with comArchives en are not adequatly screened nor monet,the following questions occurred While the purpose of these archives itored for side effects. to me. is similiar to that of others - resACTION... Why don't men feel guilty about earch and preservation, the collectIn November '85, the CANADIAN COALITION leaving their children with babysition is anything but conventional.In ON DEPO-PROVERA was formed to voice ters while they work? an effort to collect on our shared concerns for the safety of Who looks information after the children and the Canadian women's movement, writthis drug. who searches for a replacement careten documents (periodicals, minutes The Coalition is now close to eighty giver when she cannot,or chooses not, of meetings, correspondence and jourmember-groups strong. to do so? nals) are catalogued, but posters, In November, approval was imminent. Why don't more men choose the buttons, graffiti, tee-shirts, flyers occupationswomen's of full-time parent and By mid-December, decision for approval oral histories and signs also homemaker? was delayed until March. find a place. Why aren't ya women at the archives are In mid-January, it seemed that men the ever de- asked "IfThe wanted until to be early an engineer(or pipefitcision was postponed sumtrying to redescover and rebuild the ter) why'd ya have kids?" mer. continuity in women's lives - to take Why don't men support the ON Members of themore CANADIAN COALITION advantage of the experience of all idea of government daycare? DEPO-PROVERA havefunded been writing to theCanadian feminists. They encourage triedir very hard,I Members of just Parliament and to the women's groups to keep records and of aMinister logical of answer Health and Welfare to voito preserve and make those records ions.ce Maybe someone their concerns as to the safety of easily available to other women. you'll have toand excuse this drug encourage you to do the Contact: Canadian Women's Movement om needs to be cleaned same. The Coalition is demanding chaArchives, Box 928, Station Q, Toronto nges to the drug-approval process so Ontario. M4T 2P1 (416) 597-8865. that consumers can participate in the drug approval process. NORTHEW.kARIAN,pd0 GET DEPO-ACTIVE... now... WHY? PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �. DAY CARE NEWS By MARGARET PHILLIPS TASK FORCE There is much activity regarding day care at all levels. Federally, the Report of the Task Force on Child Care (the Katie Cooke Report) has been released. From their comprehensive study of child care and parental leave in Canada, Dr. Cooke and her committee members concluded "that the child care situation is in a state of crisis, and that serious consequences will result if steps are not taken immediately to rectify the situation': The Task Force has put forward a number of important recommendations with the underlying premise that "federal, provincial and territorial governments must begin now to develop complementary systems of child care and parental leave that are as comprehensive, accessible and competent as our systems of health care and education. To achieve universal day care (by the year 2001) the Task Force recommends short-term and mediumterm strategies. The immediate priority must be the stablization of existing services; increasing supply; improved variety of services; and the reduction of user fees. To facilitate this immediate goal the Task Force recommends that the federal government provide "good faith" grants of $4 per day per space for infant, disabled and special needs children; $2 per day for pre-school spaces; and $1 per day for "latchkey" spaces. In the medium term a new federal-provincial cost sharing arrangement for day care is recommended, whereby the federal and provincial governments would provide 50% of the cost of child care; the other 50% to be covered by user fees. (The subsidization of low income families to be continued during this period.) While this proposal would make day care accessible to significantly more families, the Task Force recognizes that only a universal system will make day care available to all children. The Task Force states "In the long term, we would see licensed child care being fully financed by public revenues, for, as long as user fees are a feature of the child care system, some children will lack access to the services they need...The Task Force believes that the incremental approach is "the most realistic and responible way to reach this goal under current fiscal conditions". The report makes further recommendations dealing with capital funding, taxation issues, research, and day care programs for public service families. The studies and analysis of child care needs, present inadequacies, and concern for quality, which have lead the Task Force to their recommendations, reflect the issues and concerns that have been enunciated by day care advocates for years. Nonetheless, it is notable that the Task Force has a vision of a comprehensive system of quality day care. It is vital that the Katie Cooke Task Force findings and recommendations be kept in the forefront of public/political attention, and that advocacy for the implementation of the key recommendations be maintained. With the current federal Special Committee on Child Care (more on this later) embarked on yet another study, the valuable recommendations of the Cooke report could easily be obscured. We cannot afford to have the Cooke report side-tracked. The mandate of the Task Force also involved the study of parental leave policies, which were found to be most inadequate to meet the needs of today's families, and compared unfavourably with other jurisdictions. The Task Force concluded that even the modest maternity benefits available had serious gaps.. eg the requirement of working for the same employer for at least a year; the exclusion of domestic workers, farm labourers, students and self-employed; the low level of replacement benefits (53% or less for most employees). The report concludes that "As a result of the various exclusions, conditions and low level of benefits, only about half of all women workers who give birth each year claim Unemployment Insurance benefits... Adopting parents and natural fathers are even less fortunate, being ineligible in most jurisdictions for leave or benefits, or both." To address these inadequacies the Task Force makes a number of recommendations which recognize the equal partnership of parents in meeting family responsibilities and which insist that government has a responsibility to assist parents to effectively carry out their dual roles as workers and as family members. Recommendations include: a five day annual paid leave for family related responsibilities; reduction of the qualifying period for parental leave to 20 weeks; increased dura= tion and level of birth and adoption benefits; paid leave for the father for birth related responsibilities; Unemployment Insurance maternity benefit coverage for the self-employed; and for part-time employees who work 8 or more hours per week; and the deletion of the two-week waiting period for U.I.C. birth and adoption benefit claims. The Task Force report is worth reading. It is available for $9.95 from: Canada Government Publishing Centre, Supply and Services Canada, Ottawa, K1A 0S9. The research studies conducted for the Task Force have been published separately and are also worth perusing. They are available (free) from Communicatiol Unit, Status of Women Canada, 10th Floor, 151 Sparks St. Ottawa,K1A li O SPECIAL COMMIIIEL ON CHILD CARE Not to be confused with the Katie Cooke Task Force (which was appointed-undow,the previous _feder. Liberal government) is the parliamentary Special Committee on Child Care, appointed last fall by the Conservative government, and compo sed of seven politicians (5 Conser vatives, 1 Liberal, 1 NDP). This Special Committee is yet again stu dying the child care situation in Canada, and is presently touring t country holding public hearings. While it may seem frustrating to have to retell the day care sto to yet another inquiry, it is abso lutely vital that day care people make their views known. This may b our last chance to influence day care policy. Day care parents, workers anc groups are pressing to have the Sp cial Committee hold hearings in Nc recommending thwestern Ontario hearings in both Dryden and Thunde Bay to adequately cover the regior. A firm commitment from the Specia Committee is yet to be received. Many people have advised the Committee that they wish to make a presentation. In addition to those groups/individuals who will 'preset at the hearings, it is very import. that all people concerned with the provision of quality day care writ, to the Committee. (Special Committ on Child Care, Room 308, 151 Spark St, Ottawa.) For more information contact your local day care parents group, day care centre, Women's centre, o the NWO Regional Day Care Committe Box 144, Thunder Bay, P7C 4V5. NORTHERN-WOMAN page 12 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �DISTRICT NEWS INDIRECT SUBSIDY ISSUE As previously discussed (NWJ Vol. 9 #2) the elimination of the "indirect subsidy" to municipal day care is the major NWO day care issue. The Minister of Community & Social Services has announced the postponement of this policy to December 31, 1986. This is certainly a welcome relief - but it is only a temporary solution. Long-term solutions must be found. It is therefore encouraging to learn that the provincial government appears to be seriously addressing the day care accessibility/affordability issue. At a recent meeting of the Ontario Coalition for Better Day Care, Gerry Duda, Senior Policy Coordinator, Ministry of Community & Social Services, updated the Coalition on the Policy Review being undertaken, indicating that day care reform remains a high priority, and that the direction will be toward "making it more of a public service". (Coalition Newsletter March/86). He further "agreed with the Coalition that it did not make sense for the province to be enforcing its instructions to municipal day care centres to increase their fees to full per diem costs at the same time as the government was conducting a full scale review of funding alternatives. He agreed that easing the problems of affordability created by eliminating the indirect subsidy were the very thing that the province was attempting to deal with." Further COMSOC discussion ilidicated officials will be asked to relax their position of pushing municipalities to full per diem fees in 1986. While this is all positive information day care parents/advocates cannot relax. We know that in NWO COMSOC officials are pressing hard to persuade municipalities to raise their fees, as well as suggesting program changes that could adversely affect the quality of programs in our municipal centres. (See Thunder Bay news below) Day care parents must encourage their municipal councils to resist the local Ministry pressure, and keep day care accessible, affordable and high quality. We must avoid the tragedy of forcing families out of day care, forcing day care centres to close. THUNDER BAY SIOUX LOOKOUT Parents Group has mounted a post card campaign, addressed to the Premier of Ontario. Anyone concerned with day care is asked to sign and send the post card which states "I support a universally accessible, publicly funded day care system which will provide high quality child care services". Please support this campaign. Contact your local day care centre for the post cards. The issue arose because City administration put forward a report which included a number of recommended changes that would seriously affect the quality of Thunder Bay's municipal day care, and jeopardize the existence of the centres. Administration recommendations that were of greatest concern to parents included the change from attendance-based to enrolment-based fees, which is particularly problematic to families who face sudden layoff and recall work situations, and is fraught with potential problems of children being taken to day care when they are sick because families can't afford to pay twice for the same service. No analysis had been done by administration of the number of families who would be forced to withdraw their children if enrolment based fees were effected. GERALDTON parents have organized a Parents Group and have prepared a brief to the Special Committee. TERRACE BAY's Town Council approved a request by the Day Care and have appointed a Day Care Advisory Committee composed of Town Council and parent representatives. This Committee will further investigate ways and means to develop a day care centre in Terrace Bay. The BIG TROUT LAKE Women's Group have placed day care at the top of their priorities, have conducted a needs survey, and are working toward obtaining a day care centre in Big Trout Lake. The NWO Regional Day Care Committee is planning to organize regional forums in the early fall to involve parents, workers, municipal officials and others interested in developing strategies to ensure NWO day care needs can be met. For more information contact the committee at Box 144, Thunder Bay. The recommendation to close 2 ***************+*****.******************* of the 4 centres during the summer Lobbying totally ignored the needs of the ...continued from page 3"I was impressSaid Quesnelle, ldren for security and consistency d by the skills that we women alof familiar staff. Nor did it add: ready have "Often," she said, "we have skills but not ress the transportation/affordabithem Leniare was them,fully. therefore we doabl no lity problems parents would face. these Quesnelle skills outwas in not us."t .* Not to mention staff morale. Adminticipant who was pleased istration's undervaluing of day care workshop. Rosamund van L found the information staff's work was further evident in ; ful. "It increased my *who approach supply a recommendation to utilize she to said. "Knowi ; grievances give staff and 10 month contract work. not only in thei The economic need of day care workbut also in the ers, who are already underpaid, to of their efforts work a full year is ignored, as well Untinen adv as the impact of such staffing arraenting informati ngements on the quality and continthe appropriate uity of care offered to the children. must be thorough Thankfully, City Council deferpresented in cl but added that red all these recommendations. not have to i It is our understanding that sis. "Writin district COMSOC officials have been terious, com pressing the afore-mentioned changes only someone she said. " to many day care centres. We hope have been w that other municipalities will also personsPart wit we resist this backward step. U o t In this respect we are delighted to report that the City of Thunder Bay is taking real leadership by urging the province to retain the indirect subsidy. This, and other positive actions, arose from the City's Community Services Committee meeting on March 10th. With day care children and their parents packing Council Chambers, the Community Services Committee gave a sympathetic hearing to the briefs submitted by Thunder Bay Advocates, NWO Regional Day Care Committee, C.U.P.E., and individual parents. PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor * c �by LENNY ASHTON Connoisseurs of short stories are in for a delightful treat. In a book titled "DARKNESS", Bhareti Mukherjee has compiled twelve outstanding short stories for your reading enjoyment. The setting for some are Canada while for others it's the U.S. What they all have in common is their elegance and sedulity. The characters in the stories are semi-assimilated Indians (from India) who are trying to bond themselves to a new community and lifestyle, yet unable to discard their sentimental attachments to a distant Their tribulations kept me homeland. so riveted, I was unable to put the book down until I had read it from cover to cover. Bhareti has also written two novels and a travel memoir which she co-authored with Clark Blaise (her husband.) Have you read any of these works? While we're on the subject.... Have you read a good book lately that you would like to recommend to others? Just fill out the form below and submit it to me at the Northern Woman Journal and I will acknowledge your returns in the next issue of the pap- read any good books lately? cayenne TITLE: AUTHOR: COMMENTS: YOUR NAME: er. WOM A N WOR DS ACROSS DOWN 1. A movement supporting sexual equality. 6. and lascivious. 1. Worry,as women often 8. is. 9. Ancient British tribe led by Queen Boadicea. 12. Male lioness. 14. Yes 15. Wrongful entry. 16. Last letter of Greek alphabet. 18. Physical or social ! support. 19. The female Egyptian 20. 21. 22. 23. 26. 27. 28. 31. 32. 35. 36. 40. 41. 42. 44. enigma. Asexual reproduction. " and out" Gertrude's companion. The forefront of a political movement. Preposition. In or on the position of (Conj.) Holly Found in belly buttons, Birthplace of Sappho. Spreads out. Ferron album. Sweet potato. 3.141 (22/7) Female (Greek) Original lesbian poet. rif do. 2. Discrimination (oink 3. Egyptian goddess of fertility. 4. Ms. Campagnolo. 5. A specific task or responsibility. 6. Women's 7. To victimize subtly. 10. Channel Islands (abb 11. Judy 13. What every woman's entitled to. wheels (see pist 17. head) 19. Possession of sexual power. 21. 22. 24. 25. 29. Within the uterus. Bye bye baby (spanis Insect. She's quite a Greek muse of love poetry. Any woman can. (Parachute Club) 33. Hysterectomize. 34. All the better to kiss you with. 37. Ingest, chew and swallow in turn. Farrow. 38. Short sleep. 42. Chinese board game. means 43. (word frequently understood as 'yes' by men) NORTHERN WOMAN. page 14 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Women and words: an open letter An Open Letter to the Members of Women and Words and to the Community of Women We want to thank the women from across Canada who shared in the vision of the 2nd Pan-Canadian Conference of Women and Words and who sent in comments and suggestions for workshops; however, the black women and women of colour have withdrawn from the organizing committe, and we understand there will be no Pan-Canadian Women and Words Conference in Toronto in the summer of 1986. Any organization that fights sexism must also confront racism. It was our understanding that the conference was to address the theme "Diversity is strength", which in our understanding meant seeking the full participation of women writers(both selfidentified and not) who have been traditionally excluded from the mainstream and ensuring that the conference address both the local and national concerns of women so that it would reflect our diversity of language, race, class, sexuality and geography. We were also committed to increasing the representation of older women, younger women, physically disabled women and poor women. The focus was not to be On women writers of the dominant race /class /language, but rat- her on the women whom the larger society has tried to mute. In the interest of time, we will give but fewl'of the incidents that led to our withdrawal. That we sought to draw in black women and women of colour was seen as exclusionary rather than' affirmative, with the result that, we were told we ought to have done more to make white women comfortable in participating in the committee. It is an outrage that we who have been excluded from all levels of the dominant society since colonization began 500 years ago are now expected to make white women's comfort a priority. We were criticized for not being "conciliatory", i.e., for challenging racist remarks, for not smoothing over "unpleasant" moments. We were criticized about how slowly we worked, how information about the conference took long in filtering through the "white" women's literary community. What was ignored is that in our efforts to preserve the vision of the conference most of the active work the outreach, the phone calls, the rental of office space, the incorporation of the society, the raising of funds, etc. fell on the black women and women of colour. There were complaints that white women in the organization "felt like minorities," indicating that they believed their concerns would not be addressed. To assume that we would exclude issues that did/do not appear to affect us directly is a projection and an insult. It was suggested that we were being unrealistic in wanting to address racism/multiculturalism and bilingualism. What then was the conference about? Are we to believe that women's writing is divorced from these issues. In withdrawing we wish to point out that: It is not our-responsibility to comfort and reassure white women who are unaccustomed to working with black women and women of colour. Racist remarks and attitudes are not open to conciliation and negotiation. Any women's conference that does not seek to address a diversity of issues affecting the lives of women serves only women of the dominant race and class. It is not the task of black women and women of colour to educate white women about racisT. In closing, we'd like to say, that just as we have worked successfully in the past with white women who are confronting their racism, so too do we, in the words of Audre Lorde, look forward to working with ...all women who can meet us, face to face, beyond objectification and beyond guilt." Unfortunately, the Toronto Women and Words Committee does not appear to be the place. Makeda Silvera Sharon Fernandez Michele Paulse Stephanie Martin Last call ! The Dalkon Shield is an intrauterine device (I.U.D.) marketed by A.H. Robbins Company in the 1970's without enough testing for safety and effectiveness. In mid 1972 the company was warned of its dangers by one of its own consultants. Only in 1975 was it withdrawn from the U.S. market after causing: septic infected abortions, perforations, pelvic inflammatory disease(P.I.D.), infertility and death. In 1974, A.H. Robbins offered it to the U.S. Aid Population Office at a 48% discount for distribution in the Third World...a bargain: In 1980, clinics in El Salvador were still inserting the Dalkon Shield in women. In December 1983, U.S. District Judge Lord shared these word with reps from A.H. Robbins..."Nine thousand women have mad claims that they gave up part of their womanhood so that your company might prosper." and "This is corporate irresponsibility at its meanest." In 1985, the A.H. Robbins Company filed for bankruptcy protection in an American court. The court has approved an official committee of Attorneys which has established a 2-step procedure for filing claims in the U.S. 1.Write to: DALKON SHEILD BOX 444 Richmond Virginia,23203 Give your full name,.address and telephone number and state that you are making a claim against the A.H. Robbins Company. Send your claim by registered mail in sufficient time to ensure that it is received on or befor April 30,1986. The po'stmark will not govern;the claim must be received by the deadline. 2.You will receive a questionaire upon filinq your claim. Complete and return this by July 30,1986. You may wish to file a claim even if you have no present health problems. If you miss the deadline and health problems occur in the future,you may have no recouse. You may also initiate a lawsuit in Canada against the Canadian subsidiary of A.H. Robbins by issuing a writ and statement of claim. These proceedings could be adjourned pending an offer of settlement from the Committee of Atorneys. If the offer is not satisfactory, the Canadian action could ther proceed. Medical records are necessary to establish a casual link between use of the Dalkon Shield and health problems. A lawyer can advise of the medical evidence required to establish a claim. The Winnipeg Women's Health Clinic has retained a lawyer to apply to the American Court for an extension to the deadline. At present, however, that Apri130.1986 deadline for filing claims remains a critical one. CREDIT: WOMEN'S HEALTH INTERACTION NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN AND THE LAW WOOC41V011V1) I-4 OUTDOOR TRIPS FOR woriffn 2550 Pillsbury .Ave. 50. .41.A/ 55404 Information at Women's Centre and Woman's Bookstore. NORTHERN WOMAN page 15 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �EQUAL OPPORTUNITY PROGRAMS SPRING '86 "NEW"Business Division -EQUAL OPPORTUNITY MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATE PROGRAM (Post-Basic) one semester-September to This one-year certificate program is divided into two parts: December-in the college; second semester-January to April-in a field placement environment. Field placements and job opportunities will not necessarily be in the Thunder Bay region. Subjects in the EOM Program may be taken during the day or as offered during the evening through Community Programs. For further information, contact the Director Equal Opportunity Programs (807) 475-6278. GENERAL ARTS AND SCIENCE DIPLOMA PROGRAM emphasizing Women's Programs Curriculae may be taken full-time during the day or part-time (evenings) through Community Programs. For further information, contact the G.A.S. Program Co-ordinator (807) 475-6390. CAREER PLANNING FOR WOMEN is an 8-week program to assist women entering or re-entering the labour force to understand present employment conditions, to select realistic career goals and to enter appropriate employment or begin suitable training. Tentative Start Date -- September 1986. INTRODUCTION TO NON-TRADITIONAL OCCUPATIONS (I,N.T,o,) is an 8-week program that helps women to explore opportunities for employment in non-traditional jobs. Students study job search Work placement gives women actual job experience. skills, goal setting and plot a career path. Tentative Start Date -- September 1986. WOMEN INTO TRADES & TECHNOLOGY (.W,I.T.T.) is an 18-week program designed to expose women to all aspects of practical trades training and the world of Hi-Tech. Tentative Start Date -- September 1986. For further information on CAREER PLANNING FOR WOMEN, I.N.T.O., W.I.T.T., contact the Chair Industrial & Motive Power (807) 475-6215, or Women's Employment Centre (807) 623-2731. BASIC TRAINING IN SKILLS DEVELOPMENT (B.T.s.D.) Academic Upgrading Grades 8-12; English For further information, contact the Chair Secretarial & Hospitality as a Second Language. (807) 475-6318', or your local Canada Employment & Immigration office, or the Women's Employment (807) 623-2731. Centre, 130 S. Syndicate Avenue, Thunder Bay, ON P7E 1C7 PROGRAMS FEE: : ZW 013 (99) TOWARD CHANGE: FEE: : An opportunity for women with disabilities to come together to address difficulties they face in their daily lives and to make effective changes that will enhance their self-image and increase This will happen through their coping abilities. a combined process of presentations, films, discussions, skill sharing, etc. Mondays 7:00-9:30 p.m. DATE/TIME START DATE: April 7, 1986 June 16, 1986 COMPLETION: INSTRUCTORS: Margaret Buffington/Wave Watson ROOM: 160, Shuniah Bldg $25.A90 WOMEN & DISABILITIES maintenance and general operation. DATE/TIME Tuesdays 7:00-10:00 p.m. START DATE: April 8, 1986 COMPLETION: May 13, 1986 Dave Wirta INSTRUCTOR: ROOM: 149, Dorion Bldg. Auto Shop $18.00 In this elective post-secondary credit subject women will learn the basic procedures of car MOTOR VEHICLE (WOMEN KNOW YOUR CAR) WT 843 (99) REGISTRATION INFORMATION Commencing Friday March 21, 1986 registrations will be accepted in the Registrar's Office (Shuniah Building) daily from 9:00a.m. to 7:30p.m. Monday to Thursday. Fridays from 9:00a.m. For further information contact Community Programs at (807) 475-6116. to 4:00p.m. WOMEN & STRESS MANAGEMENT GS 143 (99) : This elective post-secondary credit subject is intended to examine situation stresses in our lives, family, job, social relationships, conflict, change, developmental crises, etc, as well as potential sources of stress they bring to every situation because of their personality, their own belief system, their life rhythms and their problem-solving. A lifestyle and attitude approach to changing their stress response will be developed by each individual. DATE/TIME Wednesdays 7:00-10:00 p.m. START DATE: April 9, 1986 June 11, 1986 COMPLETION: INSTRUCTOR: Bert Hopkins ROOM: 331, Shuniah Bldg $30.00 FEE: EQUAL OPPORTUNITY PROGRAMS WELCOMES YOUR SUGGESTIONS, CALL US AT (807) 475-6232 Northwestern Ontario residents may call TOLL FREE 1 - 800 - 465 - 6961 1 Feminist Books JUST RELEASED THE rCVt.% RESISTING 5V% §anetw P71146 Available @ $6.50 each from NORTHERN WOMAN'S BOOKSTORE, 69 N. Court St. PH..345-7802 69N.COURT STREET FIRST WEDNESDAY OF EVERY MONTH POT LUCK ********* WOMANSPACE ********* 11.30 - 4.1i0 11.30 - 6.00 Fiction Poetry Sci-Fiction Third World NORTHERN WOMAN'S BOOKSTORE 69 N. COURT ST. THUNDER BAY, P7A 4T7 344-7979 Theory Health Bp :rituality Thursday, Friday Saturday Peace open The Ontario Coalition for Abortion Clinics (OCAC) PO Box 753, Stn. P Toronto, Ont. M5S 2Z1 ****************************** PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Second Class Mlil Registration No. 5697 INSIDE THIS p2ISSUE: Don't forget to renew you subscription! Here's my sub: p3 UPDATE p4 NO MORE LABOUR PAINS p5 NATIVE WOMEN'S STATUS p6 UNIVERSITY WOMEN p7 ENTRY-RE-ENTRY AND EXIT o Individual PUhlta o Asada:clonal $10 ************ ************************f1 p10 FICTION: JESSE'S STORY pll DEPO-ACTIVE p12 DAY CARE NEWS Name Address (postal code) .5.5 IS THERE AN ASTERISK ON YOUR LABEL?? PLEASE RENEW. YOUR SUBSCRIPTION ************************************* p13 INDIRECT SUBSIDY p14 BOOK REVIEW/CROSSWORD D15 WOMEN AND WORDS RETURN TO: THE NORTHERN WOMAN 69 N. COURT ST. THUNDER BAY, ONTARIO P7A 4T7 WORKERS IN THIS ISSUE: Lenny Ashton,Elaine Goodwin,Carolyn Greenwood,Mary-Ann Kleynendorst,Karen Maki,Anna McColl,Gwen O'Reilly,Margaret Phillips,Rosemary Pittis,Heidi Strobl. ReturnPostage Guaranteed Northern iiihroman Journal 69 N. Court St., Thunder Bay, Ontario P7A 4T7 (Four Issues) $5.00 $10,00 Business oT Institution PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Northern Woman Journal Description An account of the resource Northern Woman Journal Published in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Northern Woman Journal (originally called Northern Woman) started in 1973 following the first annual Northern Women’s Conference in order to keep the conference attendees connected. Initially serving as a newsletter of events, local issues, and women’s resources, the Northern Woman Journal quickly became a diverse publication reaching national and international readers. Not only did it serve as a newsletter to keep local women up to date on feminist issues in Northwestern Ontario, but also as a safe space to discuss women’s resources, law, politics, economics, health, racism, sexism, homophobia, feminist organizing and activism, transnational feminist issues, poetry, feminist reading, feminist art, and women’s diverse lived experiences.One of the longest-running feminist perodicals in North America, the Northern Woman Journal reached its end in 1995. Throughout its 22 years, the Northern Woman Journal was produced by its many collective members, with membership evolving year to year. For many years, the journal worked closely alongside and shared space with the Northern Women’s Centre and the Northern Women’s Bookstore. With the exception of a year-long government grant in the 1970s, the journal relied entirely on subscription fees and donations in order to maintain publishing, which presented challenges throughout its entire existence. As stated in an early version of the editorial policy, “only by a free and open exchange of views and opinions will we develop a basis for unity which can be used as a basis for action.” Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Northern Woman Journal, Vol 9 No 4 Description An account of the resource Vol. 9, No. 4 (April 1986) Title: Northern Woman Journal Topics include: Pornography Journal funding Women’s resources Thunder Bay Third-World women’s movement Transnational feminist solidarity International Women’s Day Taskforce on Pay Equity, Thunder Bay Faye Peterson Transition House Women in Crisis-Sioux-Hudson North Kenora’s Women’s Place Nipigon maternity ward closed Access to maternal care/labour healthcare in Northwestern Ontario Indian status and band membership for Native women Status of Native women Indian Act Women’s Centre Coalition Conference University women Alternate education systems for women Poetry Northwestern Ontario Women’s Decade Council Social programs/social work Depo provera Canadian Women’s Movement Archives Daycare news Special committee on childcare Daycare subsidies Feminist book list Women and Words Conference Confederation College women’s programs Authors/Contributors: Carolyn P. Greenwood Joan Baril Lynn Beak Gwen O’Reilly Carol Quesnelle Mary-Anne Kleynendorst Rose Pittis Cheryl Hodgins Margaret Phillips Lenny Ashton Elaine Goodwin Karen Maki Anna McColl Heidi Strobl Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Northern Woman Journal Collective Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1986-04 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Published on this site with permission. Language A language of the resource English https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/16/2791/1986_Vol_10_No_1.pdf 71fa93a34824c27707b0905da7f1e1a3 PDF Text Text $1. 5 0 Northern Woman Journal ATYUST 1986 VOL.10.1. THUNDER. BAY, ONTARIO EN .HooLING SCANDAL DALE SPENDER PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Editorial Thunder Bay readers will by now be aware that the Northern Women's Centre, which receives a financial grant from the City of Thunder Bay, is being reviewed by City administration. For the benefit of our regional/ national/international readers the details of this situation is reported elsewhere in this paper, as we believe it is important for feminists everywhereto be aware of the escalating attack on women and women's services that we are all being increasingly subjected to. Last year it was HERizons, last month it was Halifax Women's Centre, this month it's Northern Women's Centre. Next month it could be ... your newspaper ... your women's centre ... your day care advocacy group ... your transition house ... you ... Be prepared. The local situation began when the Right to Life Association of Thunder Bay and Area appeared before City Council, ostensibly appealing the refusal of the City to provide Right to Life with a grant. What evolved, however, was an attack on Women's Centre by a Right to Life member who demanded that "twenty questions" be answered. It remains unclear whether this man spoke as an individual or a Right to Life representative, as the president of the Right to Life Association waffles between disassociating his group frdin the "twenty questions" and taking credit for the review. In any event the majority of Council succombed to the intimidation, and approNed a review, however, on debating the matter a second time, saner heads prevailed and the-"twenty questions" were withdrawn. Superficially, the issue at hand is perceived to be the "abortion question". It would be misleading to reduce the issue to this equation. Rather what we have been witnessing must be understood in it's full depth... that is ... an attack on women, on women's integrity and on women's human rights. What is being attacked is the existence of a Centre that serves women, the existence of a service that respects women, and that offers the resources, information and support from which women may be empowered to take control of their lives with dignity and self-respect. It is the empowerment of women to become self-determining, fully human people that is so threatening to our detractors. No, it is not the "abortion question". Right to Life activists (and presumably most members of City Council) are fully aware that it is the Thunder Bay Branch of the Canadian Abortion Rights Action League that is the political lobby that advocates repeal of Canadian abortion laws. Similarly, they know that the responsibility for providing education about the pro-choice position is undertaken by Childbirth by Choice, the educational arm of CARAL. Ascribing these activities to Women's Centre is mischievious and designed to obscure the real attack against the Centre. Those of us who might be tempted to be lulled by the modest reforms that the women's movement has made must reconsider. We must be alert to the full dimensions of the backlash. Gone are the days when the demands of feminists were dismissed with patronizing condescension. Feminists are now taken seriously... thus must be stopped by any means, and in every arena. So, it is not simply the "abortion" issue. The backlash erupts when we ask for quality day care for our children, when pay equity appears on the agenda, when we urge adequate pensions for older women. The backlash seeps in more subtly with the bureaucratic institutionalization of the transition house movement and the rape crisis centre movement. The backlash appears in proposed legislation that obscures the issue of pornography by confusing hate literature with sex. to stand up for their beliefs and/ or rights. I am what is referred to as a white Indian. My mother was white and my father was native. I grew up on a reserve but left it when I was 15. I am now 28 and back to where I was born. I know I walked around all weekend with a chip on my shoulder both towards whites and natives. I am not trying to apologize for my actions because that was where I was at, at that time. To All Women: I just wanted to write to express my feelings now that I have had a chance to analyse myself and what was said at the Conference. (Northern Ontario Women's Conference) This was the first conference I have ever attended and I can assure you it won't be the last. For I now do feel a sense of gratitude to the women's movement. I can now appreciate what they have done to help me get where I am, and for that, I do thank all those women who had the courage Ah, yes, woman is evil, and sl must be contained. Anti-woman material proliferates. It is instructive to read "pi life" material which devotes as mu( discussion to the "immorality" of homosexuality, or the evils of feminism, as it does to abortion. We aren't suggesting that you expend your time reading these diatribes. We do, however, recommend that you read immediately Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale. But don't delude yourself into thinkin4 that Atwood is writing fiction. N.W.J. Future We are delighted by the generous response our subscribers have made to the Journal's appeal. Your donations have eliminated our financial crisis, have enabled us to apply for membership in the Canadian Periodical Publishers Assoc., and pay our debts. Thank you' to everyone who made donations. We cannot, however, be complacent .. with three more issues to be published, and ever rising production costs we encourage each of you to promote new subscriptions to keep our cash flow in a positive positio The -fall cus on the arts. Interviews with local artists and craftawomen are planned. Literary submissions are encouraged. Target date for receipt of copy is August 30th. For more information call Carolyn at 345-584 !;over photo by Carolyn Greenwood I know deep down inside my heart that I am an Indian but I am a very ignorant one. I very much would like to have the respect of my people but I know I will have to earn it, first. For, I myself have discriminated against them. I am a native, but I am also ignorant towards my own heritage. I am going to learn more on my own, and also with the help of the next conference planned to deal with all the different native issues. I wanted to thank all the women in the movement and my early,special thanks to the native women who I am sure will be working very hard to or ganize another conference to help us understand them better. Thank - you all for your support for now I do fe el we do stand a chance in getting r of some of the discrimination that i going on to-day. Thank - You Your friend and peer, A Newfie Indian. , A-MAZING "Within a culture possessed by the myth of feminine evil, the naming, describing, and theorizing about goc and evil has constituted a maze /haze of deception. The journey of women coming is breaking through this maze springing into free space, which is an a-mazing process" (Mary Daly 197f from A FEMINIST DICTIONARY PDF compression, NORTHERN WOMANOCR, page 2web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Women's Centre Under Attack Across the country status of women organizations are under attack. An orchestrated endeavour by Campaign Life, R.E.A.L. women, and local Right to Life groups are mounting campaigns to protest government funding of women's services. In fact, every organization that has received a grant from the Department of Secretary of State Womens' Program has been "targeted" for attack. This anti-woman lobby is persistent, and is focusing also on municipal governments and federated charitable appeals that provide funds for women's services. Thunder Bay is no exception. Thus, we find the Northern Women's Centre subjected to yet another "review" by city administration. What is to be reviewed remains unclear, however it is why this review was approved by (a majority of) Council that deserves our examination. But first, some background. Northern Women's Centre has, since 1980, annually-received financial assistance from the City of Thunder Bay. It is well known that the Right to Life Association of Thunder Bay and Area has long been antagonistic to Northern Women's Centre. Right to Life members lobbied Council to oppose Women's Centre funding. In 1983 WOmen's Centre representatives were asked (at a Council meeting) if the Centre was proabortion. Women's Centre advised that their position was prochoice. A Council member further asked if the Centre would forego their position if it affected City funding-. The answer was no. * In 1984 and again in 1985 the Right to Life Association requested a City grant of $20,000. Council recommended a grant of $1000. In 1985 Women's Centre's grant was reduced by close to $5000. Some members of Council advocated giving this $5000 to Right to Life, but this was not approved. Women's Centre simply lost the $5000. Confused debate within Council during the grants discussion saw an attempt by some aldermen to compare the activities of Right to Life and Northern Women's Centre. Northern Women's Centre, exhibiting admirable patience, repeatedly explained the comprehensive services they provide to women of Thunder Bay. Near the close of this meeting a motion was put forward recommending $5000 be taken from Northern Women's Centre and granted to Right to Life. The motion lost by a vote of 11-1. At a subsequent Council meeting another motion was attempted recommending a grant to Right to Life. The motion failed to get a seconder. The Right to Life Association appealed the decision. The City's defined procedure for appeals is for the appealant to appear before the Financial Assistance Review Group to lodge the appeal, and when required to provide further documentation and justification. The Financial Assistance Review Group reviews the appeal and makes further recommendations to Council who make the final decision. from NEWSMAGAZINE This release further explained that abortion counselling was not carried out by the Centre arid that no City funds were directed to any organization advocating reform of abortion legislation. As well, the Thunder Bay Branch of the Canadian Abortion Rights provide in orma ion a ou is mandate. (The purpose of CABAL is to ensure that no woman in Canada is denied access to safe, legal abortion. CARAL's aim is the repeal of all sections of the Criminal Code dealing with abortion, and the establishment of comprehensive contraceptive and abortion services, including appropriate counselling, across the country. CABAL regards the right to safe, legal abortion as a fundamental human right.) * 1986 requests for City financial assistance were dealt with at an Administrative Services Committee meeting in March. A grant of $20,000 to Northern Women's Centre was approved. A grant request of $3000 to Right to Life was denied. A grant request of $2600 to Childbirth by Choice (the educational arm of CABAL) was denied. After reviewing the Right to Life's appeal the Financial Assistance Review Group recommended to Council that the appeal be denied. This recommendation came before the City's Administrative Services Committee in May. Prior to this meeting heavy lobbying of some members of Council was carried out by Right to Life members. (Councillors Kennedy and Miller were not incluthat the lobby concentrated on opposition to Women's Centre rather than justification for Right to Life's grant request. Selected members of Council also were provided with an article written by John Carroll that appeared in a newssheet called the Interim. The article, said Karen Maki of the Northern Women's Centre calls Betty Kennedy "a wellknown abortion supporter" and Dusty Miller "well-known for her pro-abortion views". Rather than dealing with the administrative report of the appeal the Administrative Services Committee chose to dispense with their rules of procedure and permitted Carroll, as spokesman for the Right to Life, to address the Committee. The address, rather than defending the Right continued on p6 A release by Women!s Centre following this debate again clarified the Centre's position on reproductive choice, by stating "With regards to the issue in question, the Centre endorses the United Nations Human Rights Declaration of 1968, signed by Canada, whereby 'Every couple and every individual has the right to decide freely and responsibly whether or not to have children, as well as to determine their number and spacing, and to have information, education and means to do so". PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor NORTHERN WOMAN page 3 �UPdate goo Joan Baril will no longer be writing the Update column for the Journal. In Joan's words " For several years now I have been writing the Update column. In fact I started the column. But as with anything that you do for a long time (love, marriage, paying rent etc.) the thrill slowly goes and the thing becomes a chore. So it is with Update. I loved phoning everyone up, 'networking' around town, meeting different people - all enjoyable. But the time has come to focus on something else. I will still be submitting other things for the Journal and I also want to do interviews from time to time." Elsewhere in this issue there are articles by Joan. N0 Daycare facility on Lakehead University Campus. In a recent comment from the Lakehead University Administration support for child care facilities on campus was practically withdrawn. The University pledged only $14,000 to the development of a childcare facility and suggested finding premises off campus or buying newer trailers (at a cost of $41,000). Homebase: A Forum For Mothers at Home is a newsletter issued by the non-profit group, Mothers are Women. The objectives of the newsletter are to " raise the consciousness of a society which tends to undervalue our contributionl and to bolster the self esteem of home based women who do not work for pay and should not feel pressured to consider themselves supermom's" Published 4 times a year, address Homebase,"12 Farm Gate Cres., Nepean, Ontario, K2E 7N7 sumer and medical representation, If you want more information or want to help lobby to make these hearings public ones contact the Women's Centre nearest you. In Thunder Bay call 345.7802.o.. Canadian Labour Congress says sexism rife on Parliament Hill. ie: a female support service employee was the object of sexual harassment. Her manager touched her, leaned against her and rubbed up against her. When she objected, she was given a heavier workload, and was later given a poor performance appraisal and transferred to another job. Workers rights- "Your Rights as a Worker in Ontario", a brochure which discusses; hiring practices, sexual harassment, terms and conditions of work, including minimum wage, hours, holidays, sick days, equal pay for equal work, pregnancy leave, conditions of firing, domestic workers rights, health and safety on the job and trade unions. Published by and available from the Ontario Women's Directorate, 4th floor, Mowat Block, 900 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario. M7A 1C2, phone: (416) 965-4801. As of June 1, the new Divorce iLaws went into effect, its aim is to make divorce cheaper and quicker. Under the new law, the only ground for a court approved divorce is marriage breakdown, which can be proved by a separation of one year, or by adultery or cruelty. Gone from the law are such grounds as three years separation and sodomy, bestiality and non-consumation of the marriage. If divorcing couples can negotiate terms successfully it could save them money as they wouldn't need to pay lawyers for expensive co- urt time. A San Francisco pregnancy testing service has been sued by a The Health PrOtection Brarth (HPB) of Health and Welfare Canada is planning Autumn meetings in part to assess opinion regarding approval and safety of Depo Provera. The meetings are to be by invitation only with a limited number of spaces per location. Meetings are planned for September with no definite dates set as yet. Six cities have been targeted: Hallfax,Montreal,Toronto,Winnipeg,Calgaty and Vancouver. The committee will report to Dr. Burt Liston, Assistant Deputy Minister with HPB. Karen Kennedy, a consultant with HPB, is both organizer and chairperson of this soon to exist committee. Kennedy appears to be leaning towards a medical committee, but has not yet finalized membership. She defines the committee's task as "being a messenger", hearing "what we think and what we feel." The committee also wants to hear from the public about fertility control methods in general. And they will produce an information pamphlet about contraception! Kennedy has asked the Canadian Coalition on Depo Provera to let her know who should speak across the country. She stresses that she wants the Coalition to be well represented However,if the Coalition assists her in screening who is to speak, credence will be given to the invitational pretext of the meetings. This is not the kind of process that the Canadian Coaltion on Depo Provera requested in December.(See last issue) The Coalition had asked for and is still asking for open public hearing into Depo Provera use and issues related to that use, full media access to these hearings, and that the committee have equal con- forced to view slides of aborted fetuses before being allowed access.to the results of her pregnancy test. Carla Abbot accuses a " Free Pregnancy Clinic" of engaging in unfair business practice and false advertising. She says she chose the clinic because of its promise of free pregnancy tests but claims after she was given a urine test, she was told it was mandatory that she watch a slide presentation on abortion before getting back the results. The slide show reportedly showed aborted fetuses and featured a narrated account of a woman's death during an abortion and a teenager's entered the building. An injunction was secured to bar these people from the premises. Once a week or so - there is still the odd picketer. C.B.C. funding is secured. Congratulations to the womei of Geraldton for hosting a tremendously successful conference May 30 and 31. Enthusiasm was high as nearly 20( women from the Geraldton area joined together for their first Women's Conference. Key note speaker Maude Bari( set the stage - skillfully addressim the spectrum of issues that affect women today. On Saturday a variety of workshops were held on pertinent topics( family law, health, networking, financial planning, lobbying, dual careers, computers.), all were well attended and thoroughly enjoyed. The Conference concluded with a fine presentation by the Nellie fMcClung theatre (of Winnipeg).who expertly use theatre to consciousness raise as well as entertain. The organization and hospitality of the Conference was superb - and appreciated by all. Look for many interesting long term results of the Conferencewe heard talk of on-going workshops and plans for a Geraldton Women's Centre! WHIN Conference! The first annual N.W.Ontario Women's Health Information Network's Health Conference, Healthy Herizons!!! October 3rd 4th, and 5th 1986 at Confederation College, Thunder Bay, Ontario. The theme will be Women and Reproductive Health, throughout our years! Some of the workshops which will be offered will be, menopause and aging, exploring life changes,reproductive heaitl 'hazards, Midwifery, then now, in the future, PMS: the social implications, Assertiveness: dealing with the medical system, Birthing options in N,W,0 07or ore nformation cal 345-1410, or write 8A N. Cumberland St. #17, Thunder Bay, Ontario, P7A ou es. FEMINIST CARTOONISTS! In order to establish a talent bank of feminist cartoonists across Canada, women who would like to be included are invited to submit their names, addresses, and a sample of their work to Susan De Rosa c/o Communiq'Elles, 3585 St. Urbain Street, Montreal, QC H2X 2N6. The bank will be accessible to feminist: magazines and associations across Canada. The Next Step., a series of 3 films produced by the National Film suicide following an abortion. Board in colaboration with the federal elm In the face of the growing Women's Film Program, examines the urbacklash against the right to free gent need for services to battered woabortion on demand. over 100 women's men. These 3 half-hour films along wigroups in Quebec have united to take th the users guide that accompanies the offensive under the label of the them contain suggestions for pre and Coalition quebecoise pour le droit a post screening discussions and ideas l'avortement libre et gratuit ( Quebec for action to implement and improve Coalition for free abortion on demand). service's in all types of communities: The new coalition is comprised of wom- urban, rural, northern and native. en's student and union caucuses, healso. Notable Women Records and th workers, shelter and youth groups. Tapes, a catalogue of Canadian women'E The coalition is responding to threats records, tapes, and music = related from a very vocal pro-life movement, books, has been released. Bertha says reduced provincial funding and the reof her catalogue "I believe in the turned Liberal government that brought revolutionary and spiritual power of Dr. Morgantaler to trial 3 times durmusic. The music offered here is disting their last administration. He was inctly varied in style, yet amazingly aquitted each time. similiar in so far as it speaks to us woe Calgary Birth Contrcl Associntimately, bringing the realities of iation. At this year's city funding our daily lives into focus with humor meeting their local " Campaign Life" and humility. By illuminating the truwas not given a chance to speak re: ths of our lives, music becomes an ef C.B.C.A.'s funding. One day, six memfective tool for revisioning, transfobers of campaign life sat in their rming and healing ourselves and our office for one full day. A banner was world." A copy of this catalogue can placed across the doorway to the buibe obtained from: Notable Women Recolding which houses many agencies. PeoContinued-on- page ple were verbally attacked as they PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor NORTHERN WOMAN page 4 �N.O.W. Conference by KATHRYN FOURNIER Participants at the recent Northern Ontario Women's Conference in Sudbury have already decided to hold a future conference on Native women's issues and to establish a more effective network among Northern feminist groups. The projects reflect the dominant_themes of the highly successful Conference, held June 20-22, which brought together some 150 women from many of the smaller communities in. Northern Ontario as well as from the larger centres. With strong representation by both Native and Francophone women, as well as Anglophones, the Conference provided a forum for the discussion of concerns by all communities. While participants addressed a number of issues during workshops, panels and informal discussions, the struggle by native women and the problems they encounter in the larger women's movement became a conference theme at the opening keynote address when speaker Susan Hare described the discrimination and prejudice native women still encounter. Participants decided by an overwhelming majority to organize more actively around Native women's issues by holding the next NOW Conference on that theme on Manitoulin Island... a conference organized by Native women with input by non-native feminists. The need to establish greater links among women in the North also became clear as participants presented the work, going on in their own communities during the Regional Update session. Feminists are active in even the smallest and most isolated communities in Northern Ontario, but often do not know about other groups who may have experience or expertise to share. At a special meeting to discuss networking, women discussed the possibilities of using existing northern women's media to communicate, establishing a northern clearinghouse, creating a networking committee, preparing a northern women's directory or simply staying in touch. A number of women from various communities will continue to discuss these and other options. Conference organizer Jennifer Keck also announced that the National Action Committee on the Status of Women may hold its annual mid-year meeting in Sudbury later this year with the theme of Regional and Economic Development. The weekend began with an evening of participatory theatre on Friday. As women used themselves to create living group sculptures, a number of ideas and feelings about being Northern Ontario feminists emerged. The keynote speeches of Saturday morning, presented by OISE scholar Dorothy Smith and Susan Hare from the Homemaker's Club of West Bay Reserve, provided contrasting perspectives on the character of power and the strength of women. While Dorothy Smith outlined how women have traditionally been excluded from power and how our current strength comes from our organizing, Susan Hare discussed the particular problems of Native women, who are often considered to be the from HYSTERIA most disadvantaged in Canada. While Native women face very real obstacles in their struggle for empowerment, Susan Hare also pointed out that Native women have a respect for individual choice and a sense of relationship that can be useful tools. A number of workshops on Saturday were built around the practical themes of successful planning, effective speaking, and creative organizing, and most were presented in French and English. In addition several workshops addressed Native women's concerns. Anglophone, Native and Francophone women were all represented and their specific concerns were addressed at times. Although women from all groups expressed a need and a desire to build greater links, the conference indicated there are still a number of barriers between the communities, and between individual women, that remain to be addressed. It was clear that many women have political and cultural links to their own communities that are not always fully understood by others and many are involved in struggles involving larger problems not always identified as "women's issues". However the desire of participants to come to an increased understanding of those problems and to include them in a broader feminist perspective was clearly expressed. Creating an effective network and meeting again to discuss the specific concerns of Native women will help to realize the initiatives undertaken in Sudbury. WOMEN' STUDI S Courses in Women's Studies are offered by correspondence in both the Winter and Spring Sessions. Women in Modern Society The History of Women and the Women's Movement Women and the Arts Women and Religion For more information or for registration material, contact: Margaret Kechnie Women's Studies Programme Coordinator, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario P3E 2C6 (705) 675-1151, ext. 380. V Laurentian University PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �D'EN'S CENTRE continued from p3 The amendment lost on a vote of 8-5. (Mayor Masters and Councillor Polhill joined Kennedy, Laakkonen and Miller in supporting the amendment. It is significant to note that Laakkonen and Polhill supported the amendment with thoughtful procedural arguments despite their previous opposition to funding of Women's to Life's grant request, took the form of an attack on Northern Women's Centre, describing the Centre as "pro-abortion" and "pro-lesbian". Carroll demanded an investigation of Women's Centre and presented 'twenty questions' to be answered. (The questions, many of which were repetitious, asked about Women's Centre's position on abortion, lesbianism, Catholicism and prositution. They also dealt with Women's Centre's personell policies, and with Board members affiliations.) The Administrative Services Committee passed a motion to establish an administrative review. The minutes of the Administrative Services Committee came before Council for approval on June 12. An amendment was moved by Councillor Betty Kennedy (seconded by Councillor Allan Laakkonen) to delete from the minutes the recommendation to review Northern Women's Centre. In speaking to her amendment Councillor Kennedy announced that she had instructed her lawyer to serve notice on John Carroll and the Right to Life Association of Thunder Bay and Area for defamation. Councillor Dusty Miller also announced that she too had instructed her lawyel to serve notice on Carroll and Right to Life. (Kennedy and Miller had by this time obtained copies of the Interim article.) The president of Right to Life, Claude Wyspianski, in a press interview after the meeting-4is7, associated himself from the art- Centre.) A further amendment to delete the 'twenty questions' from the review subsequently was passed. Discussion of this amendment demonstrated that the majority (but not all) Councillors were uncomfortable with questions that clearly contravened the Canadian Charter of Rights. For some the anticipated cost of required legal advice in respect to the questions may have been the deciding factor. So the "review" sans 20 questions goes Why was John Car Question 2: roll allowed to attack Northern Woi en's Centre? Why was he not ruled out of order when he digressed froi the subject under discussion .. ie whether the City should approve or deny Right to Life's appeal. Will Council meetings become the arena through which any individual can proselytize their particular dogma (or will this vendetta be confined to attacks on women's services?) Question 3: Was John Carroll speaking as a Right to Life representative or as an individual? The issue was Right to Life's appeal. Yet the president of Right to Life Claude Wyspianski, was quick to disassociate his organization from Carroll's 'twenty questions', and even quicker to disassociate Right to Life from the Interim article. At the same time, Wyspianski, on behalf of Right_to Life, took credit for Council's decision to revi( Women's Centre. ahead. What needs to be questioned is not Northern Women's Centre, which has a respected history of providing service to Thunder Bay women, but rather the intention of the City Council members who approved the review. Why were Council's Question 1: established procedures abandoned to permit a representative of Right to Life to address the Administrative Services Committee? This action negaes the entire Financial Assistance Review process. What precedent will this set? Will any group who disagrees with another rou 's program or philoSo0 City Council? . Clearly, the opposition to No] thern Women's Centre by Right to Life can be expected to continue. The essential question is whether City Council will continue to provide the forum for Women's Centre bashing. And if so, WHY? - - icle. FIRST WEDNESDAY OF EVERY MONTH WOMANSPACE \fr POT LUCK 69 N. COURT STREET 345-7802 "Without exception, groups which consider themselves part of the Canadian Women's movement and define themselves as feminist, stand firmly committed to two principles; choice and equality. We believe that neither principle can exist independently of the other. The right to choose to marry or remain single, to become a parent or remain childless, to work inside or outside the paid labour force - is the cornerstone of the Canadian Women's movement upon which all demands for equality are based." (Chaviva Hosek) NORTHERN WOMAN page web 6 PDF compression, OCR, optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Pay Equity 5. If employers have to pay women more, fewer women will be hired. COMMON ARGUMENTS AGAINST EQUAL PAY FOR WORK OF EQUAL VALUE LEGISLATION: A REBUTTAL REBUTTAL: Employers who have exploited women in the past by suggesting that they are lucky to be working under any circumstances have been quick to use this argument. Evidence from countries such as Australia, however, shows that women have not been adversely affected by equal value laws. by the Sudbury Women's Action Group 1. Women choose to work for less; the free market principle has determined the value of their jobs. REBUTTAL: It is naive to imagine that women ever entered the labour force under a "free market" principle. Their work was devalued from the beginning, and wages were set at a rate about two-thirds of men's -- remarkably like the ratio that still exists today. Moreover, because the range of jobs available to them was so limited, they exercised very little "choice" in the kind of work they did. Even today they continue to be channelled into only a few kinds of work by a variety of societal forces. This situation has resulted in a glut of labour in women's jobs, which continues to keep wages low. To create a truly "free" market we must open up other job areas to women. But we msut also ensure that the work they do now is fairly evaluated: this will ensure that new areas of women's work will not become "ghettoized" and devalued in the future. 2. Equal value legislation will result in undue government interference with wages. REBUTTAL: The government has not hesitated to interfere when it realizes that a principle of social justice is at stake; for example, in minimum wage legislation or the current equal pay law. Injustices sometimes require legislation as the only means of redress. Employers have had plenty of opportunity to voluntarily correct discriminatory wage scales, and they have not acted. 6. It will cost too much. 4. Job evaluations will be too difficult to develop. The task is too big and too complex. REBUTTAL: It is misleading and unfounded to assume that a comprehensive, province-wide evaluation scheme will have to be developed. When individual jobs within a company are compared, cases of discrimination quickly become obvious. In fact, even opponents of equal value legislation are ready to admit the injustices of many case by case examples. Using the four area evaluation system (that is already described in the Employment Standards Act for comparing similar jobs) will provide a fair and reasonable method for evaluating the worth of different jobs. Many employers already have such systems in place. The method has proven workable in enforcing Federal and Quebec equal value legislation. NOTE: Australia, New Zealand,and the European Economic Community all have equal value legislation. 45 of 50 U.S. states are studying or have implemented it in the public sector. REBUTTAL: Again, evidence from other countries suggests that the cost is not nearly as high as many employers fear. In particular, employers who enact they own programs and do not wait for complaints and costly courtordered settlements have found the costs to be manageable. (In Manitoba 1% of the total payroll was set aside for four years.) Furthermore, although in the short term there may be some expense, in the long term it must be remembered that increasing women's wages to a fair level will correspondingly increase their spending power and provide a boost to businesses. Underusing the talents of 42% of the work force is also costly. Low pay forces women into poverty. Money that is now spent to support single mothers who are unable to earn a living wage or to subsidize elderly women who have not earned enough to build up pension credits could be freed for other use if pay equity were achieved. 7. It will not close the wage gap, only narrow it. REBUTTAL: Although this is true, equal value legislation will address the most significant factor underlying the current wage gap and is essential if we are to begin to work toward fair wages for women. Other programs, notably affirmative action and increased public awareness, will be necessary to eliminate the gap altogether. Women: A Journal of Liberation 3. Equal value legislation will have a devasting impact on collective bargaining procedures. REBUTTAL: This does not need to be the case. Once those jobs which have been undervalued because of sex discrimination have been identified, they need only be compared to men's jobs to determine fair wage scales. From this point, bargaining can be as usual. Part of the process should be to identify inequities and negotiate increases in these before across the board percentage increases are negotiated. "Pro-active" models of legislation, such as that enacted in Manitoba, have made collective bargaining a central part of the legislated process. N.O.W. Conference Photo by JOAN BARIL PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor NORTHERN WOMAN page 7 �DAY CARE NEWS By MARGARET PHILLIPS SPECIAL COMMIllEt HEARINrS With articulateness and passion Nol.thwestern Ontario day care parents workers, administrators and advocates presented their concerns about the future of day care to the parliamentary Special Committee on Child Care at hearings in Dryden and Thunder Bay in mid-May. The message was clear - and consisent - from Fort Frances to Geraldton, from Marathon to Red Lake - the municipal and nonprofit day care we have in Northwes-r tern Ontario is high quality care, is important to families from all income levels - and is in jeopardy ... unless senior levels of government make the commitment to develop a comprehensive child care system in Canada and provide the funding to ensure high quality care. The Committee heard as well from evolving new day care groups such as Lakehead University Day Care Committee and the Big Trout Lake Women's Group about their struggles to initiate necessary day care services. The need to recognize the value of child care work, and provide adequate wages and benefits for workers was also stressed. The Committee was also made aware of the particular problems Northwestern Ontario isolation creates... and the need for resources appropriate to individual community's needs to be readily available. The Special Committee has now completed its hearings and is expected to; complete its report by late fall. Meanwhile, the very excellent Child Care Report prepared by the Katie Cooke Task Force is being ignored. And millions of Canadian children continue to be denied quality COMUNIlY DAY CARE NEWS In the process of preparing for the Special Committee hearings the Ontario Coalition for Better Day Care, through a grant from the Ontario Women's Directorate, produced a series of video-tapes portraying the day care situation of diverse communities across the province. Northwestern Ontario Regional Day Care Committee participated in this project and with the enthusiasm of Marathon and Sioux Lookout day care people, the expertise of Monitor North, and Fiona's newly found editing skills, we have two very informative video-tapes, which describe the day care situation of an established centre (Sioux Lookout) and the newly developed day care'service (Marathon) You may be interested in viewing these videos - please contact N.W.O.R. D.C.C., Box 144, Thunder Bay, phone 345-7802 for more information. Best of luck to Big Trout Lake Women's Group as they continue to pla for day care in their community...we' all behind you. We're also happy to know that interest in a day care pare nts/advocates groups is evolving in Kenora. Thanks to the leadership of CO= unity Services Chairwoman Dusty Mille the City of Thunder Bay has appointec an Advisory Committee on Day Care wit representation of parent users of cer, tres and private home care, Thudder Bay Advocates for Quality Child Care and City administration. This is a ve positive development which we believe will have an important impact on the continued development of high quality municipal day care in Thunder Bay. PROvINCIPL HAPPEIHFS Ruth Wells ( Thunder Bay Advocat es) and Holly Rupert (Red Lake) atten ded the recent Ontario Coalition for Better Day Care meeting where plans were made to continue organizing acti vities and refine the Coalition's rec ommendations for provincial action. Although the provincial Treasure r's announcement about negotiating wi the federal government to develop day care as a public service is a positiv step, it must be recognized that such negotiation will be a slow process an will not be achieved in time to save our Northwestern Ontario centres whic are threatened with closure at the en of December. The province must aot-mol to stabilize and secure the funding for existing municipal centres and re lieve the anxiety and stress that fam ilies and day care workers are now day care. suffering. Midwifery Task Force of written submissions will also have an opportunity to make oral submissions to the Task Force at hearings to be held in various communities in Ontario in the fall. The Task Force's itinerary will be publicized through local news media. Submissions addressing the following matters will be particularly helpful to the Task Force: education and entry requirements for midwives scope and standards of practice locations and types of practice patient access relationship with other health professions personal experience with midw-t ife-assisted or physician-assisted deliveries It will also be helpful for persons or groups wishing to make oral sumissions at hearings to so advise the Task Force. The members of the Task Force are Mary Eberts, Chairperson; Alan Schwartz, Q.C., Vice-Chairperson; Rachel Edney, M.D.; and Karyn Kaufman, R.N., Submissions may be addressed ti and further information obtained fm Linda S. Bohnen Executive Director Task Force on the Implementat: of Midwifery in Ontario 14th Floor, 700 Bay Street Toronto, Ontario M5G 1Z6 Tel. No.: (416) 965-5094 . . . RE:BIRTH, . . A Task Force has been appointed to study and make recommendations to the Government of Ontario on the impplementation of midwifery in the province. The Task Force was appointed by the Minister of Health and will make its recommendations both to him and to the Minister of Colleges and Universities. The mandate of the Task Force is to recommend a framework for establishing midwifery as a regulated profession and part of Ontario's health care system. The Task Force invites written submissions from all interested groups and members of the public. Presenters . CN.M. "Mother, what is a Feminist?" "A Feminist, my daughter, Is any woman now who cares To think about her own affairs As men don't think she oughter." - An. Dow Miller, MI NORTHERN WOMAN page 8 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �C.F.P.C. by C. Greenwood. I recently had the good fortune to attend the Canadian Feminist Periodicals Conference. This was the first conference of this nature that I have attended(sort of coming out as a feminist publisher) and the impact of being with so many women committed to feminist publishing was rejuvinating. I had a chance to put faces to names and publications and of course all those women together have a tremendous energy output! Serious issues were addressed; Race and Class, Lesbian Visibility and the politics involved in designing editing and publishing Feminist press. Our weekend began with a panel discussion, which introduced us to some of the women and issues, participating and addressed in the workshops. The workshops themselves were wideranging and my only complaint is that I couldn't attend them all. Donna Gollan(Broadside) gave an excellent workshop on fundraising, something dear to the Journals heart. We dealt with everything from government funding to advertising.Needless to say, we went over our allotted time(a theme common to most of the workshops). The Politics of Design workshop was hosted by a group of women from Pandora, who shared their considerable design sense with us. I also had an opportunity to speak with Moe Lyons, who was acting as a production skills resource person. Moe looked at our last issue, page by page and gave suggestions for improvement. If this so-gunds like an exercise in masochism - it wasn't. Moe gave many helpful tips and once again I wish there had been more time. The workshop on lesbian visibility went far overtime but it was time well spent. The workshop sensitized us to the isolation experienced by lesbians working in feminist publishing.We also examined perceived differences in lesbian and feminist politics, and we agreed to work towards the elimination of heterosexism. I suppose to summerize the weekend, I cam only say it made me aware of the tremendous network of feminist publication's across Canada. It gave me a feeling of unity with other publication's, from colour glossy to tabloids. We are all struggling with the same problems and gain strength by working together. The conference gave me a renewed sense of purpose( so much so, when I returned to my collective I was unbearable) and commitment. I'm looking forward to next year. Future Feminists Shivaun Daughtelt o4 Miniam Ketonen Kendra DaughteA oi Joan Wittiamz Photo'4 by CakoZyn Gteenwood SaiZZe Daughters o4 Teteza Legowzki Ju6tine Daughtet o6 Pam Dunk Out o6 the Ashes It'z a nice place In a tou/sy Zocati_on Af t. night the gultz 'ty The -)W n4 go back and 4onth back and Otth ACADL the yaAdZ,, A Hock away Someone wuz shot: My window haz a Zovety view 04 a 4oAmen. bawdy hou6e. I tteaLute the memory 04 good maimed ScatteAed anozz a tie o6 We 6unction in the woAZd o4 men tike second thoughts a good idea someone had to take up the 6tack. We'Ae patuted by hiz wizdom; it i eep/s PLUM event' pone and, i6 one evet 'shut's hiz mouth, anothen hotteu, "Move!" We'n.e the onus who Zook and Zaten, pouting Love and sympathy into ham without a bottom, into nothing ... endte44ty. GeAt Bead e. Quiet desperation: Many yeaAz 4Aom now How wiZt I temembet The guetz? Suzan Cott,(" vs WOMAN page 9 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISIONNORTHERN PDFCompressor �Family Law * Reformed Again Also such agreements should now be accompanied by financial statements fully disclosing the assets and liabilities (debts) of both people. Lastly, the sections allowing family members to sue for damages for loss of guidance, care and companionship and for recovery of expenses when a third person injures or kills a family member remain substantially unaltered. AREAS OF LAW WHICH WERE CHANGED by LYNN BEAK This is the first part of a two part series on the revisions to family law statutes that affect residents of Ontario. This part focuses on the new Family Law Act, and the second part will review the new Divorce Act and the support order enforcement acts enacted by the federal and provincial governments. Family law in Ontario has been reformed for the second time in seven years. Although many of the changes will be of benefit to women, the fact that the law has been revised again will make it more difficult for many women to understand the options that they have upon separation or the death of their spouse, It has become increasingly importbmt for women to seek legal-representation as soon as possible after family breakdown, and in some cases even before separation, since many new time limits have been included in the Family Law Act of 1986 (FLA). The FLA came in force March 1,1986 and its provisions have retroactive effect. Therefore the rules may have changed even for couples separated before March 1, 1986. AREAS OF LA!%! !IHICH REMAIN UNCHANGED There are several areas of law which remain unchanged. Firstly, the provisions for division of property and sharing property still do not apply to people living in common law relationships (not legally married). The only benefit a person in a common law relationship can apply for, after separation, is support payments, not a sharing of property. Secondly, the rules governing the granting of child custody orders remains unchanged. It is still "the best interests of the child" that will foLa the judge's decision. Thirdly, the rules governing the 50% division of the matrimonial home (between legally married couples only) remain fundamentally unchanged, although the rights of third parties (especially creditors) are clarified. Fourthly, both lvally married and common law couples can still prepare domestic contracts governing the main financial aspects of their situation, which will frequently override the FLA. However, marriage agreements, cohabitation agreements and separation agreements should now be prepared only when each person has independent legal representation. 1. FAMILY PROPERTY (MARRIED COUPLES ONLY) The most significant changes have occured in the area of division of family property for legally married couples. Now a spouse can apply for division of property not only on separation but also within six months after the death of their spouse. This means that the surviving spouse has to choose within six months whether she wishes to take what her spouse has left her under the will (or the rules of intestacy if there is no will) or to apply for division of family property. It will be necessary for the surviving spouse to see a lawyer soon after the death of her spouse to determine how she wants to procede. The other major change is in the definition of family assets; these now include virtually all assets acquired by either spouse during the marriage. This means that pension funds, family farms, businesses and private bank accounts are now included in the items to be divided as well as household belongings, vehicles, campers, etc. Exclusions are limited to assets owned by each spouse before the marriage (except the matrimonial home), gifts, inheritances insurance policy proceeds, damage awards and subsequent property traceable to one of these exclusions. The family property (minus debts and liabilities) owned by each spouse is then totalled and the spouse who has the higher value must compensate the spouse with the lower value so that the value of assets held by each will be equal. Some limited reasons are stated for allowing exclusions to the complete equalization of family property. 3. CHILD SUPPORT Minor changes were made to the child support sections. The parental obligation to support a child does not end at age 18 any longer, but continues while the child is enrolled full time in a school, college or university. If a person who is considered a parent because they have "demonstrated a settled intention to treat a child as a child of his or her family" is sued for child support, that person can bring the birth parent (or parents) into the application to have the child support distributed between all parties. 4. SPOUSAL SUPPORT (MARRIED COUPLE) A legally married spouse who wishes to sue for support for herself (not the children) must now commence the application within two years after separation, or else she will be required to obtain a judge's consent to allow her application to proceed. Furthermore, spousal support is being seen by the courts only as a backup to division of property and only for the purpose of helping the applying spouse to get back on his or her feet. The primary obligation for spouses is to support themselves, and therefore the courts have been giving support awards for shorter periods of time. Of course, if someone is disabled or otherwise entering or reunable to entering the workforce, the judge's have the choice to award spousal support for a longer period of time. SPOUSAL SUPPORT (COMMON LAW COUPLES) For couples in a common law relationship spousal support is the only benefit provided by the FLA. If two people have been living together for more than three years (reduced from 5 years), or if a child was born to the couple, then either spouse can apply for spousal support within two years of separation. 2. DIVISION OF ASSETS BEFORE SEPARATION An interesting provision, included for the first time, allows a legally married spouse to apply to the court for division of family property even though the spouses are still living together if the applying spouse can demonstrate that her husband will squander, waste or deplete the assets. This section may be useful for a woman married to a chronic gambler or alcoholic who wishes to preserve her share of the family assets but to remain with her husband. continued on p14 PDF compression, NORTHERN WOMAN OCR, "page 10web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Meeting a Lesbian by CAROLYN KOWCUN Reprinted from Arthur Canadian University Press Most straight women do not know how to react when they meet a lesbian. As a result, when a straight woman actually meets a lesbian face to face, the situation becomes a little embarrassing for all parties concerned. This column is full of sound advice and practical information on what to do on that fateful day you finally meet a lesbian. If you think you will never meet a lesbian, or believe that you presently don't know any, here are a few facts to consider. It is estimated that anywhere from one in twenty to one in six women are lesbians. Surely you know at least six women; you probably know at least twenty, maybe more. Statistically speaking, chances are you do know a lesbian whether you are aware of it or not. Now, if you wonder how you would react if a lesbian actually told 'you she was a lesbian, this article 'is for you. The following sixteen hints, carefully compiled by a team of experts (whose names escape me), should be studied carefully and memorized if possible. Perhaps it would be best to clip and save this article and carry it around in your purse. You never knoF when the following advice will come in handy. This is serious stuff. Are you ready? Here we go. When you meet a lesbian - Hints for the Heterosexual Woman: 1. Do not run screaming from the room. This is rude. 2. If you must back away, do so slowly and with discretion. Do not grimace at all costs. 3. Do not assume that she is attracted to you. 4. Do not assume that she is not attracted to you. 5. Do not assume that you are not attracted to her. 6. Do not expect her to be as excited about meeting a heterosexual as you may be about meeting a lesbian. 7. Do not immediately start talking about your boyfriend and/or husband in order to make it clear that you are straight. She probably already knows. 8. Do not tell her that it is sexist to prefer women, that people are people, and that she should be able to love everybody. Do not tell her that men are as oppressed by sexism as women, and that women should help men fight their oppression. These are common fallacies and should be understood as such. 9. Do not invite her someplace where there are men unless you tell her in advance. Feminist Bo 10. Do not ask her how she got this way. Instead, ask yourself how you got that way. 11. Do not assume that she is dying to talk about being a lesbian. 12. Do not expect her to refrain from talking about beingWOMAN'S a lesbian. NORTHERN BOOKSTOR 13. Do not trivialize her exper69 N. COURT ST. ience by assumingTHUNDER it is aBAY, bedroom P7A 4T7 issue only. She is a lesbian 24 344-7979 hours a day. 14. Do not assume that because she is a lesbian she wants to be treated like a man. 15. Do not assume that her heart will leap out for you if you touch her arm (condescending? flirtatiously? powertestingly?) it may make her anotdet yowl copy now o gry. & 16. If you are tempted to tell THE the FEMINIST DICTIONARY her she's taking easy way out, think about it. Now, that wasn't so difficult was it? Perhaps the next time you see a pink triangle, you won't faint from fear of the unknown. If you do faint, though, you should read this article again ask yourself 11:30 6 Fri what open andThwo. you are afraid of.Satanday 11:30 Oh yes, I almost forgot about helpful hint no. 17. Do not stop breathing. Lesbianism is not contagious, nor is it caused by a virus. ; PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �INTERVIEW with RUTH CUNNINGHAM by JOAN BARIL After twelve years in women's programs at Confederation College, Ruth Cunningham is retiring. At her retirement dinner on June 5, Ruth received tributes from several women who had worked with her in nursing and education. She received scrolls from the City of Thunder Bay, presented by Mayor Jack Masters, the Province of Ontario presented by MLA Mickey Hennessy and from the Government of Canada presented by a representative for Lain Angus MP for Thunder Bay-Atikokan. Here she speaks with Joan Baril. Joan: At the dinner many people said they couldn't believe that you would really retire. I can't imagine you without some sort of commitment. It seems to me your life has been one of commitment. Ruth: I was ten years old when I sat behind the ranch house and said to myself 'There must be something better than doing dishes and cleaning. There has got to be something better. Joan: Did you get that idea from a book? Ruth: Oh no. I didn't have any hooks. We lived on a ranch in Saskatchewan. The only book I had until I was twelve was a Happy Gang book. I was an intellectually deprived child. But I did have time to do lots of thinking. I decided at ten not to get married. When I did, I practically made my future husband write in blood going to have a career of my own. I was not domestic and I didn't have any intention of working inside the home all the time. But I did want children. Joan: Did your mother influence you? Ruth. I'll never forget it. My mother said, "Do your own thinking, Ruth". Joan: Has this been your philosophy? Ruth: I believe that adults should be free to make the decisions which affect their lives, be willing to take the responsibility for those decisions and have the opportunity to carry them out. Joan: You've been at the College for twelve years in Women's Programs. Can you talk a bit about this? Ruth: A Community College has a mandate. It is to meet the needs of people in the community. A college has to address itself as best it can to do this. My mandate was to women. Within my twelve years I have implemented programs into every division. I think there's been a woman's revolution from day one. But it's never really been won and it's a continuing struggle. Joan: Do you see a role for women's studies? Ruth: There certainly is a role for women's studies. If I didn't think that I wouldn't have been here for twelve years. That role is now enlarging rather than decreasing because many people see that they need women's studies in order to find themselves and learn something about their history. Joan: At one college, the president refuses to allow women's studies. He claims it is discriminatory. Ruth: Men are not forbidden to attend any of our programs such as Assertiveness Training, Women in History, or Women, Society and Change. So we are not discriminatory. Joan: This college believes it is the content of the courses which are discriminatory since they focus on women's experience. Ruth: They are no more discriminatory than to focus on the study of Natives or any ethnic minority. That president is wrong. I have in my office documentation to show that special programs are covered under the affirmative action code of Ontario and the Canadian Human Rights code and consequently we are able to do special programs for women. I have passed this information on to the different divisions, I'm having a hard time selling it and I think it's important that they have it in writinv I also have articles on this. I spoke on special programs for women to the Association of Community Colleges(note: this association is for college presidents,management,and boards of governors). I was the speaker last year concerning special programs versus integrated programs. They were amazed when I told them we had a General Arts and Science program emph- Educational institution's have a history of sexism. They have a nistory of reacting rather tnan leading, Joan: But you were a pioneer. Ruth: Well, educational institutions have a history of sexism. They have a history of reacting rather than leading. They therefore change only when pressure groups force them to re-evaluate their modus operandi. I could write a book! But since I've been here it has evolved from a period of outright hostility to tolerance and acceptance and finally some recognition that women are here to stay and that they have been disadvantaged in education and unemployment. asizing women's curriculum. Women over the years have worked hard to legitimize women's programs. Joan: What about the future? Ruth: There has to be a plan for maintaining. I already foresee erosion. The government has decided to "privitize education" without adequate monitoring. It's an open opportunity for women to be exploited, for a company to make money instead of the issues being addressed. I'm very glad I'm leaving at this time. I feel I've done a good piece of work but I think if I were to stay I would see it erode and disappear. And no one wants to see the work they have done disappear. Especially when there has been personal cost. Don't paint me as a victim. I'm not that. But I really do think we are at the crossroads. Joan: When .I talk to my students they tell me that everything is so much better for women now that there are few changes to be expected in the future. Ruth: Society never stagnates. You either go foreward or you go back. Of course, there have been gains. We have the Charter, But we had to fight for the equality clause. We do have affirmative action in the Ontario Human Rights Code but hardly anybody knows it is there, Joan: What's next? Ruth: Fighting ion: Vellt%Ifd-'tiot- underestimate the opposition. Joan: Why is that do you think? Ruth: Women have been socialized to nurture. That has been their greatest contribution. They are very uncomfortable working for change. It's threatening to their husbands. It's threatening to their families. This leaves women's organizations very vulnerable. The family is resistant. We've had indicatrUms of this in our work with women over the years, Women tend to put the family before themselves and they come out at the bottom of the heap many times. Joan: We end up paying for our virtues. Ruth: Yes. Of course many women have heavy family responsibilities. They have so much to do. Many women are working very hard. They don't have much energy sometimes even to read the local paper. As for some of our students, many of them have so little income. They have to sacrifice a lot for their children. There's no day care here. It's only for those who can afford it, not for those who can't afford it. So with the kind of socialization and burdens placel on women it's going to take a great revolution for many to move from that position, Joan: Is that revolution happening? Ruth: I think there's been a women's revolution from day one. But it's never really been won and it's a continuing struggle, a never ending struggle. PDF NORTHERN compression, OCR, WOMAN page 12 web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Imo UPDATE moo continued rds and Tapes, Box 3294, Stn D, Thunder Bay, Ontario, P7B 5J8.000 goo CALL FOR NOMINATIONS .e. The annual meeting of the N.W.O. Decade council is fast approaching, to be exact, 18 and 19 of October, 1986. At this meeting we will be hold ing the election for the executive. Anyone who is interested or requires further information, please contact either Margaret Lanchok at 807-345-63 45 or Pat Wilson at 807-939-2803, or write Box 1091, Stn F, Thunder Bay, Ontario,P7C 4X9. The positions to be filled are: President, 2 Vice-Presidents, Secretary ooLaurentian University offers an impressive Women's Studies program. Of particular value to regional women, is the Correspondence Courses program. Courses include: Women in Modern Society, Women and the Arts, A History of Women and the Women's Movement: Renaissance to the Present. For more information contact - Women's Studies Program, Thornloe College, Laurentian and Treasurer. igloo University, Sudbury, Ontario.*** goo Received from Ian Scott, Minse Women's Art - Womanspirit ister Responsible for Women's Issues: Art Resource Centre of London, Ontario " I am very pleased to announce the regrets that it must close its doors appointment of Dr. Elaine Todres as to the public due to lack of voluntethe new Assistant Deputy Minister of ers. The main body of the centre's the Ontario Women's Directorate. As research materials - the slide registformer Director of the Policy and Rery of women artists, their collection search Branch, Dr. Todres has contribof books, periodicals and magazines, uted a great deal to the work of the and other research and reference matOWDO She has helped map a course for erials will be moved to Weldon Library tLe OWD, and for this Government, what the University of Western Ontario, ich has put Ontario in the forefront and will be available to the public.... of policy-making on women's issues. I look forward to working with Dr. Todres and I'm sure she can count on your continued supporto"ooe ooe All our good wishes to Liz Poulin, president of Decade Council for a speedy return to health and her usual dynamic energy.oso LE FESTIVAL DES. FEMMES CANADIENNES 3D-161 STAFFORD STREET WINNIPEG, MANITOBA R3M 2W9 (204) 477-5478 PRO-LIFE (?) TACTICS The "pro-life" crusade occurs on many fronts ... from trained subtle harassment of abortion clinic patients (called sidewalk counsel*goo Contrary to rumor there will ling), 1i to planned violence, to verbe a Canadian Women's Festival this bal and written attacks on anyone year. The 3rd Annual Canadian Women's who does not share their anti-aborMusic and Cultural Festival will be tion views. held September 5 & 6, 1986 at the CeIn 1985, 27 (U.S.) health clintre Culturel Franco-Manitobain. As nics offering birth control and aboryet we do not have a final schedule. tion services were attacked by bombBut be assured that performers are be- ings or deliberate fires. These asing contacted, women artisians are be- saults, which have numbered 50 in the ing sought, and visual artists are be-past two years, are becoming increaing eyed. singly life-threatening to the women Like many women's organisations working in the clinics. In December, the Festival is experiencing a severe a bomb exploded during office hours lack of dollars. Last years event le- at Manhattan Women's Medical Centre, ft the organisation with a substantial the same month, the Feminist Women's debt. This, coupled with an intransig- Health Centre in Portland, Ore. reent anti-culture federal government ceived a letter bomb. No one was infunding policy leaves us in dire st- jured in either attack but according raits. Consequently 1986 has seen a to Nanette Falkenberg of the National flurry of fundraising activity, a co- Abortion Rights Action League, "This mmitment to not incurring another de- is really the first time that it's bt, and occasional flirting with the clear the intent is to kill people." fine edge of panic. We are in the mi- (Kinesis, April 86) dst of a membership drive and are weCanadians are not immune to lcoming women with $5.00 or more into "pro-life" violence. In 1983 the our fold. Toronto Women's Bookstore was set on This years festival is going to fire by an arsonist. The Morgenthaler be quite different to previous ones. Clinic was located on the second floWe will be having a more extensive or of the building in which the Bookvisual arts program including film store was situated. and video showings and workshops. It Recently staff members of the will be a smaller, more intimate aff- ,Morgenthaler Clinic have been subair, held indoors on a Friday night, jected to increased harassment as Saturday and Saturday night. In this "pro- life" demonstrators have picketspirit we are making every effort to ed the staff's personal residences and distributed leaflets to their arrange billets for our out-of-town neighbours urging the neighbours to friends. Your involvement at previous fe- persuade the staff not to work in stivals has been greatly appreciated abortion clinics. The Morgenthaler and Scott Cliand we thank you in advance for your participation in this year's festival.nics are not the only targets. On Looking forward to a nice time in Se- May 14, protests were held outside ptember and we are hoping you can at- Canadian hospitals (including Thunder Bay hospitals) that provide tend. Until then we remain, therpeutic abortions. In Solidarity, 'Pro-life Abortion Services" (the The Canadian Women's Festival. contradiction is deliberate) are also being using established in many cities. FOr PDF compression, OCR, web optimization a watermarked evaluation an excellent discussion of these ser! , copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �QUOTABLE NOTABLE QUOTES ANSWERS TO LAST ISSUE'S CROSSWORD a matching quiz by JOAN BARIL 110 11110111N111111Z11 El ROI PI, 1/11t1011 ,,11 1. When one is pretending, the entire body revolts 11411111M .1011 g ILIE11114 A 111111_ '60 A. Germaine Greer 2. It is better to die on your feet than live on your . 5 FM .111'4111111M 'Is, knees. It1011111311\-.',7,-,13911110 B. Gloria Steinham 3. The liberation of language is rooted in the liberation of ourselves. C. Margaret Trudeau 4. In search of my mother's garden I found my own. D. Simone de Beauvoir 5. Marriage is a great institution but I'm not ready for an institution yet. E. Mary Daly ri II .11 111,',-.11 n 111111111111116101111 111111 111111,11'.111_imin!;!,) G. Delores Ibarruri F. Anais Nin 7. Women have very little idea of how much men hate them. 6. I can't be a rose in any man's lapel. H. Alice Walker 8. A woman without a man is like a fish without a bicycle. I. Lily Tomlin 9. Woman is not a completed reality but rather a becoming. J. Phyllis Diller 10. There will be sex after death - we just won't be able to feel it. K. Mae West 11. My only concern was to get home after a hard day's L. Rosa Parks work,, 12. Never go to bed mad. Stay up and fight. 'fZI IOT !G6 !q8 !VL !09 !MS =H.17' !H tOZ FAMILY LAW ,,_,T,_,,, (z111P5 and 011.---LIN6 R5 c6R. WOM.,N continued from p10 in itle, ;------0 The same considerations as discussed in the previous section on amount and duration of the support award apply here except that the concept of "family property" does not apply to common law couples. However, if a woman has contributed to the acquiring of an asset registered in a man's name (or vis versa) then she should speak to a lawyer since other laws may assist her to recover her investment. Voriplace,, at .5OCLCIJ , On the- S'Mer and In tAe, bbarefroorn. .evld 146 9e9tAr favourite quip6,..bak citionuirric9L,th and cralitaHt. d-Lorouirou lighthearted or yeriouh and yharp ; we' I print Ci I/ thctA fib To frirtt I 04 CtMPIVATIONC)F.R6ATCOM6MCK5fbR_,41,-OCCA516111. 139 _portion of -tci CONCLUSION WeAerbe- 64del-16)461-Its 13dIered proce,e,c1U vrne,v1).. Cbolitibn of L'7helicr send to This has been a brief summary of some changes to the family law in Ontario. As a result of these changes many people may wish to see a lawyer in order to revise their will or assess their situation. Since this information has been very genetal,-IT.MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON, OTHER LEGISLATION MAY VARY THE SITUATION. If you wish to obtain legal advice, you should see a private lawyer, contact the lawyer referral service (Zenith 58600) where you will be given the name of a lawyer who will provide you with a half hour interview at a low cost, or contact your local legal clinic. C,Vertr5 RETORTS Box #167 253 College St. TORONTO, M5T 11-6 S U A P P M E Y I a a - NORTHERN 140MAIV:paged4 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �WOMAN WORDS Intrigued by the book covers on our cover? Here's a bit more about them to whet you appetite. A FEMINIST DICTIONARY by Cheris Kramaral and Paula A. Treichler is a different kind of dictionary. Indispensible to every woman who has felt put down or made invisible by male-defined language. The authors state their purpose in compiling the dictionary was "to document words, definitions, and conceptualizations that illustrate women's linguistic contributions, to illuminate forms of expression through which women have sought to describe, reflect upon, and theorize about women, language and the world; to identify issues of language theory, research, usage and institutionalized practice that bear on the relationship between women and language, to demonstrate ways in which women are seizing the language; to broaden knowledge of the feminist lexicon; and to stimulate research on women and language." Doubtless, many readers will be stimulated to expand their own study and reading from introductions to new thinking, new writers, that the dictionary provides. A FEMINIST DICTIONARY will be a great present to yourself. In the expanding body of literature exploring violence against women, it is encouraging to note the growing contribution of Canadian publications. NO'SAFE PLACE:Violence Against Women and Children, edited by Connie Guberman and,Margie Wolfe is a timely anthology that links the issues of wife aa'ault, child battery, rape, child sexual abuse, sexual harassment and pornography. The articles included in this volume not only examine the data documenting the extent of violence in our society, but also analyses the institutional response to the demands of feminist for action on these issues. That political response has been evidenced in the past few years (particularly in respect to rape and wife battering) poses a distinct dilemma for feminists who increasingly witness the "institutionalization" of these women's issues. While governments have become receptive to funding crisis services "...the state has done nothing which really changes the social order that produces violence in the first place ... Until society focuses on the real causes, we cannot hope to eliminate the problem". The demands of providing services for victims of violence too often overrides the need for continual analysis of society violence. NO SAFE PLACE is a valuable contribution to encourage our continuing feminist analysis and an increasing awareness of the need for qualitative societal change. Another new Canadian publication is Pat Armstrong's LABOUR PAINS: Women's Work in Crisis which "... presents a stunning analysis of current (economic) patterns, exploring for the first time the effects of the crisis on women's and men's work both in the labour force and in the household.... Armstrong explains why women's employment will deteriorate both absolutely and in relation to men ... warning.. that unless they get together and do something about it, the working women of Canada will emerge from this crisis in a more uncertain position than before." Anyone interested in girls and women's education will want to study Dale Spender's INVISIBLE WOMEN: The Schooling Scandal. The heart of women's oppression is their silencing. Spender, a communications expert, analyzes how the educational "system" has been set up by men as an adjunct of another system - the patriarchial system. She describes and quotes studies which show what actually happens in the classroom - the negation, trivialization and silencing of girls, teaching them to be invisible. A 1986 Women's Press fiction publication is SUBVERSIVE ELEMENTS by Donna E. Smyth. Described as "an intriguing melange of voices that entice us to explore two seemingly unrelated strands - a highly romantic and unlikely love story and a timely account of the controversy surrounding uranium mining in Nova Scotia. Textually and thematically subversive, these two narratives resonate off each other creating a story that is both innovative and moving". Winnipeg writer Carol Shields recently released collection VARIOUS MIRACLES will be a welcome addtion to the bookshelves of all short story enthusiasts. Other fiction titles we suggest for your summer reading include: FABLES OF BRUNSWICK AVE. by Katherine Govier; SPARE PARTS by Gail Scott; INLAND PASSAGE by Jane Rule; TENDER WARRIORS by Rachel Guido de Vries; SOMETHING OUT THERE by Nadine Gordimer; and Doris Lessing's DIARIES OF JANE SOMERS. Judith Petch, a faithful NWJ reader responds to our call last issue and sends her suggestions with her comments. They are MANY TENDER TIES: Women in Fur-Trade Society, 1670-1870, by Sylvia Van Kirk - The economic and domestic survival skills of women, particularly native women, played a crucial role in the development of the North American fur trade, especially during its early days. A POISON STRONGER THAN LOVE, by Anastasia Shkilnyk - A whole community, individually and collectively shows signs of emotional (and mental?) illness when hit by successive waves of economic and social dislocation and an environmental disaster. A lot of testimony about the resultant problems is given from women's perspective. 136 Good-bye Simone by JOAN BARIL The first book I read by Simone de Beauvoir, Memoirs of a Dutiful Daughter, bored me. The life of a bougeois French girl was foreign to me, seemingly unconnected with my own. As for The Second Sex, it seemed to go on forever, full of rich images, yes, but I couldn't grasp the meaning. The concept of woman as "other", a person without "projects" (projects?), the references to philosophy and French literature, the long descriptions of women's lives so different from my own left me disoriented as if I had found myself in a wood with a hundred paths and no clear direction. It was all too French, too foreign, intellectually over my head. It took several years, but slowly all the paths merged into a pattern. There was no sudden "click". I just grew enough to understand de Beauvoir. I believe I read everything she wrote. Some of it was unforgettable. She wrote about her love life, her mother's death, movingly about her own encroaching old age. In future years I think she will be remembered as an historian because her series of memoirs are as much an historical account as they are a personal. When she wrote The Second Sex, she was way ahead of her time and roundly criticized by her friends. Virginia Woolf had the same experience with Three Guineas). Later in the seventies she was criticized by feminists. Because the book was written in 1949 it was freighted with assumptions of the period which even a mind as adept as de Beauvoir's could not uncover. She accepted many of the criticisms as just. She was never afraid to change her views. She revised her ideas on women as many articles and interviews show. It was amusing at her death to hear the same old critiques trotted out as if what she wrote in 1949 was exactly what she believed in 1986. De Beauvoir combined an active political life with a theoretical one - a life of praxis. She was in the forefront of political activity in France and the forefront of the women's movement everywhere. She died this spring, 1986. Good-bye, Simone. PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION'NORTHERN PDFCompressor WOMAN page 15 �PROGRAMS The Confederation College of Applied Arts & Technology REGISTRAT1CN INFORMATION: For ALL subjects begins August 5th (5-7:30pm) and commencing on August 6th from 9am-7:30pm every weekday except Fridays from 9am-4pm in the Registrar's Office. MALL Registration from August 18th to 23rd, 9:30am to closing at Intercity Shopping Centre. to obtain a registration form contact Community Programs (807) 475-6116. Deadline MAIL -IN: is September 2nd; no postdated cheques accepted, VISA is accepted. Thunder Bay District EQUAL OPPORTUNITY PROGRAMS FAIL ' 86 "NEW**Business Division-EQUAL OPPORTUNITY MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATE PROGRAM (Post-Basic) one semester-September to This one-year certificate program is divided into two parts: December-in the college; second semester-January to April-in a field placement environment. Field placements and job opportunities will not necessarily be in the Thunder Bay region. Subjects in the E.O.M. Program may be taken during the day or as offered during the evening through Community Programs. For further information contact the Associate Registrar (807) 475-6365. GENERAL ARTS AND SCIENCE DIPLOMA PROGRAM emphasizing Women's Programs Curricula may be taken full-time during the day or part-time (evenings) through Community Programs. For further information contact the G.A.S. Program Co-ordinator (807) 475-6390. GS 010 (99) PERSONAL FINANCIAL PLANNING RR *KR) This subject will give women practical instruction in personal economics, the art of handling money and managing one's financial affairs. Topics covered include budgeting, banking and investing, credit, housing, insurance and car ownership, together with other topics in which the students may express an interest. This subject is targeted for women only. Tuesdays 7:00-10:00pm DATE/TIME September 9, 1986 START DATE: December 16, 1986 COMPLETION: INSTRUCTOR: Lauretta Johnson 267, Shuniah Bldg ROOM: $56.25 FEE: : CAREER PLANNING FOR WOMEN is an 8-week program to assist women entering or re-entering the labour force to understand present employment conditions, to select realistic career goals and to enter appropriate employment or begin suitable training. Program commencement dates: October 13, 1986 to December 5, 1986 January 19, 1986 to March 13, 1987 WOMEN INTO TRADES & TECHNOLOGY (W.I.T.T.) is an 18-week program designed to expose women to all aspects of practical trades training and the world of Hi-Tech. Program commencement dates: September 15, 1986 to January 16, 1987 February 2, 1987 to June 5, 1987 For further information on CAREER PLANNING FOR WOMEN or W.I.T.T., contact the Chair Industrial & Motive Power (807) 475-6215, or Women's Employment Centre (807) 623-2731. GS 143 (99) WOMEN & STRESS MANAGEIWT This subject is intended to examine situational stresses in our lives,-family, job, social relationships, conflict, change, developmental crises, etc., as well as potential sources of stress you bring to every situation because of your personality, belief system, life rhythms and style of problem-solving. A lifestyle and attitude approach to changing your stress response will be developed by each individual. DATE/TIME START DATE: COMPLETION: INSTRUCTOR: FEE: $37.50 : BASIC TRAINING IN SKILLS DEVELOPMENT (B.T.S.D.) Academic Upgrading Grades 8-12; English as a Second Language. For further information contact the Chair Secretarial P. Hospitality Programs (807) 475-6318, or your local Canada Employment P. Immigration office, or the Women's Employment Centre, 130 S. Syndicate Avenue, Thunder Bay, ON P7C 1C7 (807) 623-2731. YOUR SUGGESTIONS ARE WELCOME ... CALL THE ASSISTANT SUPERVISOR OF COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AT (807) 475-6189. Northwestern Ontario Residents may call Toll Free: 1 Mondays 7:00-10:00pm' September 8, 1986 November 17, 1986 Shirley Stevens 265, Shuniah Bldg ROOM: GS 026 (99) ASSERTIVENESS TRAINING (FOR NbMEN) This subject will provide women with the skills necessary to negotiate honestly for the things she wants--on the job, at home, in the community. Assertion is not to be confused with aggression. Assertion takes into account the rights and feelings of others. This subject is targeted for women only. Thursdays 7:00-10:00pm DATE/TIME September 11, 1986 START DATE: COMPLETION: November 13, 1986 Shirley Stevens INSTRUCTOR: ROOM: 267, Shuniah Bldg FEE: $37.50 : WT 843 MOTOR VEHICLE OtmEN Khow YOUR CAR) In this elective post-secondary credit subject, women will learn the basic procedures of car maintenance and general operation. Section 99 DATE/TIME START DATE: COMPLETION: Mondays 7:00-10:00pm September 15, 1986 October 27, 1986 Section 98 DATE/TIME START DATE: COMPLETION: Wednesdays 7:00-10:00pm September 17, 1986 October 22, 1986 : : Dave Wirta INSTRUCTOR: 149, Auto Shop, Dorion Bldg ROOM: FEE: $22.50 ZW 027 (99) BECOMING MYSELF: BODY IMAGE If you learn to accept your body, you will Do you consider your body your friend or enemy? gain self-esteem and confidence. To help you do this, we will be listening to our bodies, examining cultural influences, body image, eating patterns and taking control/changes. We will use a variety of methods including relaxation techniques, colour, imagery, simple movement, group sharing as well as private writing time. INSTRUCTOR: Eleanor Albanese FEE: $37.00 Tuesdays 7:00-10:00pm DATE/TIME: 342, Shuniah Bldg ROOM: COMPLETION: October 28, 1986 START DATE: September 16, 1986 - 800 - 465 - 6961 3 -1 2, 0rD (76 tv rD 0- a. so O m3 n Ru 3 0 re, es> CL o n' 3 o m 02 ° 0 0 a m- -0 0. 4 C n 0fp .. n ro f m- e ro o et 0. Cr ..-- 9, -n f... = 7.7 2)- 0 = cs' 5' '' =co < M vii 5. a0- , ..7-. 2a) DJ .". Ln 3 ,..<:,_ z- -h -, ..,. -a 0 "" ... M , CL 3 a c." 30 0- r° =,) 3 0 -3 -0 * O .7.- ess, m t4n LI, 0 n (1) rD (t) 0 1:6 C -0 1,??. -6 0 c 5. o n < rD g =- a_ o F,1 5 3 a.° 0- et, oci z z -% 0- O.) 13., 2) , CICil M -, .. ti) C vim, O )-)- (-) 3 ci, 0 o, 3 CT n o 1., co 0_ sl, < _ (0 3 0 < > -, z fo -.. rn (,) ,;.' rD B. -0 M ao 0n CD = C -o -r, 0M 0 a_ n zp.. -0 0 -) n v., fD O B CD <. :7 0- 73* 330' coo ?'al.,o3 v) w tro ''v. 2 .54 6 es, !tr.:. . Q CIO PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Second Class Mail Registration No. 5697 RETURN 19: THE NORTHERN WCHAN 69 N. COURT ST. THUNIER BAY, ONTARIO P7A 4T7 Return.Postage Guaranteed Don't forget to renew your' subscription! Here's my sub: Name Address (postal cede) o Individual 0 .5 institutional $ 10 ***********************0:************ IS THERE AN ASTERISK ON YOU4LABEL?? p2 Editorial/Your Voice p3 Women's Centre Under Attack p4 Update p5 Northern Ontario Women's Conf. p7 Pay Equity p8 Day Care/Midwifery Task Force p9 Feminist Periodicals Conf. p9 Future Feminists p10 Family Law Reformed Again pll Meeting a Lesbian p12 Interview with Ruth Cunningham p14 Quotable Notable Quotes p15 Woman Words WORKERS THIS ISSUE: Elaine Goodwin, Carolyn Greenwood, Mary-Ann Kleynendorst, Anna McColl, Margaret Phillips, Rosemary Pittis. PLEASE RENEW YOUR SUBSCRIPTION **********4g************************** Northern Woman Journal 69 N. Court St., Thunder Bay, Ontario P7A 4T7 (FOUR ISSUES) $5.00 $10.00 Business or Institution PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Northern Woman Journal Description An account of the resource Northern Woman Journal Published in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Northern Woman Journal (originally called Northern Woman) started in 1973 following the first annual Northern Women’s Conference in order to keep the conference attendees connected. Initially serving as a newsletter of events, local issues, and women’s resources, the Northern Woman Journal quickly became a diverse publication reaching national and international readers. Not only did it serve as a newsletter to keep local women up to date on feminist issues in Northwestern Ontario, but also as a safe space to discuss women’s resources, law, politics, economics, health, racism, sexism, homophobia, feminist organizing and activism, transnational feminist issues, poetry, feminist reading, feminist art, and women’s diverse lived experiences.One of the longest-running feminist perodicals in North America, the Northern Woman Journal reached its end in 1995. Throughout its 22 years, the Northern Woman Journal was produced by its many collective members, with membership evolving year to year. For many years, the journal worked closely alongside and shared space with the Northern Women’s Centre and the Northern Women’s Bookstore. With the exception of a year-long government grant in the 1970s, the journal relied entirely on subscription fees and donations in order to maintain publishing, which presented challenges throughout its entire existence. As stated in an early version of the editorial policy, “only by a free and open exchange of views and opinions will we develop a basis for unity which can be used as a basis for action.” Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Northern Woman Journal, Vol 10 No 1 Description An account of the resource Vol. 10, No, 1 (August 1986) Title: Northern Woman Journal Topics include: Journal funding Protests against women’s centres & women’s services R.E.A.L Women Forum for mothers at home Depo Provera Sexism in politics Worker’s rights Divorce law Abortion access Calgary Birth Control Association Women’s conference, Geraldton Northwestern Ontario Women’s Health Information Network Conference Northern Ontario Women’s Conference, Sudbury Native women’s struggles Pay equity Daycare news Midwifery Task Force Canadian Feminist Periodicals Conference Family law reform Family property law Child support Spousal support Lesbian experience Candian women writers Ruth Cunningham interview Women & educational institutions Pro-life movements Confederation College programs for women The Next Step, film on battered women Authors/Contributors: Kathryn Fournier Sudbury Women’s Action Group Margaret Phillips Carolyn Greenwood Lynn Beak Carolyn Kowcun Joan Baril Elaine Goodwin Mary-Anne Kleynendorst Anna McColl Rosemary Pittis Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Northern Woman Journal Collective Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1986-08 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Published on this site with permission. Language A language of the resource English https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/16/2792/1986_Vol_10_No_2.pdf 795fb2fd2fc4897d71088805c9bd3788 PDF Text Text $1. 5 0 Northern Woman JournalNovember 1986, Vol. 10 No. 2, Thunder Bay, Ontario PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Editorial This issue of the NORTHERN WOMAN celebrates the artistry of women. In our small way we try to make VISIBLE the creativity of women. As Sasha McInnes (Interview p7) states "Women's art is images that empower us, that tell the TRUTH about who we are, who we can be, where we've come from not just about how we are viewed and treated in this malestream culture, but about who we are in the depths of our souls. These images are so deeply threatening in their truths and potency to the patriarchy that they have insidiously worked to eradicate them every time they have re-surfaced throughout history. Be sure that their invisibility is no accident of historical circumstance, certainly not due to some inability on the part of women to produce beautiful and meaningful works of art but a comprehensive and determined move on the part of patriarchal powers to eradicate the female principle from the face of the earth - to murder female energy - that of ALL women, white, black, red, yellow, from every socio economic stratum, everywhere in the world." In searching for new forms of expression - be they visual or literary - women's creativity enrichs and empowers us all. VIMEN'S CENTRE $ In the last issue of the NORTHERN WOMAN (Aug. '86) we described the attack on Women's Centre which culminated in a City "administrative review" following a City Council meeting where the Right to Life Association of Thunder Bay appealed their grant decision and their spokesman John Carroll was permitted to use the Council forum to attack Women's Centre. (The Right to Life Association subsequently disclaimed association with Carroll, and Carroll apparently now indicates he does not represent Right to Life -- however this contradiction seems to be lost upon Council). The report of the "administrative review" was presented to Council in late August. The report was little more than a summary of Women's Centre's financial information and program data for the past 51/2 years. The "pro-abortion" and "pro-lesbian" charges which brought about the review were not addressed. Without discussion or comment Council referred the report to the 1987 Financial Assistance Review process. We ask again WHY this review was undertaken. The answer may lie in the realization that to accommodate the review Women's Centre were obliged to waste weeks of precious time responding to City bureaucratic requests. Such diversion of women's energies deserves analysis! Now that the review is complete will the issue go away? Not very likely! It is to be expected that the Right to Life Association will continue to take every opportunity to oppose Women's Centre. But, as we have stated previously, the essential question is whether City Council will permit its offices to be the forum for Women's Centre bashing? This experience calls into question the whole issue of governthent funding for alternative services. How much necessary feminist work is subverted, how much energy diverted, by dealing with malestream funding agencies? Yet feminists are taxpayers too, and shouldn't we enjoy some of the benefits of our hard earned tax payments? This is not a new debate. But the time is ripe for the Thunder Bay feminist community to again analyze this issue. 4.- Women in. yews OICE Dear Women: This is post from Switzerland, from a woman, who would like to go to Canada for about one year, from April '87 until spring '88. I've got your address from GAIA'S GUIDE. I'm 21 and until now I've done different things, so I haven't got a profession yet. To meet and work with women from another country would be a great experience for me! So if you know about anything in Canada, where there's a possibility to go, please write me back! I'd be very happy to get an answer from you! Thanks a lot. Eva Keller Im Lee 13 CH-8400 Winterthur Switzerland Cover Credit: Detail of MENARCHE Tapestry Sasha McInnes History Dear Friends, I recently had my name changed back to my maiden, surname, Sherette. It has been a desire for'so long and of course quite a lot of resentment when I found out there never was a reason to have a name change with marriage. A pretty well kept secret by the "good old boys". A little late to be sure. I was 69 years old June 25, 1986, but anything that made me feel this good can only be right. Lawyer Patrick Smith made the change in 10 minutes. I thought it would be weeks or months. How many times has the same story been told in the past year or so? I appreciate the Northern Woman Journal so much and feel guilty because I am unable to give any of my time. The days are all too short. But I feel happy and secure to know there is a Northern Women's Cenre support group. Thanks and Love, Lester D. Sherette. Open the window, push aside the heavy curtains and beyond is the most fabulous vista- scenes of love, death, striving and creation beyond the twentieth century imagination. There are many windows into history, but the saga of women's lives gives us the richest and deepest understanding of the complexities of women's lives today. The course at Confederation College starts on Wednesday, January 14 at 7pm. Participants need not have taken any other history courses. The sessions will make full use of slides, films, pictures, videos and lectures as well as ample time for group discussions. For further information phone Joan Baril at the college (474-6336) or at home (344-6708) or watch out for the college callendar of night courses " The Owl", which will come out on November 26. Registration will start at the college December I. Since this course is also a college credit course for college students, the class fills up quickly. The cost is $56.25 for fifteen evenings. HOME TO SHARE Apology: The credit of graphic used on Page 3 of our August '86 issue should have read: the Newsmagazine by Alberta Women. Home to share co-operatively in Current River. with another non-smoking woman. Will consider children. Phone 807-683-5669 or write c/o Northern Woman Journal NORTHERN WOMAN page 2 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Family Law * Reformed Again by LYNN BEAK The two part article on Family Law now has been separated into three parts. This issue will deal with divorce and the next issue will address the new Federal and Provincial Support Enforcement agencies. In 1986 Canada received a new Divorce Act. It was the first major amendment to divorce since 1968 and it is an interim measure in an ongoing sociological and legal revolution, that will in time alter the nature of marriage and divorce significantly. The intention of the new legislation was to make the process more humane and the'results more responsive to people's practical need. In the past the divorce laws have been part of the pioblem rather than part of the solution, for women facing marriage breakdown and the intention vas to.make significant improvements.. The int-ost notable change is the elimination of fault oriented divorce, at least partially. There are now three grounds for an application for a divorce: the first is living separate and apart for 12 months; the second is adultery; and the third is physical and mental cruelty. The Federal officials are hoping that since litigation on the fault grounds (adultery and cruelty) is so costly, emotionally messy, and would probably take more than a year to get through the Courts anyway, that the one year separation is going to be a serious al- The new Act also shortens the time it will take to obtain a divorce In the past in areas outside of Toronto where the Supreme Court did not sit regularly, there was often a significant waiting period for a trial date. Once the hearing had been held, there was a further 90 day waiting period before the divorce was final. Now, an uncontested application for a divorce can proceed speedily since the parties will not have to wait for a trial date and the order is final 30 days after it has been signed by a Judge. In order toflarify what is meant by living, #eparate and apart for 12 months, the new Divorce Act has clearly stated that attempts at reconciliation during the 12 month period will not start the waiting period all over again. The parties can agree to resume cohabitation for periods as long as they do not exceed 90 days in duration in total and if reconciliation is the primary purpose for resuming cohabitation. Therefore if a couple have separated and want to try to save the marriage, they can live together for periods of up to 90 days and, if it doesn't word out, they can still proceed with the divorce at the end of 12 months. Support orders for both spousal and child support can be obtained during a divorce if these matters have not been resolved before the application for a divorce. The conduct of the parties is no longer a factor to be considered when assessing the amount of spousal support. The assessment now will be based on the needs of the parties and will assist the parties to move toward selfsufficiency. Obvlausly, the length of A woman who has performed housekeeping functions during a lengthy marriage will have greater difficulty finding a place in the work force and thus achieving self-sufficiency. Similarly a short term marriage, or one in which the womand worked during the marriage, will lead to short term orders for spousal support since self-sufficiency has already been established. This has put the Federal Divorce Act in line with the Provincial Family Laws and represents a recognition that both men and women have an independent obligation to support themselves. In the matter of custody, the new Divorce Act specifically sets out "joint custody" as an option to sole custody for one spouse. There have been few cases of joint custody in the past, and it has not been imposed upon unwilling parties. However, if mediation leads to less emotionally disruptive separations, then joint custody may become a viable option for more parties. The simplified divorce rules may lead to one problem. Many women do not know that they must make a claim for division of family property before or during a divorce. A etittnt*folt - - PrtY insTilot be commenced after aA' orce, since the parties are no longer spouses. If a woman obtains a diiorce on her own, and then tries to make an application for division of property, she may be too late. It will remain important for women to have legal advice to ensure that they are not jeopardizing any interest in property or funds that they may have. the marriage antfunctions performed during it are relarant when deciding on the amount of spousal support. ternative. Secondly, the new Divorce Act / attempts to move toward mediation rather than litigation as the forum for resolving disputes concerning the amrriage breakdown. At this time mediation is not mandatory but must be suggested by the lawyers acting for either spouse. If at a later date standards have been established for mediation services across the country then it is possible that mediation would become mandatory. The new Divorce Act also contains a provision allowing the two spouses to make a joint application for divorce when the grounds are living separate. and apart. Another improvement is Ole elimination of the necessity of a trial in uncontested divorces. Therefore if there are no contentious legal issues in the divorce and both parties want the divorce, then neither will have to attend at Court in order to obtain the divorce. PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor NORTHERN WOMAN page 3 �Update by PAT WILSON .e. The Social Assistance Legislation Review Committee, which is reviewing Ontario's welfare system will hold public hearings in Thunder Bay on December 10,1986. The overall direction of social assistance will be examined, and objectives set for program changes to meet the needs of the future. The review will also examine specific questions such as: is there sufficient direct support provided to social assistance recipients; is assistance available to all who should receive it; is assistance provided in a fair and efficient manner; what role do and should emergency food banks and hostels play. The review will cover the municipal welfare system, foster parents allowances, disability pensions and single parents assistance. Groups and individuals wishing to have input into the review should attend the public hearing and/or submit briefs or letters to the Committee. For more informations contact the Social Assistance Review, 2195 Yonge 10th Floor, Toronto, M4S 2B2. St. legislation this fall that will require private business to pay women the same wages as men if their work is considered to be of equal value. Mr. Scott has just released the report of the Pay Equity Commission. "The report indicates significant support for pay equity" stated Mr. Scott but he further added "however, the legislation must respect the interest of private enterprise in maintaining its economic edge". The Equal Pay Coalition, a lobby group representing a variety of women's and labour organizations feel the government is hesitant to bring in stong laws that would open the way for women in a wide range of jobs to achieve pay equity. It is about time that the subsidization of employer's profits by women's low wages was ended. 'RATTIER TAM CIVE you Ibu Ass: MR Iva *get ell GET A WIVI N LLM$RitVOR LESS UN YOU-. MORE mogey I WOULD PUT A MN ON/ YOUR WO , 000 Atikokan Transition House, having recently purchased a building are now busy winterizing, renovating and decorating the House. Anyone who would like to help please contact Eva Shields at 597-2868 000 000 Hoshizaki House, Dryden, have received funding to enlarge their paid staff. Within the near future they -hope to be employing an outreach counsellor, part-time child care worker and part-time House coordinator. The House will also be receiving the assistance of two students through Canada World Youth 000 000 Josie Wallenius of the Women's International League for Peace and Friendship is hosting 'Nuclear Alert', a series of six monthly programs on peace-related issues that will be shown on the cable tv channel. The first program 'Back to Basics' airs October 30th at 8 p.m., followed on November 27th by 'Seeking Alternatives'. 000 000 The Northwest Enterprise Centre has developed a non-traditional learning model for women who are considering small business as a career option. Susan Loppacher, of the Enterprise Centre stated "Women who are attempting to re-enter the job market are recognizing that they have fewer employment opportunities in the traditional employment generating industries. As a result, many women are considering self-employment as a career option. The six month program will cover financial management, business research, marketing, advertising, employee relations and communications skills. Anyone requiring further information regarding starting dates and cost of the next session contact Susan Loppacher at (807) 475-6400. An interesting footnote: More women are now starting their own businesses, but numerically there are still more new male entrepreneurs - however - when it comes to bankruptcies male owned companies far outnumber female owned businesses going bust 000 000 Ontario Attorney-General Ian Scott stated on September 3 that the provincial government will introduce 000 The Canadian Coalition on Depo Provera are requesting funds to assist them in their fight against the federal government's move to license Depo Provera for general use. Send your contribution to the Coalition c/o 25 Sixth St., Wards Island, Toronto, M5J 2C2 000 000 C.A.R.A.L. is seeking funds from all who believe in the freedom of choice. Donations will go to the C.A.R.A.L. Ottawa Lobby Fund and will enable the league to make plans for a strong presence in Ottawa this fall. Our Ottawa lobbyist will be able to provide educational material to the politicians immediately as our issue comes up. Send donations to National office, 344 Bloor St. West, Suite 306 Toronto M5S 1W9 000 000 have we anotner urown Attorney trying to make a quick name for themselves? A Portage la Prairie woman has been jailed for contempt of court for refusing to testify against her common-law husband, who is charged with assaulting her. Crown Attorney Linda Giesbrecht said the woman was charged with contempt because she continually failed to appear in court and refused to swear on the bible the times she did appear. The 20 year old woman is serving a three month sentence 000 000 Take care when referred by your doctor to an out of town specialist. Get your doctor to double check that the specialist is certified by the Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons, as only specialists so certified are covered by the Health Travel Plan grant. It has come to the notice of the local MPPs that some patients have been refused payment of the health travel grant. MPP Gilles Pouliot has contacted the Health Minister Murray Elston but to date there has been no response.000 000 Newfoundland has become the second province in Canada without a legal abortion service. The first was Prince Edward Island, when in June, the only hospital on the island to perform abortions disbanded its therapeutic abortion committee. In Newfoundland the circumstances are not exactly the same - there is still a therapeutic abortion committee, but the province does not have a gynecologist who is willing to provide the service. According to Dr. Robbins, medical director of the General Hospital in St. John's, doctors in Newfoundland are subject to intimidation and harassment for carrying out abortions and they don't want the hassle. As things stand at the moment most women from these two provinces requiring an abortion travel to Montreal at the cost of $870 000 000 As of October 1st, 1986 the minimum rate of pay in Ontario will be increased. The general hourly rate will be $4.35, learner $4.25, students (under 18) $3.50 000 000 In mid-August sixteen Canadian women left for a two week study tour of Nicaragua. Organized by the brigades committee of Canadian Action for Nicaragua, the Simone de Beauvoir Tour will be hosted by AMNLAE, the Nicaraguan women's organization. Organizers believe this is the first all-woman tour to visit Nicaragua from Canada. The group includes edu,lators, artists, journalists, and women with a wide variety of experience in community, solidarity and women's organizations 000000 After watching various Democratic women candidates lose the 1982 election because of lack of funds, Ellen Malcolm became the founder and president of EMILY's list. EMILY is an acronym for Early Money Is Like Yeast - it makes the dough rise. EMILY's list formed explicitly to raise money early enough to ensure women candidates successful campaigns. So far $183,000 has been raised. Spokeswoman Kathleen Currie says "We use many of the political networks of the women's movement to assess a candidate's viability, then we talk to both the candidates and their staff. The candidates we choose have to be progressive, pro-choice, pro-ERA women who are viable candidates for a Democratic seat in the Senate. Curry feels the EMILY's list is "an interesting maturation of the political aspect of the women's movement. We've learned how to run a campaign, how to get out the vote, how to canvass." But Malcolm notes "We have to master the money issues, we hope to be able to support statewide races eventually." 000 A former Progressive Conservative candidate, Sharon Wolfe, has been named by Prime Minister Mulroney as the new Adviser on Women's Issues. Although active in organizations such as the Canadian Committee for Soviet Jewry and the Canadian Association for Children with Learning Disabilities, Ms. Wolfe has not been associated with any women's organizations. Time will tell how she feels about women's issues 000 C' fa k; ti-..) fx` Cv (3, con't page 14 WOMAN page 4 PDFNORTHERN compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Fiction Friendship by SUSAN G. COLLINS I want to tell you about myself and about my love affair; but where to begin?. For you to really understand, I'd have to start with my childhood. I wasn't starved or beaten, but I was a latchkey child in a troubled home, until I became a ward in a foster home. And then I met someone who promised me marriage, a home and a university education, and I swore an oath before God to love him and be faithful to him until death, because I thought I had to in order to avoid damnation. And then when he deserted me, five years later that oath came back to haunt me; and through the years of single parenthood and between the nervous breakdowns, the men came and went but I had them without wanting them, without caring for their efforts or their promises except as a salve to a broken spirit. So what was one more affair? The difference maybe wasn't in him; maybe he was no more special, or compatible with me, he didn't appreciate me, I should forget him. The difference was in me. I was divorced some years and ready to care again. I had no illusions; as he told me once, I played no games. I didn't need his promises; he never made any. That was his defense, when he severed our relationship: "I never said I couldn't,Teplace you," he said. I never said...and so on. Was that supposed to make me feel better? I thought. I had never expected I would ever live with him, but somehow I thought he would always be there for me: we were friends. Love, I had learned, doesn't last forever; but frienship, I believed, lasts a very long time. I was glad at first that he didn't ask me to meet his friends; I had my independence, I had my own life, and my time with him was spent alone with him. I wanted to be alone with him; I wanted to get as much of him as I could, and not have our relationship diluted or diffused with other people. But when he became really special to me...well, then he went back to an old girlfriend, and they spent time with friends and family, and then it hurt me that he acknowledged her, that she was "legitimate" in a way that I was Missing Dan isn't just his kisses, his muscles, his gentle voice and awful jokes. It's also not ever seeing the sun come up from his house, or trying to cuddle in his queen-sized bed, or fighting with his cat--the trappings, the specialness of the everyday. Nobody but Sylvie seems to understand the deep regret for all the things we never got to do as well for the ending of those things we did. Even after he went back with Dorothy, Dan would see me occasionally; and when I misplaced my diaphragm, I had it replaced, expecting him to come back to me. The crisis came when my period was late and I was on the verge of failing all my Christmas exams. Let him worry too, I thought. I pushed him for an answer--would it be me or Dorothy? " I'm not in love with you," he said. I sure will be glad to see my little Sandy again, after two months. He was camping with Joseph and according to Joseph he had a good summer. And oh, those mornings were special. Every other day, he was up early for work, while I, night person that I am, slept as late as I could manage. But at Dan's place I was up with the dawn, seeing the light filter through his curtains, opening the door to the cool of the country morning and the smell of the dew on the grass and in the bush nearby. I knew his schedule, and I dragged him from bed while he whined and groaned and called me a nag. Three years it took him to say that. The mornings watching the sun come up, the nights we wrecked the bed.-"We're lust friends," he said:. and I thought, "what else is there?"' I'm playing it cool now, lots of male friends but no one special. Lately I've been interested in a guy named Mike, I've known him three years but you know we were both involved with other people. He's Sylvie's old boyfriend. You know he's never asked me out, but now he's free I think I'll ask him. Love, I guess I've always known, doesn't last forever; but frienship, I still hope, can last a long, long time. not. I keep a diary, and I recorded some of this relationship, like when I saw him and he said that he would no longer see me. There is so much that never went on paper, but sometimes I tried. Like this entry: August 27 19-Sandy is coming Saturday! Last night Sylvie stayed over and I made a vanilla cake with apples and took the extra to friends. Got pretty much caught up on my sleep as Sylvie sleeps late. Joseph phoned and woke me up. Talked to psychologist briefly about Dan. Supposed to call him (Dan) tonight but he'll be late I bet. a feminist quarterly Justice ir Poverty 4' Race and Class 4i Motherhood I Global Lesbianism Issues # Social Policy 4 Sexuality 4 Peace Older Women 9 Labour # and more! $10 individual $20 institutions Breaking the Silence Box 4857 Station E S20+ supporting Ottawa. Ontario KIS Sit PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor NORTHERN WOMAN page 5 �* * * It's zad, and bunny. Right to the bit test end, I tan my COLOUAZ into your palate. The mutky btown didn't daze you much. I guess, as an aAtizt, you're used to creative mishaps. Is this a cuts e, at a ptayet? Fading you out into distant itiendship, imagining out paths will ctoss hearts open, again, when tip_ adds bright warmth to greying temples, TWO WOMEN MEET Old in my shell young in my heart walking when I want to dance you tun me .vet as you tace bast shaking mottality in seatch (16 identity Look zee my eyes shining with the bitth oi wotds how the wind is in my hait zepatating each sitvet strand Do you zee me? I zee myset6 in you Tossing and tatning in the hczl glow o.6 memoty's 6tail image, between windblown touch and tettot ass tenderness .Ls swept into dust. Hey man, gonna drown? Ctouched inwatd by woman's bteaking out q6 zo6t shell into Volcanic Fotce, can't you handle it? young daughtet, sis ter, tnavetting companion completing each cycle enteting each new passage o6 tight my heart soars with passion undaunted by this slaw shell which now houses me I shall continue as me, as you Vout quiveting chest bettays the neaity packaged iceman. Youtt emotions, disguised as thoughts, zimmet heattache pietces uv the calm catattlkng violent storms. Rosalyn Taylot Suelynn r 03-7: .1: .44.7, fril je At en '11.-4 -4.4. "Trrp$71 rprWipPW,7:770-19-, .4.1-57; Mt 4-44 211,t2taLkAttr 141* 4" 181P/ Employment Equity Avw.1,-..41basntAam...,dFki Book Feminist by MYRNA HOLMAN Employment Equity in Thunder Bay appears to be off to a good start with the establishment of five Employment Equity programs. The City of Thunder Bay, St. Joseph's Hospital, the Lakehead Board of Education, the Lakehead Separate School Board and Lakehead University have hired coordinators to develop and implement Employment Equity strategies. Funding for the five programs comes from the Ontario Women's Directorate and the Ministry associated with wach organization. Unfortunately, the funding for the School Boards, Lakehead University and St. Joseph's Hospital ends December 31, 1986. It is important for the government to continue funding these programs. The need for Employment Equity in Canada has been well researched and documented. Many institutions and businesses in Thunder Bay should establish Employment Equity Programs. As well, Employment Equity funding should be expanded to include people with disabilities and visible minor- Equity. The members have written a brief to the Honourable Ian Scott, Minister Responsible for Women's Issues, which outlines concerns about funding for Employment Equity and makes recommendations. Also of note in Thunder Bay is the Equal Opportunity Management Program which is being offered by Confederation College for the second time. This program is unique in Canada and has attracted students throughout Ontario and from other provinces. The course includes three months of classes followed by a three monTh work placement. Graduates of the program are qualified to develop and implement Employment Equity programs. If you would like more information about Employment Equity, a member of NWOEEN can be contacted by phoning any of the organizations listed above and asking for the Employment Equity Coordinator. ities. Since the establishment of the five programs in Thunder Bay the Northwestern Ontario Employment Equity Network has been formed. NWOEEN was established to meet the needs of practitioners in the north abd of the northern community. NWOEEN members are available to give presentations to groups interested in Employment WANTED: WILD WOMEN WHO WRITE New lesbian/feminist press seeks material for possible publication,especially short stories and novels. For more information or to submit, please contact: Impertinent T'ress, Box 397 918-16 Avenue N.W. Calgary, Alta. T2M OK3. theory .fiction health poetry spirituality peace international periodicals NORTHERN WOMAN'S BOOKSTORE 69 N. Court St. 344-7979 A DVO CAT E S I am interested in Thunder Bay Advoca for Quality Child Care. Please send more information Name Address Clip and, mail to: Thunder Bay Advocates for Quality Child Care Box 144, Thunder Bay P7C 4V5 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor NORTHERN WOMAN:page, 6 �INTERVIEW SaAha McInnes i4 a natutat media aAtizt tecentty moved to Thancuttentey -tying to det Bay. She maintain het zanity white titling amidt boxes, durt and catpentuo white waiting bon het ouudJo to be 6iniAhed in otdet to continue wank on a zeiLia (16 13 tape4tAie4 which witt become the 6ocuz of a 6itm by Studio D, Nationat Fitm Boated o6 Canada and which witt be exhibited at the London Regionat Acct Gattety, opening AL Hattom Eve, 1990. Saha tai with Routtyn Tayton, Donna Phoenix and Catotyn Greenwood about women in/and acct, women'4 ApiAituat pa/mage and powet. nook, tite4 R. Where shall we begin? S. I'd like to begin with the present because most of my life is in such disarray at the moment due to my recent (and happy) move to Thunder Bay, that I need to ground myself in what is happening right now. R. Okay, what's happening right now? S. Because my current series of tapestries involves-the cycles of women's lives, I had planned to travel to Ireland in the spring of 1987 in order to experience the sacred wells, standing stones and caves as well as to participate in a number of earth festivals relevant to women. However, since making the decision to move to Thunder Bay, I recognized tie folly of going to a country which is perpetually foggy at that time of year after spending my first winter in the north. Coincidentally, an artist friend from the U.S. invited me to meet her in New Mexico next spring to collaborate on a few pieces as well as to do some rituals together and attend several festivals. We want to do a cross-cultural collaboration in the belief that women around the world share deeply in common symbology and common celebration. So I will take special symbols and natural materials from Thunder Bay and we will integrate them with others from New Mexico, documenting our rituals both through photography and through imbedding the elements of our ritual into wall pieces. We're both inspired by the stories of Spider Woman and Spider Grandmother, who, according to the Navajo, brought weaving to the people and these stories will be our point of departure - or our point of return, depending on your perspective. rites and celebrations - just as they appear to be happening within the native communities in the north - stemming, I believe, from their desire to reclaim their traditional cultures and to become more centered in their rituals, but I think' that you would know more about what is going on here than I do. R. I don't either. D. I don't. S. Well, for example, there is a new native cultural centre in Thunder Bay - Nanabijou on Archibald St. - which, in my view, is very important. Oddly it's funded by the Children's Aid Society - clearly the Thunder Bay CAS is more enlightened than others. Two CAS women, Peggy KeesickPalkert and Dorothy Bird lobbied successfully for the centre,because they believe that native families need have a space in which they can become more grounded in their culture. They recognized how very critical it is for an oppressed people to reclaim its symbols and rituals so the centre will be undertaking Sacred Circle meetings, native language classes and art groups along with support programs such as baby-sitting and playgroups for their children. Since moving here I'm discovering that indigenous people everywhere seem to understand that their artists play a major role in helping centre them in their culture, providing them with affirmation and strength through making visible the symbolic language which reflect their beliefs and values. I'm excited about this because I resonate deeply with their fundamental belief in the power of symbols to enhance and transform reality which is what real power is all about and, as a feminist, I believe that our movement must integrate the cul- as a retreat from political action. To me, culture - which includes art and spirituality - and politics are inseparable. The lies about the nature and function of woman that are intrinsic to patriarchal religion and art have formed the legal, educational, political, economic and medical/psychiatric systems of our society and are accepted as "natural truths" by even the most modern and/ or atheistic citizens: I was an artist before I became a feminist and I found my fullest aesthetic expression as a feminist and also found my most far-reaching and meaningful political expression as an artist. I agree with Robin Morgan who has written somewhere that a political revolution that does not take seriously its artists, and does not see the aesthetic vision as inseparable in integrity from all,political action, is, by definition, a patriarchal revolution. R. Does this have anything to do with women's art being unnoticed or diminished? S. Yes, I believe that many of us have adopted male identified attitudes - which shouldn't surprise anyone once they consider what we learn about ourselves and who we learn it from. One of the great challenges of feminism is to move beyond the confines of patriarchial thought and methodology and narrow, constricting roles to become whole. And yes, I believe that the recognition of the power of symbols has a great deal to do with women's art being largely unnoticed - in fact largely invisible. If what you -mean by "women's art" is images that empower us, that tell the TRUTH about who we are, who we can be, where we' ve come from, not just about how we resonate deeply with their fundamental belief in the power of symbols to enhance and transform reality which is what real power is all about and as a feminist, I believe that our movement must integrate the cultural work of their sisters into feminist analysis and practice, Images tell us I who we most profoundly are and can be and it is folly to ignore or diminish their importance to our work, D. When did all this happen?' S. Michelle Morris and I have been corresponding for a number of years now but our plan to work together is a recent one - over the past few weeks. There are so many things going on in New Mexico that are interesting and compelling to both of us - many to do with women's tural work of their sisters into feminist analysis and practice. Images tell us who we most profoundly are and can be and it is folly to ignore or diminish their importance to our work. It's been my experience that too many feminists criticize our work as a form of cultural nationalism or are viewed and treated in this malestream culture, but about who we are in the depths of our souls. These images are so deeply. threatening in their truths and potency to the patriarchy that they have insidiously worked to eradicate them every time they have re-surfaced throughout history. Be sure that.their invisibility PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor NORTHERN WOMAN page 7 �is no accident of historical circumstance, certainly not due to some inability on the part of women to produce beautiful and meaningful works of art but a comprehensive and determined move on the part of patriarchal powers to eradicate the female principle from the face of the earth - to murder female energy that of ALL women, white, black, red, yellow, from every socio economic stratum, everywhere in the world. I read something recently that really energized me - Paula Gunn Allen in her book THE SACRED HOOP suggests that feminists don't have to look very hard in our search for evidence of matriarchal existence because they had existed all over the northern, central and southern hemispheres until the arrival of the Europeans and, while threatened, continue to exist within a handful of logically sky oriented and indifferent to art. This period of patriarchy began about 5000 years ago. As male gods took precedence over the ancient Goddess and her female clergy, men assumed the right to make all the major decisions, because the male god had given them that right. What was left of the powerful images of the Goddess was diffused in the beliefs of classical Greece and Rome, where She was fractured into many parts, each subservient to the male god Zeus. The father had replaced the mother as the ultimate deity. In her book WHEN GOD WAS A WOMAN, Merlin Stone traced the image of the very first mother back to the times when She had come to be known as the earth and all of fife. From the small Venus figurines of the Paleolithic age, some 40,000 years ago, to the multitude of clay, bone and not approve of what the men did they had the power to impeach them! The Europeans refused to deal with the women and would only negotiate with native men. Many people believe that this is why the indigenous people of North America got such a raw deal the Indian men had little experience negotiating political issues and just signed everything away! R. But then, going back to Ireland, according to the NFB film Nuns: Beyond the Veil, there is a point where the Goddess imagery was replaced by the whole hierarchy of the church and made invisible. I never knew about any of this until I saw the film. S. Yes, the christians were very clever in choosing the methods with which to anihilate the Goddess. While they exerted enormous physical power (some scholars claim that 9,000,000 Goddess worship, so widespread in ancient periods, was araduallv sunpressed and obliterated by later religions that worshiped male deities and which were mobile, warlike, ideoloaicallv sky oriented and indifferent to art. This period of Patriarchy hewn about 5000 years ago. bands despite the attempt to bury them completely through acts of cruelty and matricide. She suggests that if we, white feminists, don't recognize this history and learn from it, if we deny its existence because of our patriarchally imposed modes of learning, then we are a racist movement. And I believe she is right. I believe that we have a whole lot to learn from native women, we have much in common, especially with those women who are trying to reclaim their culture. We share so many things, not the least of which is our efforts to ensure peace in the world and a loving, mutually supportive and respectful existence for all living things an end to violence and to the powerover dualistic thinking of the patriarchy. For this reason it was a very simple thing to change my plans to go to Ireland. My recent discovery of the similarities between my pre-Christian heritage as an Anglo-Irish and that of indigenous women convinces me that I will find the same female spirit in New Mexico as in Ireland. To me, that is a wonderful revelation! D. But you wanted to go to Ireland because that's the only place where the Goddess wasn't destroyed and is stronger? S. Initially I wanted to go to Ireland because that_is my heritage and the Goddess is present there despite the christian efforts to anihilate Her. But I hadn't looked in my own back yard and when I did I found that She hasn't been destroyed here either - we can see this from the literature of the past decade as well as by the mere fact of our coming together to talk about Her. She certainly is present in this vast and gorgeous Northwestern Ontario! D. Do native people have Goddes- stone statues of the earliest Neolithic and Chalcolithic cultures, there is evidence that for thousands of years, our ancestors revered a Goddess as their creator. On the tablets of ancient Sumer, they wrote of Her as Ama-tu-an-ki, the mother who gave birth to heaven and earth. She had different names in different parts of the world but She was one. Until about 10 years ago, that story had been suppressed and largely forgotten. To get back to your question Donna, according to Paula Gunn Allen, until the coming of the Europeans, women in native cultures were also very powerful and revered as creators there were many symbolic representations of female spiritual power just as there were on other continents the Pueblo people knew Her as Spider Woman, the Hopi as Huruing Woman, the Navajo as White Shell Woman and Changing Woman, the Athapascan's of Western Canada called Uer Asintmah, the Bella Coola people of B.C. had Somagalags, She was Sun Sister to the Eskimo. When the Europeans arrived on the continent they found people who had strong connections to Her and women who had enormous power within their clans and they set out to systematically destroy them, using the same approach so successful on other continents thousands of years earlier. It was at the will of the women of the clans that their sons and husbands held powerful positions - if they did women were burned alive by the christian church) in their attempts to obliterate the womencentred religions, they correctly recognized that in order to maintain control they would have to co-opt our symbol system as well (the same way they do today through cultural censorship - keeping information from us through their refusal to publish, exhibit, record, and so on). By removing, replacing and subtly transforming our models for self determination, physical force was not needed to maintain control. R. How does this work? S. Religion is a system of symbols which act to produce powerful and long lasting behaviour and attitudes in a people of a given culture, Because they have both psychological and political arrangements that correspond to the symbol system, force is not necessary to keep them in line. Once people have internalized the symbols of a particular system those symbols function as internal police and the threat of violence or punishment is enough to trigger obedience. We see this everyday in the power the pope has regarding birth control and abortion for example! It is because religion has such a compelling hold on the deep psyches of so many people that feminists cannot afford to leave it in the hands of the fathers. As feminist scholar Carol P. Christ has pointed out, symbol systems cannot simply be rejected, they must be replaced. Where there is ses? S. Let's back up a bit and consider Her for a moment. According to Merlin Stone, the American sculptor, a long, long time ago, in the very beginning of human life, in Europe, Asia and Africa, people revered the mother of all life. Just as they'd been born from their own mothers, they envisioned a mother who had given birth to the cosmos and the very first people in the world. The Creator was the first mother. Goddess worship, so widespread in ancient periods, was gradually suppressed and obliterated by later religions that worshipped male deities and which were mobile, warlike, ideoNORTHERN WOMAN OCR, page 8 web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor PDF compression, �When I enter menopause I'll send out hundreds of gold embossed invitations to all my friends so that they will come to my party and celebrate with me as I enter crone time! D. Let's bring back the menstrual hut! I don't call it menstruating any more - I call it "bleeding" ... S. ... yes, the bloods, moontime. Some native people, those who have not been overly influenced by the Europeans, have an interesting perspective on women who are bleeding. White people believe that Indians view women who are bleeding as dirty and that this is why women are forbidden to enter the sacred sweat lodge during their menstruation. The truth is that they believe bleeding women to be so incredibly potent that they will throw everyone else off kilter should they participate in the sweat. R. I had always assumed that the stories whites tell about this were no replacement, the mind will revert to familiar structures at times of crisis, bafflement or defeat. C. You were saying earlier that you need seven more tapestries for the film and exhibition. S. Ten more - I'm doing thirteen in total - one for each cycle of the moon, one for each menstrual period. D. Have women always used the number 13 or did we get it when men became afraid of it? S. Fear is a good word to describe their relationship to the number 13 since in Tarot the number of the Death card is 13, the magical lunar number of witchcraft and the religion of the Goddess, A year is composed of 13 lunar months. It was patriarchal culture that abondoned the 13th month, contrived the solar Calendar and put an aura of Jed luck around the number 13. Once the most sacred of numbers, signifying the end and the beginning, the number 13 now makes people so uptight that a hotel can't have a 13th floor! This speaks to me clearly to the distortion that has taken place in our culture over the issue of death because of patriarchal fears of and efforts to control nature Before the advent of electric lights and the nuclear family, when women lived and worked together as a collective unity, they also bled and ovulated together with the light and cycles of the moon - the cycle was 13 - perhaps this is another reason why the number has become taboo, D. I've noticed still that when women get together they menstruate together. C. I went to Michigan one year and everyone was menstruating at the same time. S. I love it Can you imagine the power at the festival? C. It was incredible - we were there for four days - you could really feel the energy! S. Blood everywhere - everybody washing out their sponges! D. Women have been trying to explain what happens to us during our cycles for a long time. Have you given this any thought? S. It is not easy in this day and age to imagine the shamanistic power inherent in menstruation. With many women in this country suffering from PMS and relating to their menstrual cycles as troublesome, painful or fundamentally negative, the idea of "psychic power" or "feminine potency" associated with menstruation may seem incredible. Yet healer Vicki Noble has shown that until recent history, a woman in her bleeding time was considered to be in a heightened state of awareness and wisdom. In ancient and "primitive" cultures, women went "underground" into what native people call the Moonlodge for 3 days and did not act in ordinary ways. They tuned into their innate psychic abilities at this magical time, opening to oracular messages from the spirit realm. They did this listening within for the benefit of the entire community, acting as shamans or healers, rather than as individual persons. In THE CULT OF THE GODDESS Lawrence Durdin-Robertson says that the first blood at the alter was women's menstrual blood, a potency given in a natural and living way in her monthly courses. He suggests that the entire ethics of religion rests on the question of from where the necessary blood is gotten. Ancient matriarchal religion, he says, got it naturally. When that religion was wiped out and replaced all over the world with patriarchy, the blood had to be gotten in other ways. Animals and humans were slain for the precious life force, a practice that continues today. The remnants of recognition of female blood power can be seen in the ways in which patriarchal culture defines menstruation as "unclean" and pathological. Western culture expects women to go ahead with "business as usual", rather than take time out to tune into themselves. Feminists have sometimes taken the position that women have no problems during their menstrual periods, nothing should prevent them from being Prime Minister or whatever they might want to do. This is a very shortsighted view, in my mind that requires rethinking and much discussion. If women take traditionally male positions and act them out in male-identified ways, then we are bound to experience menstrual problems such as PMS. However, if we were to replace men as leaders and power-holders, and to operate in inherently female ways, taking time out for sacred psychic work to make decisions from the deepest possible place, we would likely see real change in the fabric of our society. The menstrual cycle represents healing power - a transformation an exchange of the inner and outer powers, in balance - a time for going within. D. Now it's called the "curse" or the "rags". S. Yes, we have so few visible rites of passage in our culture this is one reason why I wove "Menarche" - it was a very important celebration for me and I will continue to celebrate deliriously my cycles. true: S. Clearly some native people have taken on white male attitudes just as some women have taken on pat-' riarchal attitudes and behaviour. However, I believe that many contemporary Indian people are, like all women, survivors of patriarchal woman hating and are working to reclaim the truths of their culture just as feminists are. Fortunately, many of their elders are still alive and so they don't have to sift through centuries of old and hidden documents to find their truths. D. You are saying, in a sense, that our elders are our Goddesses, the women who have gone before our role models, the women who we know were strong. They are our elders and we are trying to listen to what they had to say and we're trying to bring back truths that were lost. S. Yes, in many ways that's true for me yet on some levels it hasn't been so conscious. For example, in 1976 I had an exhibition in which the tapestries were based on a series of books by Evangeline Walton about prechristian Ireland. It was claimed by the publisher to be a fantasy series - you know, one person's fantasy, one person's myth, is another person's history. Often women's history is categorized as "myth", especially pre-christian "history" thereby diminshing it and suggesting subtly that it's not to be taken too literally. Anyway, at the opening of the exhibition, a man came up to me and said something like "You are obviously into Robert Graves, you obviously have read his The White Goddess". I had no idea what he was talking about and so intrigued and fascinated that I bought the book and what I learned was utterly exciting and affirmed my emerging belief in ancestral memory and the collective unconscious. I discovered that women in every part of the world had been using the symbols I had used in this series of tapestries - totally without awareness. I learned that forever and always women have been using universal symbols in every culture - the moon, the chevron, spiral, circle, inverted triangle, animals such as frogs and turtles, trees, water, shells - for one reason or another they all relate to the Great Goddess. I was so energized by this discovery literally changed my life and since that time other discoveries have come to me that have helped me in various ways to understand my heritage and my position in contemporary society. For one thing, the fact of our common symbols is used against us by NORTHERN WOMAN page 9 ' PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �cultural agencies, the art establishment and the boys who run it. They seriously diminish our work by stating "it's been done - it's dated" thereby dismissing it without consideration. If it's been done, I ask, why don't most of us know about it? Why haven't we seen this work? Why hasn't it been exhibited in our galleries and interpreted in our art press? What are they afraid of? If truth be told it is my view that the ancestral memories of our cultural workers compel them to deny our work because if it were truly considered and if its visibility were facilitated, contemporary men and those who cater to them would have to confront and deal with their complicity- through silence - in the violence and matricide which women have had to endure these past 10,000 years. If the cultural establishment, the gatekeepers of our symbolic language, those who practice cultural censorship with such "professionalism", were to permit us through the gates, they would have to deal with their own fears of our potency, they would have to confront and deal with their own woman hating, their own weakness, their own dependency. I, for one, don't believe for a minute that they could cope with the horrendous guilt - the consequences they would have to bear for denying us our lives for so long, for inventing and spreading atrocious lies about us, for condoning, through their censorship and silence, unspeakable acts of violence against us and their children - it just runs too deep. Starhawk once told me that young boys and girls were made to watch as their mothers and other female relatives were burned alive at the stake and I have thought a great deal about what this would mean for the women and men who have followed - their children and children's children, all the way down the line to 1986. Can you imagine watching your mother burn? Can you contemplate the horror? Can you allow yourself to consider the messages that this would give you about what it means to be a woman or a man in this world? If you would, for a moment, suspend disbelief and consider the idea of ancestral memory - the notion that we remember, through our very bones, events that occured to our ancestors. The realization that men and women carry memories inside them today is very instructive and revealing. It would explain to me why so many women deny the reality of our/their lives and refuse to join' us. It would explain why so many men work so hard to deny us our lives, to deny the truths of our power - even to themselves - for if they were to do so, their shame at the recognition of what has been done to us by their brothers, and continues to be done, in the name of their god, would simply propel them - en masse - into Lake Superior. Women who have influenced me: Andrea Dworkin, Kathleen Shannon, Starhawk, Carol Christ, Georgia O'Keefe, Nelle Morton, Hildegard of Gingen, Nor Hall, Emily Carr, Michelle Morris, my maternal grandmother Molly Craig, my mother Mary McInnes, Vicki Noble, Paula Gunn Allen, Mary Daly. Favourite books:(at the moment) The Journey is Home - Nelle Morton The Moon & the Virgin - Nor Hall I send a Voice - Evelyn Eaton Music and Women - Sophie Drinker The Crone - Women of Age, Wisdom and Power - Barbara Walker Four Essays in Feminist Ethics Marcia Freedman When God Was a Woman - Merlin Stone Einstein's Space and Van Gogh's Sky, Physical Reality and Beyond -'Lawrence Leshan and Henry Margenau The Sacred Hoop - Paula Gunn Allen The Silbury Treasure and the Avebury Cycle - Michael Dames anything by E.M. Broner, Andrea Dworkin, Susan Griffin, Mary Daly, Anne Cameron, Adrienne Rich, Barbara Walker, Paula Gunn Allen, Vicki Noble, Starhawk. Carolyn P. Greenwood manipulate that record. I do thit through the manipulation of the actual piece and also because my work is staged. I don't photograph "slices of life". Each individual piece is created for that moment. In a way each piece is a still-life, created as an individual but also meant to be seen as part of a whole. The whole being that particular body of work. A body of work as a form of storytelling. I'll start by telling a little about myself. I am a woman photographer, feminist, 31 years of age and recently returned to Thunder Bay. I studied photography at Ryerson in Toronto. I went there not to become a commercial photgrapher but to learn the technical skills necessary to express myself in my chosen media. I had been aware for some time that I had a need to express myself through an artistic medium. Painting didn't seem to be the answer. I found that the anchor to the concrete, the realism photography offered was what I needed. In order to be free to explore I needed some constrictions. Believing as I do that you cannot express an artistic view until you master the skills necessary, I studied to free myself. I first started working in black and white, dealing with the isolation I felt, heth emotional and physical, living in an urban environment. The silver process expressed this better for me than colour would. Even though I wanted the realism photography sug- gested, I wanted to step back a little from it. As my vision evolved and the focus of my work changed I realized I needed something different than black and white. I became interested in different historical processes and because of this was introduced to. Kwik-Printing. The Kwik-print process is photgraphic in nature. A large negative(s) is made and from this the image is printed. It is a colour process in which the colours are put on in layers (somewhat like silkscreening) or in particular areas. I was attracted to the process because while it is in colour, it is colour that I have total control over. Both in choice of actual colours themselves and placement. The way in which I use colour is extremely important to my work. I can colour things as realistically or surrealistically as I like. While I like the realism of- The stories I tell are personal, based on emotional responses to mine own environment. The colours I use are taken from my dreams and memories and are meant to evoke an emotional response in the viewer. The symbolism I use is also dream related and again is meant to awaken a recognition on behalf of the viewer. I am presently working on a body of work still in the birthing process. It deals with the past year of my life, my responses to my feelings about family, connections between people and places. fe -e,? bq n photographic process I need the freedom to explore offered by Kwik-Printing. I like the idea of a manipulated reality. The camera records what is placed in front of it. PDF compression, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor NORTHERN' WOMAN page OCR, 10 �Gert Beadle Honoured Our nation's highest honour, the Order of Canada, has been awarded to Gert Beadle, feminist poet and long time Northern Woman Journal member. I exist in a .gaud .hence here at the bottom o4 the wett. I heat mysetA singing as though I cowed straddle a high note and tide beyond myset4 to whete the game is. Evetything a too neat here, the agenda o4 my possibte tAip was wait beAote my time, when tadies sat on cushions and only boys coutd ctimb. I beat my head in anguish against I.W.Y. What i4 the drum that beat the otd yeah in and out was hottow, we danced. the tacky watt oA .cove, and pray AoA wings to lift me to the etements above. Oh! caAeAut, cateAut 4:4 my ti4e and naAAow is my poAtion, and I who die to Aide the tivet, singte-handed on a tact, must ptetend to be a viotet shtinking to avoid the dAaAt. What i4 we knew the peopte who made the drum and catted the shots were toughing. To hett with them we're dancing. (1936) Emerging in 1974 to finally share four decades of hidden writing, Gert has delighted, excited and inspired not only her Northwestern Ontario friends but countless others through her readings and her published works. As the introduction to her first volume of poetry Salt and Yeast describes... "we found her questioning the roles of woman as child, as mother, as grandmother, and finally as feminist who could look in retrospect and see herself in transition, not as a new feminist at last, but as one who concealed herself in the poems she hid .... she cemented her philosophy, the true courage, the great heart and the common oppression". 'WOMAN'S SONG Fat we wilt make out own drum and beat it too, we'tt wnite the music and the words and keep on moving, step-step shuAAte-whiAt and hustte. Gert left Northwestern Ontario a year ago for the gentler west coast climate but Gert's northernness is as integral to her being as her feminism. I want to go,Aon bAoke. I want to tisk it.att, NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO Aee the day I'm in, hear tomottow catt. ,one we a di44etent breed, has this abandoned bastard chid o4 the pampered east seasoned us Act the sttuggte o4 Aecognition conditioned us to tooting deeper in this stubborn soft o4 poveAty and pot hates - The ketnet in the straw a what I'm Wen, Having no need {y of seAvite gratitude I want to peel the orange and crack the nut o4 taughtet. Have we become move ttuty outzetves, with nothing to Lose but the pretension o4 tank and the tip smice o4 detinquent potiticians. Do we fleet {nett to challenge the buteauctacy on its policies (14 tape without consent and it's patAiaAchat 'w es o4 thumb. Behind this Notthetn Shield we ptactice the otd auto o4 sutvivat, out aAtows gy east as a matt etc o4 ptincipte, pticking theit sensibilities into awareness that we ate not impressed by pateAnatistic gestures (tam the decadent regimes. We shatt not be taught, on bought, an bribed to suntendet what tha north has told us. We ate the non conpAming inhetitotz oA a culture that made it's own music. I want the .cove in toying, I want the satt in teats, I want the sweat in stAiving, I want no wasted yeau. I want to watk beside you, matching you, stride AoA stAide, I want to be sepaAate, tog ether, not hatA oi a &Learn that died. Salt and Yeast, published in 1977, was followed by Risirig in 1980, and her most recent volume The Resisting Spirit in 1985. In each instance Gert has directed the proceeds from her publication to assist women's caused in Northwestern Ontario. The Journal, the Northern Women's Centre and Faye Peterson Transition House have all benefitted from Gert's generosity. The Journal, and all your NWO friends salute you Gert, on this most recent and prestigious achievement. We expect this experience to gender much new writing. Not off the press ! CHILD BRIDE AM They asked me: "When Can we Vance At your wedding?" THE 1987 CANADIAN WOMEN'S THE DIRECTORY A bilingual index At last! of women's groups across the And I thought: "No one Witt Vance At my wedding." country 2,000 useful addresses An essential networking tool! ,00G NID Susan Cottins Available in bookstores $7.95 + $1.00 (postage & handling) Les Editions Communiqu'Elles 3585 St. Urbain Street Montreal, Qc, H2X 2N6 (514) 844-1761 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor NORTHERN;WQMAN-p4gp:41 �A KIND AND GENTLE MAN We were mattied which seems zo tong ago The totment thtough the yeaAs no one wilt eves. know He was a tolling and gentle man ALL the mote harden to undetztandFUn emetging within him was a beast Once suqaced my tine began to cease Knowing this about him I quickty Learned to blame myzeti What had I done to maize him this way, On he showed kindness with evetyone ase It Vatted out so beautiiutty The house, the chitdten kilted with glee Then out 6itzt teat argument came that stopped me in my ttacks Fot about my head and lace he gave same powequt smacks My 6itst instLnett went to take the children and go With hits stinging wands and Lying 6iztz he changed my mind with blow by blow I waz ttapped with no way out, sot who cowed undetstand Atitaid to stay, a4taid to Leave th,i.s kind and gentle man NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO WOMEN'S DECADE COUNCIL Wetwatdz he'd hold me in his arm and tett me that he eared That he'd atwaqz Love me and we had out fives to shake Supporting individual women and organizations as they work together for ---- He's say with a teat, I'll never do Lt again I am so sonny that I caused you such pain Please don't Leave me, don't even go I Love you so much and need you so This went on sot many yeaAs Inside me a tivet oi unshed teats Fot I cowed no tonget cty on stet The nightmate I Lived was so unteaf Who could possibfy undeutand To otheAz he stilt zeemed such a gentte man equality for women in education, employment, the home and community. - -- Working to eliminate the barriers that prevent local and regional women from reaching; their full potential. - Lobbying on issues to improve the quality Of women's lives in Northwestern Ontario. - Providing resources to existing and emerg- Thete wete no mote zottiez, just thteat Wet thteat Fat i6 I even te4t him, I would not Live to tegtet ing status of women's organizations. -- Networking area women's organizations to share ideas and concerns. I ever teit him, I would not .Live tong enough to tegtet Fot So with a knik at my throat and site in his eyes I sett my mind explode as he said hiz godd byes I heard the baby cky and the other holler, daddy please don't An .inner zttength 9/Lew inzide as I hotteked to het, he won't As I gtabbed the chadten and tan I 'okayed, God please Let me make Lt to the door Once out side the door I knew not what to do It seemed 6otevet since I'd had a 6tiend to say I cake about you Thete was a kind ad woman standing in the hall She had heard my cut y On help, ptom the distance I had carted Opening he door she said I undeAstand, pteaze come in here Fot I've seen many times in yout eyes the tonetine44 and beat Foil. I too Lived son many years as a battened wise You can acts° through a helping hand buitd a betters ti6e h'tdtie 01111( MVOs 111-11101111711' With I epresell Lawn iron: rn.rn.1 roginna! communities. Chit' achy:lies mu! pri(:rittes ale ciesigned to relied the i;;110. prosonted N'orilitycstem Ontario women. I FOR FURTIIFR INFORMATION, CONTACT: NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO WOMEN'S DECADE COUNCIL 221 BAY STREET THUNDER BAY, ONTARIO P7B I RI (807) 345-3606 Bonnie Agnew BOOK REVIEW: by LYNN HAUTA Lily Briscoe: A Self-Portrait by Mary Meigs, 1981, Talonbooks, Vancouver, 260p. Mary Meigs is an American artist, now living in Quebec. This, her first book, is autobiographical, describing her growth as a person and artist. She provides tantalizing glimpses of her life as a young girl growing up in a wealthy, politically influenial family in Washington, D.C. The scope of her privileged, isolated state can only be guessed at by most readers. Imagine if you can, not knowing until you're in your twenties that people exist who are poor, do not have servants and do not invite the president to supper, This family background became an enormous source of guilt to her since painters typically have to "suffer" in some way in order to bring their art to life - a fact that other artists and art critics seldom failed to mention. She appears to be extremely insecure, constantly defending herself throughout the book. The fact that she prefers women to men adds to her emotional distress. It is not until late in life (she wrote the book at 60) that she could accept herself as a lesbian without putting the words "sort of" in front of the word. Although she says that she has resolved her problems, I still find her at the end of the book defending herself and her life with the only difference being that she has added death to her list of things to worry about. I found that I enjoyed the book especially at the beginning. She writes eloquently about her feelings and her struggle to gain self-confidence but after a while I grew tired of reading about anecdotes that illustrated her insecurity. I found myself getting impatient with her for constantly putting herself down. I was also disappointed that there was, not more about her life with Barbara or Marie-Claire. I would think that after living with Barbara for 15 years she would have much to say about their relationship and how it affected her, and yet we are only given glimpses of it. The six years she lived in a triangle relationship with Barbara and Marie-Claire must have had a great influence on her emotional state and her painting but it is glossed over with a fats lines. about her What she dog,private life left me intrigued and wanting to know more, but it's not there, This book would be superb reading for anyone that is interested in self-analysis and enjoys reading about other people's thoughts. Personally, I would have preferred to read about more concrete incidents in her life rather than what she dreamt at night and what the dreams could be interpreted to mean. The book must have been a catharsis for her, to help her straighten out her feelings about herself, but the general reader, unless going through the same process of self-discovery, will find some of the book tedious. NORTHERN WOMAN page 12 web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor PDF compression, OCR, - �MATCH THE MASTERPIECE by JOAN BARIL lo Aurora Leigh A. Novel: Kate Chopin 2. Laughing Forest Bo Poem: Elizabeth Barrett Browning 3, The Book of the City of Ladies C. A 15th Century defense of women: Christine de Pisan 4. The Woman's Bible D. Science Fiction: Charlotte Perkins Gillman 5. The Edible Woman E. Suffragette song: Cicely Hamilton 6. The March of Women F. Diary: Maria Caroline de Jesus 70 Unshackled G. Poems Stevie Smith 80 The Awakening Ho Painting: Emily Carr 9. Greatgrandmothers I. Film: Studio D, National Film Board 100 Three Guineas J. Autobiography: Christabel Pankhurst 11. Herland K. Novel: Margaret Atwood 12. Child of the Dark L. Essays: Elizabeth Cady Station 13. Not Waving But Drowning M. Non-fiction: Virginia Woolf O'CI !d'ZT !WIT !WOI !I'6 !V'S !ft !a`9 !N`g o's/ / / !SiaMSNV !0`£ !WZ // 15, A ifkle, 1W,14/41/11///41, / ,/// / / // WOMAN WORDS ACROSS 1. The Journal celebrates her.27. 6. Ibsen character. 10. The Big Boss in Syrian patriarchal religion. 30. 14. Rapidly 34. 15. russes 35. 16. The zenith 36. 17. Assassinated president of 37. Egypt. 18. Charged atoms. 19. mite: rock 20. Asked earnestly. 21. A massacre of the sons of women. 22. Pilot 24. Blayton: author of children's stories. 26. "Desert of the Heart" author. 2 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. What a woman is exp to do in male-domin society. Anti-censorship spo The Eskimo people Liberals Unit of square measu Subjected to abuse b What P.M.S. used to Goddess of Nature And so forth A Latin American wo A social group base respect for all the our Mother gave us. Prepare for public a ance. 45. "And Now We A. Milne children's 3 111 rillillIl 14 15 7 18 20 1111 21 1111 27 '8 11111 30 29 III 11111 37 38 ill Nil 43 44 [ill 48 01150 51 56 57 III 60 61 Fill PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �UPDATE 000 continued MATCH, the only Canadian development agency concentrating its support exclusively on women through overseas project funding and education, has produced a video entitled 'Women; All One Nation', composed of images of women worldwide and tightly woven together with a lively narration and evocative music. 'Reproductive Hazards in the Workplace: Some Cases', a new booklet produced by N.A.C.'s Employment Economy and Health Committees, is particularly designed as a training manual for unions and other interested groups. (NAC 344 Bloor St. W., Ste. 505, Toronto, M5S 1W9 - $1.50) toe* Resources Against Pornography has an action-oriented workshop series which they are prepared to offer women's groups.Workshop 1 'Pornography Lies' encourages the individual to acknowledge their personal responses to pornography, and ends positively with an exploration of alternatives to pornography. Workshop 11 is Making Connections - the connection with rape, incest, wife battering, sexual harassment, reproduction, prostitution and women's economic inequality. Workshop 111 'Yes I Can!' There is something you can do about pronography. Group members are invited to discover their own resources for combatting pornography. Workshop 1V 'Yes We Can! We can all work together to fight pornography. Group members share their individual action experiences and receive moral support for future efforts. A detailed brochure about this workshop series can be obtained from Northern Women's Centre, or you can write Resources Against Pornography, Box 695, Station C, Toronto M6J 3S1. A unique manual has been prepared by the Victoria Women's Sexual Assault Centre. 'Working With Survivors of Sexual Assault' provides knowledge which will enable helpers to approach this subject with more assurance. Other publications from the Victoria group include 'Let's Talk About Sexual Assault' and 'Reservations for One: A Woman's Guide to Safe Travel. (Victoria Women's Sexual Assault Centre, 1045 Linden Ave., Victoria, V8V 4H3. Anyone interested in the 1985 World Conference in Nairobi, Kenya, and Forum '85 should pick up the Spring/Summer issue of Canadian Women's Studies, published by the York University Project. The whole issue is by and about women of all nations who attended these two conferences. 'Women: All One Nation' explores how women are disadvantaged at work - unpaid in the home and underpaid in the work place - how this contributes to the global feminization of poverty. It also portrays women's exclusion from most decision making structures, and documents the pervasiveness of sexism in all societies. The conclusion focusses on women's emerging consciousness, solidarity and organization. (Contact MATCH, 401 - 171 Nepean St., Ottawa, K2P OB4) Two new films of particular interest to women - 'Working Girls' and 'Loyalties'. Lizzie Borden, writer, director, producer, and editor, made Working Girls, set in a middle class Manhattan brothel, to de-romanticize and de-mystify prostitution. Borden spent many years researching the backA new publication encourages battered women to seek financial com- ground for Working Girls, and from this research has attempted to make pensation for their injuries. The an honest down-to-earth film reflectbooklet, 'Compensation for Battered ing the lives of prostitutes and their Women' explains, in an easy to read customers. According to Borden it is format, how an abused woman can go a film about "love or the lack of it, about getting compensation either it is about passionless power, and through civil lawsuit against her options, or lack of them". attacker or through the Ontario CriIf you live in Quebec you will minal Injuries Compensation Board. be able to see 'Working Girls' but The booklet was put together by law unless two cuts are made, we in Ontastudents at the University of Westrio will not get the same chance. Are ern Ontario under the direction of we that much more immature in Ontario, Professor Connie Backhouse, and is or is the Ontario Film and Video Reavailable free of charge from Univerview Board frightened that our sensisity of Western Ontario, Faculty of bilities would be shocked by real Law, London, N6A 3K7 sec ' 000 New publications/reports of interest A recent study entitled "An International Survey of Private and Public Law Maintenance of Single Parent Families" reviews the economic situation of the single parent family in Canada. This paper, by Karen Bridge, examines the various problems met by single parents; the awarding and enforcement of maintenance orders; constitutional difficulties; current federal and provincial initiatives; and the conflict between the private and public law support systems. (available from Status of Women Canada,,,Documentation Centre, 151 Sparks St. 10th Floor, Ottawa, K1A 1C3. The Canadian Congress for Learning Opportunities for Women (CCLOW) has just released 'The Decade of Women: Special Report". This collection of 22 articles examines the themes of the Decade - Equality, Development, Peace, from the perspective of how they have influenced women's education, training and employment issues, in Canada and in Third World nations. (CCLOW 47 Main St. Toronto M4E 2V6. life. At the moment of going to _p_rettsr ... The National Film Board has announced the release of 'Feeling Yes, Feeling No', a program on the prevention of child sexual assault. This program is available in both film and video formats, and includes a comprehensive guide, classroom plans and activities. An adaptation for use in the home is available in VHS and BETA formats. The film is offered at a special price of $24.95 plus tax, or is available at the NFB this decision is under appeal.'Working Girls' received its world premiere last May as an official part of the Cannes Film Festival, and at the Montreal festival screening drew rave reviews. 'Loyalties', directed by Canadian Anne Wheeler, is about aspects of Metis life in Canada, involving the friendship between an upper-class British woman and an uneducated Metis woman. Critics have called this movie "a wonderful, heartwrenching film" aim offices. e. LA A e. .1....;--AN V7 v7 v, LN tA ;' V' V Ni7 y' V V PINK TRIY:r.L-7, NORTH PRESS RELEASE Pink Triangle North Consists of gays of the North concerned with homophobic.opinions which recently appeared in the media. Homophobia is described as varying degrees of fear, dislike, and hatred of homosexuality. These feelings often result in prejudice, discrimination and hostile behavior toward people believed to be gay. Pink Triangle North members are gay and prou& We would like to hear from others who support equality for gays/lesbians. Donations will be greatly needed. Through factual information, homophobia can be reduced. We are offering information and support to those insulted by homophobia. Because of our lack of rights, confidentiality is definitely insured. Please write: THE MISSING LIMB I zee you, in my mind Az cleat az the pictute That I catty: The mizzing timb L ztitt My heantteachez out To thi4 Hezh T 0 R N FAOM my own Yet Exizting zepatately. Susan Cottin6 PINK TRIANnE NORTH Kinesis BOX 2311 TIMMINS, ONTARIO. P4N 8E7 PDFNORTHERN compression, WOMAN pageOCR, 14 web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Bill 7 As we go to press Bill 7: An Act to Amend the Ontario Human Rights Code, which includes a clause (Section 18) which will ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, is being debated by the Ontario legislature. The debate has included an opposition filibuster which has delayed passage of the Bill. More seriously, the debate has prompted a type of media response that can only abet homophobia. An analysis of this response is important, thus the Northern Woman Journal is departing from our policy of publishing only womanauthored material to print the following thoughtful statement prepared by Gays of Thunder Bay. HUMAN RIGHTS IN ONTARIO: A CALL FOR HONESTY, FAIRNESS AND EQUALITY The following remarks are a response by the Education Committee of Gays of Thunder Bay to the current debate on Bill 7. This release is dated Saturday, November 29, 1986. At this time, a vote on final passage of Bill 7 in the Ontario Legislature has not occurred. For the past week we have witnessed an accellerated debate on Bill 7: An Act to Amend the Ontario Human Rights Code. Bill 7 contains a clause, Sectiot 18, which will ban discrimination in Ontario on the basis of sexual orientation. It is this sexual orientation clause that has galvanized public attention and come the focus of the debate. In the Legislature, the case in support of Bill 7 was initially presented by Attorney General Ian Scott and Evelyn Gigantes. Ms. Gigantes originally moved the sexual orientation amendment to Bill 7 when it was in committee, where the amendment received all party support. In the days following Mr. Scott's and Ms. Gigantes' presentations, other members of the Ontario cabinet and NDP caucus members spoke in support of the Bill. Without exception, the contributions to the debate in support of the bill have been characterized by brevity, generousity and an attention to detail. Again and again they strove to bring the focus of the debate back to the actual Bill itself, what it says, what it will and will not do. The nature of the debate in opposition to Bill 7 has been characterized by fear, distortion, bigotry, irrelevance and at times, simple ignorance. On the floor of the Legislature we have seen and heard fear and hatred addressed toward gay men and lesbians. We have heard pious statements about how gays should be treated the same as anyone else, followed by distortions of fact and misrepresentations of the implications of the Bill. Locally in Thunder Bay, some of the media have echoed most of the worst elements of the legislative debate. Published statements have included the following: - "Homosexuals may work where they wish and cannot be fired for their sexual preference." This is simply false. Gay men and lesbians have been fired from their jobs for decades in Ontario. We have factual cases of this happening in Thunder Bay. Further, such cases and other examples of discrimination against gays were documented in a brief presented to all members of the Legislature, titled 'Ontario Human Rights Omission'. - Bill 7 will give homosexuals "special rights and enshrine their lifestyle and behaviour". It will do nothing of the kind. The Bill seeks to address an imbalance in the human rights granted to citizens of Ontario. Currently gay men and lesbians can be lawfully discriminated against in areas of employment, housing and public services without recourse to appeal. These are rights already shared by other citizens of Ontario. The Bill will extend those rights to the gay community. These are not special rights. These are the same rights other Ontarians already have. We have not heard anyone speaking in opposition to Bill 7 explain what special rights they are talking about. This is a specific point of distortion utilized to fan fear and righteous indignation. As to the issue of lifestyle and behaviour, the Ontario Human Rights Code does not now - nor will it when Bill 7 is passed - enshrine anyone's lifestyle or behaviour. Anyone's behaviour that breaks the law is subject to the conditions and punishments of the Criminal code of Canada. Bill 7 does not alter that fact. - "Homosexual behaviour and lifestyle is against Christian morality" and threatens traditional family values. This has nothing whatever to do with Bill 7. Yet it is frequently raised as a flashpoint issue in the debate. Ontarians live in and share a pluralistic society. Hindus, Moslems, Jews, Buddhists and Sihks or atheists cannot be discriminated against because their lifestyle may be - and more than likely is - in conflict with Christian morality. To suggest homosexuals should be discriminated against because they threaten Christain morality might be grounds for religious discrimination in reverse' the triumph of the self-righteous. - Bill 7 will force workers and neighbours "to put up with .. unwelcome association with homosexuals". Yes. In areas of employment, housing and public services, discrimination will not be allowed. The journal that published this statement immediately added: "Friction, and probably violence, will surely follow". (emphasis added). That a responsible journal would make such an inflammatory remark, escalating fear and loathing of homosexuals, is almost unbelievable. No justification either in fact or logic was offered in support of that statement. The truth, is something altogether different. Quebec has had in place similar legislation for almost a decade. Friction and violence have not "surely followed". As well, certain municipal governments in Ontario have had similar bans against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in place for areas under their jurisdiction. The result has been largely that people get along with each other. The spectre of wild, repugnant and unwelcome behaviour by the suddenly legislatively "freed" liberal homosexuals is a sham. It is shameful and a disgrace that responsible journalists repeat this lie. In the final analysis, what is being attacked and condemned in this debate is homosexuality itself. Intolerance, bigotry and hatred are openly being utilized to encourage fear and loathing of homosexuals on an unprecedented public scale. It has become, in fact, the unacknowledged focus of the debate. And in the zealous rush to generate and inflame greater fear toward gays and lesbians, sight is lost of just what Bill 7 - the legislation - is: an act to extend human rights in Ontario. In the long run, after Bill 7 has been voted upon, regardless of which way the vote goes, we will still be here. There will still be homosexuals. Society will still go on. We must still live next to each other. The Bill will not change this. But the debate has already changed the conditions of life after Bill 7. The hatred and fear that is being generated now has done real damage to lesbians and gay men in Ontario. The inflammation of fear and ignorance has worked toward undoing years of progress toward tolerance and equality. And it is an ugly legacy to be given to the young in society: a legacy of bitterness, fear and hatred. The opposition to Bill 7 has done a disservice - in the manner and tone of how they've presented themselves - to the health of society. It cripples our abilities to live in tolerance and fairness, qualities necessary for life after Bill 7. Edi.tout note: The amendmentz to Sitt 7 wee passed by the Ontaitio teg-bstatww. on Dec. 3/86. This Ls onty the beginning of the stAuggte to efiminate homophot tflat has allowed the above mentioned corer ent)s to be made in what we a7Le asked to beZieve -L6 a PLee hoeietyo "141.41C2 d Womens Newsletter PrEI5r,(1)0/Adisi P.O. Box 2306 Pleasant /Jill, Cd 94523 send $2 for sample issue Telewoman is a national lesbian networking newsletter with an emphasis on resources & contacts for women who write poetry and fiction, women in the arts and photography, and women whose spiritual perspectives are central in their everyday lives. Book reviews, exquisite graphics, outstanding cover art by lesbians, links between country and city lesbians. Subcriptions $20.00/yr. a- PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �WHAT'S NEW in the BOOKSTORE Those who have been delighted by Vicki Noble's MOTHERPEACE: A Way to the Goddess through Myth, Art & Tarot, will certainly want the companion Astr logy and the Motherpeace Cards: THE OTHERPEACE TAROT PLAYBOOK, by Vilcki Noble and Jonathan Tenney (Wingbow Press). The PLAYBOOK gives detailed explanations for expanding the use of the Motherpeace Tarot Cards and will be useful to both veteran or novice Tarot readers We're pleased to advise that Beatrice Culleton's exceptional novel IN SEARCH OF APRIL RAINTREE (Pemmican Publications) is back in print. Other interesting titles by Native American rawn are THE WOMAN WHO OWNED THE SHADOWS by Paula Gunn Allen(Spinsters Ink), THE SUN IS NOT MERCIFUL, short stories by Anna Lee Walters (Firebrand) and A GATHERING OF SPIRIT, edited by Beth Brant (Sinister Wisdom). The Women's Press provide an impressive selection of new books this season including DY(KE)VERSIONS: Lesbian Short Fiction, edited by the Lesbian Collective "... makes a significant contribution to the growing body of ne women's literature. Fifteen writers... craft an anthology that interprets the diversity and intricacies of lesbian lives. With joy and sensitivity the writers FIREWORKS: The Best of Fireweed, edited by Makeda Silvera, brings together highlights from the past eight years of Fireweed, provide finely honed and vibrant fiction that is both affirming and powerful". OUT OF BOUNDS, Women, Sport and Sexuality, by Helen Lenskyj ...examines the relationship between sport, and our concepts of women's femininity and sexuality during the last century... OUT OF BOUNDS provides a wontifful portrait of women and sports "d. ADVERSE EFFECTS: Women and the Pharmaceutical Industry, edited by Kathleen McDonnell /I ... this provocative anthology looks at such concerns as women, mood-modifiers and the elderly; hormone manipulation; DES; depo-provera; and drugs and population control. ADVERSE EFFECTS is an important expose that needs, to be read by all". To keep track of yourself next year we offer the 1987 EVERYWOMAN'S ALMANAC (this year the theme is Women, Physical Fitness and Sport) HERSTORY 1907, the Canadian Women's Calendar;, the WOMEN WRITERS DESK CALENDAR 47. These date books make wonderful afts as do the variety of Women's Notebooks. For your music loving friends how about Heather Bis hop or Connie Kaldor albums. Your younger friends will love Heather's BELLYBUTTON or PURPLE PEOPLE EATER. South Gillies author/illustrator Freda Kamstra Aedy's new book 'BIRD BITS will also be a favorite with youngsters. Come browse at the bookstore you may be tempted by a good selection of health theory and international books that are now on sale (10% -- 50% off). For out of town readers we remind you that the Northern Woman's Bookstore offers a mail order service. Happy reading: mew= OP 0101C COULD YOUR STORY HELP OTHER WOMEN99?229 CAMArdADVAMSTIONJIMCMCDSACTICKIJIMMI(MARAL) ASSOCIATION CANADUNINS MOON LS DOW A L'AVOSTOSUINT im.43A) Have you freed yourself from an addictive or self-destructive relationship? Canadian editor seeks personal growth stories from women who broke the bonds of such entanglements. Did you try to save or rescue an alcoholic or gambling or depressed The Purpose of CARAL Is to ensure that no woman In Canada Is denied access to safe, legal abortion. Our aim Is the repeal of all sections of the Criminal Codes dealing with abortion and the establishment of comprehensive contraceptive and abortion services, Including appropriate counselling across the country. "We regard the right to safe, legal abortion as a fundamental human right." mate? Your personal testimonial is needed for a forthcoming self-help I manual for women. support the etatementofpurpossotCARALandwielitobecornea msmbsr t'kar"e: Address: Postal Coda Occupation: Hanes of Federal Riding' Phony. Individual Member Limited Income Funny" Slain Sustaining Donation =IWO -I4UMD $150)0 RETURN TO: CARAL, Box 3134, Thunder Bay,Ont. P7B 5G6 Have you struggled to break the habit of falling for needy or selfdestructive mates? Your advice and inspiration can help other women to break free of co-dependent relationships. Although your story may be used in this self-help publication, anonymity is assured. For questionnaire write to: POETRY 0' c), 44X/211--/ 0 gertlage 6;\\7 *° //M 030 available from the NORTHERN KSTOWOMAN'S BOORE 69 N, Court St. PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Second Class Mail Registration No. 5697 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: p2 Editorial/Your Voice p3 Family Law p4 Update p5 Shortstory p6 Employment Equity p7 Interview p10 Kwik/Printing pll Gert Beadle Honoured p12 Book Review p13 Games Page p15 Bill 7 p16 Bookstore News ***********************0:************ IS THERE AN ASTERISK ON YOUR LABEL?? PLEASE RENEW YOUR SUBSCRIPTION ************************************* Don't forget to renew your subscription! Here's my sub: Name Address (pestaloodo) 0 Individual d 5 0 institutional $10 RETURN '10: THE NORIITERN WCHAN 69 N. cam ST. WORKERS THIS ISSUE: Elaine Goodwin, Carolyn Greenwood, Mary-%nn Kleynendorst, Anna McColl, Karen Margaret Phillips, Rosemary Pittis, PatMaki, Wilson. THIMER BAY, CCITARIO P7A 4T7 ReturnPostage Guaranteed Northern Iiikenan Jountai 69 N. Court St., Thunder Bay, Ontario P7A 4T7 (FOUR ISSUES) $5.00 $10.00 Business or Institution PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Northern Woman Journal Description An account of the resource Northern Woman Journal Published in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Northern Woman Journal (originally called Northern Woman) started in 1973 following the first annual Northern Women’s Conference in order to keep the conference attendees connected. Initially serving as a newsletter of events, local issues, and women’s resources, the Northern Woman Journal quickly became a diverse publication reaching national and international readers. Not only did it serve as a newsletter to keep local women up to date on feminist issues in Northwestern Ontario, but also as a safe space to discuss women’s resources, law, politics, economics, health, racism, sexism, homophobia, feminist organizing and activism, transnational feminist issues, poetry, feminist reading, feminist art, and women’s diverse lived experiences.One of the longest-running feminist perodicals in North America, the Northern Woman Journal reached its end in 1995. Throughout its 22 years, the Northern Woman Journal was produced by its many collective members, with membership evolving year to year. For many years, the journal worked closely alongside and shared space with the Northern Women’s Centre and the Northern Women’s Bookstore. With the exception of a year-long government grant in the 1970s, the journal relied entirely on subscription fees and donations in order to maintain publishing, which presented challenges throughout its entire existence. As stated in an early version of the editorial policy, “only by a free and open exchange of views and opinions will we develop a basis for unity which can be used as a basis for action.” Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Northern Woman Journal, Vol 10 No 2 Description An account of the resource Vol. 10, No. 2 (November 1986) Title: Northern Woman Journal Topics include: Women & art Government funding for Thunder Bay Women’s Centre Women in history Family law reform Divorce Act Social Assistance Legislation Review Committee Hoshizaki House, Dryden ON Women’s International League for Peace and Justice C.A.R.A.L. Depo Provera Pay equality Abortion access Newfoundland Minimum wage Women & friendship short story Poetry Employment equity Gert Beadle awarded Order of Canada Resources Against Pornography Single parenthood Child sexual assault prevention Pink Triangle North Human rights code amendment (Bill 7) Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation Thunder Bay Women’s Bookstore Authors/contributors: Sasha McInnes Lynn Beak Pat Wilson Susan G. Collins Suelynn Rosalyn Taylor Myrna Holman Bonnie Agnew Lynn Hauta Joan Baril Elaine Goodwin Carolyn Greenwood Mary-Ann Kleynendorst Anna McColl Karen Maki Margaret Phillips Rosemary Pittis Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Northern Woman Journal Collective Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1986-11 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Published on this site with permission. Language A language of the resource English https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/16/2793/1987_Vol_10_No_3.pdf 476ffefb1bd14166178ef81f1fce048c PDF Text Text Northern Woman Journal June 1987, Vol. 10 No. 3, Thunder Bay, Ontario $1.50 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �DATELINE: KENORA by TERESA MALLAM David Ramsay, parliamentary assistant to Northern Development and Mines Minister, Premier David Peterson was in Kenora last month to announce a grant of $100,000 for Women's Place Kenora to purchase an existing building. The selected building will be used to house a telephone crisis service, counselling and meeting rooms, office space and programming for women's services. A ministry news release noted that Women's Place had been recognized in its role of helping "more than 500 women in crisis in the last ten years and serving over 20,000 people in the region". Following the grant announcement by Ramsay at Pinecrest Home for the Aged on March 12th, Charlotte Holm expressed the group's appreciation to the Premier and to Katie Heikkenen of the ministry's Thunder Bay office. She also expressed her sincere thanks to the Transition Houses, family resource centres and women's groups from all over Northwestern Ontario who supported the application for funding, as well as local organizations such as Kenora-Keewatin Business and Professional Women's Club and the Kenora Family Resource Centre. The funding was urgently needed in order that the organization simply survive said Holm. Beyond that, Women's Place will now be able to improve its services to area women and respond to unmet needs in the community. "Our organization is very much accustomed to dealing with poverty, and we think we do that very well" she said in response to the ministry's announcement. "But we are less accustomed to prosperity and news of this impending announcement has left us somewhat stunned and glassy-eyed. There is a lot of apparently aimless rushing about ... however, we are confident of our ability to cope.." In addition, Holm gave thanks to the Northwestern Ontario Women's Decade Council staff and members "who keep us well informed, supported and relatively sane". And a special note of appreciation went to Lisa Bengtsson, of Secretary of State Dept., Thunder Bay, "who keeps us focussed and is consistently helpful and supportive." had nothing to give. We recognize that our survival and our accompli ments are the result of a culmulat effort, and we want to assure thos people that their contribution is remembered - and valued." Women's Place hopes to reloca this summer. The organization has formed a committee who will invest gate real estate in the area. At d moment the group is busy comparing notes on several prospective build. ings. As well, in the search for neI premises, Holm said they will be looking for a building which could accommodate an extensive resource library on women's issues (the current collection is overflowing the shelves!) and provide revenue bearing suites for an ongoing source of income in future years. "Last, but not least, we want to thank our own members - those who have stayed with us through some very difficult times, and those newer members who bring energy, enthusiasm.and a fresh perspective. We also want to recognize and acknowledge the efforts of past members, Board members and staff who sometimes gave until they tiny apartment without enough money Unlike most right-wing groups to buy thedoes necessities of life. NAC not advocate only one kin -YES, of more childcare is available family. Indeed, the only sorts than before. since thousands familiesBUT... we consider unacceptable more. those mothersin ,areworking,outeide-the, which there-Ascploitatii home and many have to or support themviolence, abuse incest. selves and Have theirrecent children, the supply decades been comp of good child care spaces is more tely bleak for the women's movemen squeezed and inadequate ever. mile Of course not. But than for every Why after decades of fighting have come, there's an extra mile ti have we go. come such a little way? One reason is that the closer get to woi As Canada's most we important achieving real change, the greater en's organization, NAC plays a vit, the resistance we meet. Equal pay for role in doing research, public edu( Canadian still a long the samewomen work,are which meant little betion and lobbying on all issues of way from being equal men. cause women andtomen have very differcern to women. We are the united v< Consider this ent jobs, was... relatively easy to obof Canadian women. Our support is -YES, the wage gappay between men of andequal vatain. Equal for work ong and growing. In the last year women has much lue,dimished, which is BUT... essential to less break this lone our membership has risen from than people realize. a womvicious cycle, In is 1971, blocked or delayed 360 to 470 women's groups. an's earnings were 60% of man's. business almost everywhere bya strong I am writing to you today to In 1984, they were 65%, so that we opposition. you to help us continue to be a st1 have gained Also, only 5% thirteen have years. ourinsuccesses created voice for Canadian women. We speak On average, a woman with a university a backlash. Now we see right-wing gromillions of women from all parts of degreeups still earns less than a man unashamedly spreading lies about the country. Please add your voice with a the highwomen's school movement diploma. and our group. ours. -YES, Most we have succeeded outrageous is in thehaving lie that the Your cheque for $30, $50, $10C laws changed throughout Canada National Action Committee to on enthe Staor whatever you wish to send is ess sure a tus fairer sharing of assets betof Women (NAC) is "anti-housewifes" tial ween spouses on divorce. BUT ... most "anti-motherhood", and "anti-family". Please help us continue to sps divorcing people ownalways very little, NAC has insistedand that our out for Canadian women. Your suppor the trend is for support payments is our strength. Please mail your d society should recognize thetocrucial be smaller and smaller and last for ation today. role of the family - and women's masthree years at most. Withasclose to homemakers sive contribution wives, Louise Dulude half ofand newmothers. marriages to end We expected have always supported President in divorce, the -likelihood of a young measures such as pensions for homeNAC bride becoming poverty-stricken sinmakers - athat would give housewives 344 Bloor St, gle parent is skyrocketing. the respect and financial security Suite 505, -YES;: they minimum pensions have been raideserve. Toronto, M5S 1W' sed with every recent federal elec- of motWe have fought on behalf tion thanks to feminists and other The Northern Woman Journal Collect hers and pregnant women - defending concerned citizens. BUT ... Canada's apologizes for the long delay bet., their right to generous maternity lepopulation is aging very fast, and issues. Moving to our new locatiol ave and benefits, higher family allowmost ofances, the very old are widows with took priority over publishing., We quality day care, and protectincome ion below the poverty line. As it want to make up for lost time and against reporoductive hazards in is, a woman who spent her life as a get the next issue out very soon. the workplace. And we support the middle-class housewife is almost cerContributors please note deadline right to choose whether or not to have tain of ending her copy for next issue is July 10/87. children, and days when.alone in a I PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Carolyn Greenwood This article is titled Rebirth because of the feelings we all have since centre has moved to her new space. When City funding was withdrawn, I think the general feeling was one of gloom. Even though we didn't really expect Council to do the unexpected and stand up to the pressure from various groups, the finality of the averted faces and not even bothering to explain was a setback. Or seemed to be at the time. The reality, once the smoke cleared, was a feeling of elation. Hence Rebirth. Bpcause our funding was withdrawn we no longer have paid staff, but, many women have stepped in with incredible energy. The feeling i$ "This is OUR centre ", and it is. Eqeryone is putting in long hours with the sense of working for ourselves. With the Court Street building sold, Centre has moved just down the street to 184 Camelot. Our new home is on the corner of Camelot and Water Streets across from the Bus Terminal. The storefront is divided into three sections: the Northern Woman's Bookstore, Northern Woman Journal and, of course, Northern Women's Centre. smoking' lounge, and There is a kitchen area along with a large common room used as a work area, social space, and resource library. There is some parking at the side of the building. We have a large, bright space to work from. The move from old to new was accomplished (in hindsight) with a minimum of fuss and bother. The majority of the organization and guidance came from Karen Maki, who pulled it off with ease and her usual panache. She was not alone though. Many women came out to help when they REBIRTH could. Evenings or weekends. There was the excitement of shared woman energy. This feeling was carried through to the construction that had to be undertaken at our new home. There was quite a bit of work that had to be done. The majority of the space was open and had to be divided. Particularly to separate the bookstore from the main area. Enter several builders extraordinaire. A wall was built complete with door. This seemingly humugus task was finished in what seemed like a remarkable speed. Everyone did a wonderful job. It looks great! Much work is being done internally at centre as well. Our Resource Library has been reorganized and material is available to members, researchers and students for a period of three weeks. Journal space is now separate, I'm sure to everyone's relief (we can be rather messy during the layout stage). Centre is having regular meetings on the first Tuesday of every month. Also, regular meetings are being held to form and record policy. A mammoth task. The first meeting came up with a mission statement as follows: The Northern Women's Centre is a meeting place that provides a strong feminist voice for women in Northwestern Ontario. To achieve this the centre will: 1. Focus on feminist resources, interests and energies. 2. Promote community awareness of Northwestern Ontario women's concerns. 3. Lobby on feminist issues. Serious issues have been discussed at the many meetings held so far and will continue. We are concentrating less on social service and more on our own needs as feminists. Policy meetings are open to any woman who wishes to take part in the future growth of centre. If you wish to take part all meetings and announcements are posted as the centre. Our policies will continue to grow with us. Centre has also received another boost of energy'in the form of a grant to host, plan and organize an Ontario Women's Centre conference in September, in Thunder Bay. Our goals are to examine issues of survival for Women's Centres, to develop support system and communication network, to look at the future needs and issues, what the future of women's centres may be and to deal with the institutionalization of women's issues. Karen will be coordinating this event. Much work has been done already and we are all looking forward to this exciting event. We realize that we have much work to do but are entering into an energizing new time in our lives and the life of Women's Centre, We can look back at the work we have done so far and rejoice and look forward to the work we have yet to do. Solstice Celebration Sat June 20 . , i i /1 - ??? 8:30 , I PORT ARTHUR PROSVITA SOCIETY HALL 540 South High Street. 7'*i42.142, 1.13°5c. ol ,txAv, $5.00 AT THE DOOR FOR WOMEN ONLY For more information contact the Women's Centre at 345.7802. NORTHERN WOMAN page 3 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �A Collage of Barriers Addtms by Leni Untinen, NWO Women'4 Decade Councit, to the Nipizzing Ttanzition Howse WO_ kmautt Conietence Panet 'How Society Haz FaLeed , The Abus ed Woman' I have been asked here today to address the situation of northern, rural and isolated women. I have some problem in doing this because, although I live in a rural municipality, I work in Thunder Bay and do not feel particularly rural. Being part of a women's network, I don't feel isolated. And, until I started going to Toronto as part of the Battered Women's Movement, I never considered myself northern. However, I am part of the Northwestern Ontario Women's Decade Council Violence Subcommittee and certainly many of our constituency fits the categories of northern, rural and isolated. I will try to speak to their needs and their frustrations in accessing a system that attempts to provide safety and protection from battering and purports to offer alternatives to victims. I want to speak for Agnes. Agnes lives in a rural farming township in Northwestern Ontario. She is a farmer's wife, the mother of 10 children. Her shopping is done at the village store and she travels to a small town 30 miles away for business that canaut be transacted in the village. The only trip in her life to the city was for medical reasons. Her academic education is minimal; her skills are. related to home and farm. Her limited socializing is attached to the church and to the Legion of whichhher husband is a member. Agnes is a strong woman. Her future is on the farm. The future of her sons is on the family farm. The future of her daughters is as wives of farmers in the same community. Battering is not foreign to Agnes. It is a part of life when things are bad. Things are bad a lot on the farm. The idea of a transition house is foreign to Agnes. The thought of life without the farm, without the man, is foreign to Agnes. I want to speak for Dorothy. Dorothy was battered periodically for 23 years. When her last child had grown and left home, and after a beating by her husband, she fled her home and community to the city 200 miles away. Within days, she had a job, though minimally paid, and a shared apartment. Then the letters came. From her husband, an executive, pleading with her to come back. It looked bad for him at work and he couldn't understand why she had done this to him. From her children, weekly reports on how lonely and sorry dad was, and telling her how they worried about her. From the minister of her church 6 in all - telling her what a good provider and father her husband had been, reminding her of her responsibility to her husband and her family, in the eyes of God. NORTHERN WOMAN But Dorothy was strong and other than being lonely, life was good. She would share the letters and ask for support in her decision from the women that she sought help from originally and now called her friends. At Christmas Dorothy's family begged her to be with them for the day. And she wanted to go. The idea of not beingwith them at Christmas hurt. What hurt more was that her family, her church and her neighbours saw her as the "bad one", "the deserter". She told us she felt strong enough to go home, to make them all understand, and to have them stop worrying about her. She was fine and happy. Dorothy never came back from that visit. I saw her a year later at a women's conference, and I asked her how she was doing. She said that things weren't good, but that she was surviving. She also said she would not try again. She had failed in her attempt to leave. In leaving, she had failed her role as wife and mother and she had failed her faith. Dorothy is still surviving in her home. She is still periodically beaten. Helena is the daughter of a company family, wife of a company man, in a company house, in a company town. When she tried to leave her battering husband, the company said there was no other housing available to her. As a separated woman, she was no longer a company asset. With no other house in town, and not wanting to leave her community and the rest of her family, her only support, she stays. Her company husband continues to beat her, her company family attempts to console her and to hide the truth from the company. It is difficult to speak for the battered native woman. They need and want to speak for themselves. While we share in their pain, their lifestyles, their culture and their traditions hold their own uniqueness and their own barriers. However, they have told us of how traditions of the family that are the basis of their strength and pride are also their prison when they fall victim to an abusive partner. We have learned that pressing assault charges on a Reserve (policed by special constables, often connected by family or fraternal relationships with males on the Reserve) ranges from difficult to impossible. In remote areas, if somehow charges do get to court, the whole village and beyond attend as this is their opportunity to visit. It is viewed as the only game in town. The entire village witnesses the shame of the relationship. They tell us - in a community where all homes are owned by the Band Council - that housing opportunities are non-existent if the Council has chosen to be supportive of the male who is often affirmed as having the right to control his family. They have told us of the heartache when choosing between fleeing for their saftey or their life and having to leave their children who are viewed as the children of the extended family, children of the community. Many times if they choose to walk, they walk alone. Mostly, they have told us how leaving their home, their family, their world, shakes the very foundation of their spirituality. Many times, the native women find themselves in a new and frightening environment. An environment without support, without adequate funds, and surrounded by a chaos that is confusing. They now walk in a culture that claims to have done away with discrimination, that claims to be compassionate and caring, and claims to be effective. The task of going to a shopping mall to purchase underwear for her children is frightening for a woman from a small, isolated, northern Reserve. The task of meeting with white social workers, white lawyers and white Crown Attorneys is frightening. Suddenly, the woman may be given more money than she may ever have been in charge of, only to find that adequate housing may cost more than half of it. From the rest, she will pay high installation and operating costs for telephone and utilities; transportation costs around the large city to the places she must go and scrimp to buy groceries from shelves that are loaded with abundant choices. She can become more than a little discouraged. Battered women from rural, isolated and northern communities face a collage of barriers, each heaped one upon the other. This is a land bearing a male image - of miner, of logger, of trucker, of labourer. Hard working, hard talking and often hard drinking. It is a strong and physical image, of males in charge, in control of life, his family, and the little woman. There is no room in the dream of the north for the reality of a strike or mine or mill closure; for the despondent unemployed male; for the chaos that racks the entire community when a town busts and the dream is not a reality. There are very few services to handle the stress or to deal with the dilemma of families in personal crisis in small northern towns. page 4 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �We need more subsidized housing and second-stage housing for the women leaving our houses in every community in the north. We need social assistance raised to an adequate level to reflect the real needs and costs experienced by battered women and their families. We need the public to understand and support the battered woman, the separated woman, the woman on welfare. We need more jobs, paying equal pay for work of equal value. We need more afforable child care to give working woman a fighting chance. There is no room in a boom town for a separated parent with children needing housing, when accommodation is a premium and prices are skyrocketing. There is little truth to the promise of confidentiality in a community of 4000 with a transition house, where everyone knows what kind of car everyone else drives and where children arrive at the same school but walking from a different direction. There is little protection for a woman living on a country road, 5 or 10 miles from her nearest neighbour, in an area served by 4 or 5 OPP officers covering over 100 miles of highway and a web of back roads. Or for a woman living in a town or village where the community is unable to financially support A police detachment around the clock. There is little encouragement for women from small neighbouring municipalities' Who to larger - centres and will possibly end up on their welfare roles, which are already experiencing constraints. There is little chance for a mother of 5 or 6 children when there are only 40, 4 or 5 bedroom subsidized units in a city of 110,000, and nonsubsidized housing of that size costs $450 - $650 per month. There is little opportunity for a mother of 3, working for minimum wage in the many clerical or service industry jobs that are filled primarily by women. There is little hope for a separated and independent woman to break into the higher paid non-traditional occupations in communities where unemployment is above the national average, where males are viewed as the primary labour force which must be employed, and where youth is targeted for make-work projects. BATTERING IS A BRUTAL DEMONSTRATION OF POWER. PHYSICAL POWER, FINANCIAL POWER, We continue to press for more services. We need our existing transition houses and family resource centres. As women in communities without services work toward establishing new shelters, we will support their efforts. The houses have truly been for many women their only protection and life-line. Unfortunately, we will never have transition houses'in the over 450 organized and unorganized communities in Northern Ontario. There will always be gaps. All our needs will take a lot of money, and that will take a lot of time. But if I asked Agnes, or Dorothy, or Helena what they want right now, I am sure that they would echo what the majority of the women we have worked with would ask. MAKE HIM STOP! And for that we need a concentrated effort on education, directed at this adult generation and the next. We need to start in our school system, teaching young people (from the wee ones up) that violence directed at another individual is unacceptable. MAKE HIM STOP We need to teach children to verbalize and to negotiate their problems and their needs. Teach them to ask for support and to support others who need help. We need to teach young men to respect themselves and others and particularly to respect the differences between themselves and young women. We need to teach young women that good relationships are not based on dependency. That the possibility of being financially responsible for themselves and their families is very real, and that they should be prepared personally and through education and skill development for that possibility. Battering is a brutal demonstration of power. Physical power. The stronger individual controlling another by brute force. Financial power. We will have little chance to support our families should that necessity be forced on us as long as we continue to be financially dependent, earning 65% of male wages, viewing ourselves and being viewed as a secondary labour force, filling traditionally low-paid, female job ghettos in clerical and service positions. It is an issue of socialized power, handed down through the centuries; entrenched in attitudes too long gone unchallenged. Supported at first by inadequate laws and presently by inadequate interpretation or enforcement of the laws. AT THIS MOMENT, SOMEWHERE IN NORTHERN ONTARIO THERE ARE WOMEN BEING BATTERED We are trying,to turn that socialization around. Broadcasting messages once a day at best, speaking to community groups, classes and conferences whenever we can, forcing the the issue before the press and into women's magazines. And while we labour, another country or rock song hits the air waves reinforcing the traditional male role and undervaluing women's worth. Another million violent war or space toys are produced, and another million pornography roll off the presses. And magazines esrole do I think we use the power that we can access effectively. The collective power of women and community groups speaking out against violence, lobbying for change, and supplying the kind of protection transition houses afford. We must use the power within the law to demonstrate that assault is a crime. Batterers must be made to understand that a criminal act involves a social and public consequence. Men are used to power. Men respect power. The power that they respect must carry the message that violence against women is unacceptable. You will remember that it was only a few short years ago that men who were perceived to be leaders and have political power saw the situation of battered women as humourous. They have feverishly tried to make amends for that insult to women, pouring millions of dollars and resources into prevention and support systems for battered women. It is not enough. We need their voices. Not only an apology and support to women, but man to man and men to men that battering is not condoned and that men will use their power to stop it. We need the voices of industry, employers and union leaders reiterating that the degradation of women and boasts of physical control and punishment of their female partners is not considered appropriate or heroic lunch room conversation. The message must go out across this country that "real men" don't beat women. IF WE DO NOT ADDRESS THE BARRIERS WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE OURSELVES AS FAILING IN HELPING Simplistic in its approach, this is the type of public education that batterers, steeped in years of stereotyping and attitudes, will understand. There are many women that we, as a society, have failed. At this moment, somewhere in Northern Ontario there are women being battered. There are many women trying to recover from violence, trying to understand, trying to cope, trapped in situations which they see no answer to. But we need to hope that we will succeed. continued P6 NORTHERN WOMAN page 5 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �I want to tell you about Carol. Carol's referral to a transition house came from the manager of her husband's company. They want her to be safe. They want her to choose the direction of her life, independent of the fact that they have referred her husband to a mental health worker, and are allowing paid time for his appointments. I want to tell you about Jean. Jean called a transition house terrorized, desperate - with no money, needing to flee a small town. When the shelter worker went to arrange the pre-paid bus ticket, the agent by-passed the agent and the station in the woman's town and arranged with a trusted driver to pick up Jean, who never believed until she reached the transition house 60 miles away that she would escape alive. A system of caring people is beginning to work. I want to tell you about Marion. Marion arrived at the transition house from n distant Reserve. Beaten for years, without money or resour- fall. Marion is never going to be beaten again. She says so every th There is hope. There are messages in this pi sentation. It is not that we have work harder to support victims. It is that battered women are facing barriers and if we do not address the barriers we will continue to ourselves as failing in helping. l message is also that power is not ways bad. It is how it is used the can make it bad. Battered women ai strong; they have survived incredible circumstances. They need to I empowered to take control of their ces, she brought five children, one of whom was handicapped and required special education. Marion is receiving social assistance. She has a subsidized unit in a new complex across from a recreation centre. Her special child is enrolled in the necessary school. Her other children are involved in all sorts of groups, sports and recreational activities. Marion is active in the native community in her new city and is going to take some college classes this lives. Each time we, as women, leant new skill or new knowledge, each time we access new resources, eacl time we feel the strength of shari in a collective effort, we become more powerful. Each barrier we tal down for ourselves, we take down our sisters. Each time we celebrat our strength in unison, we give si ength to other women. Each time w( feel hope, we give hope. Keep on keeping on. I A Collection of Films Dealing with Women's Well-Being THE WOMEN'S BODY POLITIC D.E.S.: An Uncertain Legacy 55 min. 1985 Between 1941 and 1971, a synthetic estrogen, diethylstilbestrol or D.E.S., was prescribed to pregnant women to prevent miscarriages. This practice resulted in numerous cases of reproductive and genital abnormalities. This film looks at the development, marketing and medical consequences of D.E.S. The Best Time of My Life: Portraits of Women in Mid-life 58 min. 1985 Reflecting a wide range of income levels, lifestyles, careers and backgrounds, ten women in their middle years share their experiences of menopause. Is It Hot In Here? A Film About Menopause 36 min. 1986 Turnaround: A Story of Recovery 47 min. 1984 Five women were brought together by a common illness - all had a dependence on alcohol, prescription medication, street learning to face painful truths. The Recovery Series Related to Turnaround: A Story of Recovery, this series of four films focusses on individual women who are recovering from drug or alcohol dependency. Debby and Sharon 15 min. 1985 Recovering alcoholics, two sisters talk about their battle to shake alcohol and drug addiction. A factor contributing to their menopause. This film is an informative and sometimes humorous look at contemporary social attitudes, symptoms and treatments relating to menopause. their Native Indian culture. 1984 Delia 12 min. 1985 Delia spent years counselling women to confront their alcoholism and drug addiction while ignoring her own alcoholism. Fi- nally she quit her job and sought the Of the estimated 30 to 50 million induced abortions performed annually, more than half are illegal, and an estimated 84,000 of treatment that enabled her to gradually build a new life for herself and her son. them result in death. Filmed in Ireland, Japan, Thailand, Peru, Colombia and Canada, this film is a survey of the reali- Lorri ties of abortion. support services victims need to rebuild their lives. drugs, or a combination of these. Living in sense of self-worth and helping to maintain their sobriety is a renewed commitment to 55 min. A series of three films that deal with the nature and scope of woman-battering and the Aurora House, a residential treatment centre in Vancouver, these women are One of the least understood and most universal of women's experiences is Abortion: Stories from North and South The Next Step 14 min. 28 min. 1985 Sylvie recreates her experience as a battered woman seeking help at a Montreal transition house. This film emphasizes the importance of women speaking out and points out the role of the transition house as a safe place for sharing experiences, ob- taining support and counselling. A Safe Distance 28 min 1985 Filmed in Thompson and Portage La Prairie in Manitoba, and West Bay Reserve in Ontario, the film looks at providing 1985 Humiliated by her inability to control her drinking, and feeling confused and suicidal, Lorri committed herself to a psychiatric ward of a hospital, where she recovered. shelter and services for battered women in rural, northern, and native communities. Moving On 28 min. 1985 A co-ordinated effort by police, lawyers, Ruth 14 min. Sylvie's Story 1985 At 14 years of age and in search of an escape from painful memories of childhood physical, mental and sexual abuse, and prostitution, Ruth turned to alcohol and doctors and social workers has resulted in an effective response to woman-battering in London, Ontario. Services for victims and therapy for offenders are part of this city's attempt to break the cycle of violence. drugs. After 18 years of addiction she joined Alcoholics Anonymous. These films are available for free loan in Spirit of the Kata 28 min. 16 mm from all National Film Board offices in Canada. Video rental, in VHS format, will 1985 Five women, all black belts of world-class calibre, discuss how an ancient martial art has transformed their lives. i> National Film Board of Canada Office national du film du Canada also be available from NFB offices as of March, 1987. For more information, contact the NFB office closest to you. NFB Offices in Canada Halifax: (902) 426-6001 - Sydney: (902) 564.7770 - Saint John: (506) 648-4996 - Moncton: (506) 857-6101 - St. John's: (709) 772-5005 Corner Brook: (709) 637-4499 - Charlottetown: (902) 892-6612 - Montreal: (514) 283-4823 - Chicoutimi: (418) 543-0711 - Quebec: (418) 648-3176 Rimouski: (418) 722-3086 - Rouyn: (819) 762-6051 - Sherbrooke: (819) 565-4915 - Trois-Rivieres: (819) 375-5714 - Toronto: (416) 973-9093 Ottawe: (613) 996-4863 - Hamilton: (416) 572-2347 - Kingston: (613) 545-8056 - Kitchener: (519) 743-2771 - London: (519) 679-4120 North Bay: (705) 472.4740 - Thunder Bay: (807) 623-5224 - Winnipeg: (204) 949-4129 - Regina: (306) 780-5012 - Saskatoon: (306) 975-4246 Calgary: (403) 292-5338 - Edmonton: (403) 420-3010 - Vancouver: (604) 666-0718 - Prince George: (604) 564-5657 - Victoria: (604) 388-3869 NORTHERN WOMAN page 6 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �es Women on the Move could be considered our theme this winter, as Women's Centre, the Journal and the Northern Woman's Bookstore have all re-located to 184 Camelot St., just two blocks from our former quarters. We're now at the corner of Camelot and Water Sts., just opposite the Bus Depot, with a nice view of the Lake. The new space is great and thanks to everyone who helped move, renovate, decorate, etc. --- but especially thanks to Rose and Mary Ann whose carpentry skills are much appreciated. A celebratory opening will be held in the near future. Decade Council also has a new home, at 905 Tungsten St. (corner of 10th St.) Decade's new phone number is 623-7556. And the Immigrant Women's Centre also has new quarters. You can find them at 217 Van Norman St. Can you imagine getting a phone call telling you that you will receive $100,000 -- yes, $100,000 -from the provincial government? Well it happened toWomen's Place Kenora. We understand they are still in shock Anyway, we think it is great - and there is no group in the country that deserves it more! (see article this issue for details) o Women's Health Information Network has had an active spring. WHIN has received funding for their Sharing The Information Skills (SIS) project. A mini-conference was recently held in Nipigon, and future conferences are planned for Kenora and Marathon. Board development is also planned as part of the project. WHIN says "Wdcare at a stage in which the board wants to grow and increase its skills. Since two of our board members have recently left, there are a few openings of the board. If you are interested in joining a dynamic group of women and interested in women's health issues...let us know. WHIN's board is a regional board looking for more regional representation:' The Health Network also hopes to prepare a booklet to Assist Women Who Must Travel Out Of Their Own Com-. munity To Give Birth. If you would like to share your story regarding this issue please write WHIN, 8A N. Cumberland St., Thunder Bay, P7A 4L1. Locally WHIN sponsored D.E.S. Awareness Week with comprehensive media coverage and the distribution of an information package to many health care professionals. D.E.S. Awareness week was very important in focussing attention to this urgent issue. "We've had over a dozen responses from across the area" Heather Woodbeck stated. "We've established for certain that D.E.S. was used in several communities. People have described to us classic symptoms that read like a pamphlet." D.E.S. Awareness week, which was held across the country, coordinated by D.E.S. Action Canada, is necessary as thousands of Canadian men and women between ages 16 and 46 still may not know that they were exposed to the drug. D.E.S. (diethylstilbestrol), a synthetic hormone, was supposed to help women with a previous history of miscarriage, carry their babies to term. The drug was used around the world, in Canada between 1941 and 1971. It has been estimated that between 200,000 and 400,000 Canadian women were given the drug. When D.E.S. first appeared on the market, it was touted as a wonder drug. Both doctors and expectant mothers used the drug in good faith. The story of D.E.S. does point to the larger issues related to the pharmaceutical industry and drug approval in general. Although early studies did link D.E.S. to cancer in laboratory animals, testing during the 1950s indicated that it had no measurable effect on carrying babies to term; the drug remained available until a direct link to human cancer was made. Even then, D.E.S. was only banned for use by pregnant women. D.E.S. is still used as a Morning After Pill and as a treatment for various types of cancer. Although the drug is now rarely used at all in Canada, it continues to enjoy widespread use in under-developed countries. For those who were directly exposed to D.E.S. while in utero, the effects range from the benign to the severe. These complications tend to concentrate around the reproductive organs. Daughters may develop a variety of uterine and cervical abnormalities. Most of these are benign, although they result in significantly higher rate of fertility problems and miscarriages than those faced by unexposed women. The most dangerous among these problems is the greater risk of ectopic pregnacies. A rare form of vaginal cancer has also been linked to D.E.S. exposure. Sons are also more prone to benign cysts and abnormalities, as well as fertility problems. The high incidence of such complications has prompted D.E.S. Action to produce a Fertility Guide for children exposed to D.E.S. Finally, the women themselves who took D.E.S. run a higher risk of developing breast cancer in their later years. Many of these complications will respond to treatment, particularly if caught early and understood to be related to D.E.S. exposure. What should you do if you believe you have been exposed to D.E. S. Daughters need the special D.E.S. examiniation. Contact the Obstetrics and Gynecology department of the nearest hospital or D.E.S. Action Canada for a referral. Sons should see a urologist if they have problems. Mothers should tell their children so they can get the medical care they need. They should also take care of their own health by examining their breasts every month and getting a professional breast exam once a year. Contact WHIN for more information. Imo Still on health concerns a new national organization Dalkon Shield Action Canada has been formed. This organization provides information and support to the victims of the Dalkon Shield. They publish a newsletter and maintain a national registry of lawyers with experience in Dalkon Shield cases. For more information contact Dalkon Shield Action Canada, c/o VancouVer Women's Health Collective, 888 Burrand St., Vancouver, V6Z 1X9. As they say in the business, "There's a pill for every ill!" Other useful information from Women's Health Interaction. The Report to the Health Protection Branch of the Regional Meetings on Fertility Control which received many briefs on Depo Provera has reported at last. Regional meetings were organized in response to pressure from groups across the country, although advocacy groups had demanded open public hearings prior to the approval of Depo Provera. The major difficulty with the report is that it did not propose clear cut recommendations on the use of Depo. Groups like Women's Health Interaction are concerned because there haven't been open hearings and so consumers have not had a chance to express their concerns about the drug. We understand the government plans to decide on the future of Depo without holding open public hearings. You can help by writing your MP or the Minister of Health and Welfare Jake Epp and asking for open public hearings. If you want to be involved or receive more information contact: Madeline Boscoe, 304-414 Graham Ave., Winnipeg, R3C OL8. WHI also reports that the drug Flagyl contains metronidazole. As early as 1983 warnings were issued that metronidazole had caused cancer in test animals. Yet the drug has not been banned. Flagyl is prescribed for vaginal infections caused by trichomonas. Extreme care must be taken that Flagyl is used only when the infection is proven to be caused by trichomonas and not by the more common yeast infection. Even then it is questionable that the benefits out- weigh the risks of using Flagyl. moo A woman's group and legal fund are using the Charter of Rights to challenge the Ontario government in court, over the exclusion of domestic workers from the Employment Standards Act. continued on P12 NORTHERN WOMAN page 7 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �POETRY Amazon 1. Visions o4 cambAic in autumn winds II. The drape p4 the dress canezz bteasts thighs sighs III Mesmerized I state at the speaking stone Those ate the wands I atways wanted to say Don't make me your Because then I hav Festiva. Women IV° And make it worth I Sings of Love and Wendship voyages 14 I don't have to ate the rhythm o4 peace viAtue You won't 6ind me the beat o4 a cottective drum bwtni.ng ambZems A You want me to be tesonant in the suntight the sound o6 a guitar stAum You say, and I bet V. Bound to het 4athet's speait Though the e44ott AdmiAation gows thtough she was hunted To Learn and be an every tytic o4 evety song actoss tiveAs and oceans I know you can hav sunvivat Ls the theme in a won.Ld with 40 much wrong Arc tow sttaight You can choose and to another shote But don't makeime Don't ctippte my L Festiva . women zing a woman' - song cetebtating each other VI. I'm not sttong eno Without sisteitis But maybe Lave is the iabtic wither Sometimes to bting us togethet We can hotd hands. VII. We are ate axcheAs Rosalyn Taytot Antemis S. Batty Btidgetown, N.S. NORTHERN WOMAN page 8 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Change Ls oppoAtunity, titez o6 pazzage bon the zhaping oi a sout. I had nothing back, not even time bon I have caught the thythm in my teeth that maven me into each new metamotphoziz. I have used up the meaningz o6 each note az a ptepatation bon the next change. Yet att my ti 6e hays been in chnyzaW I have on!y changed within the cacoon o6 mantz dezites bon hiz own ptopetty. The totez were tAaditionat az womeniz ate to be evetything bon evetyone on catt within the 6amity patameteAz. There are things that one mutt do zometimez nature demands it, yout zpitit obeys you have no choice, the chAyzaUs thtows you out o6 .its cocoon and Lc, you have wings. You ate both mote vanetabZe and zttonget Pitta Az oi pliendzhip: Thee one things to do and you must do them Keeping the earth in ptace, things to zee and you mutt zee them Holding up the zky. tiez to bteak and you must bteak them Waz I att thoze things that nev etc. ending Suzan Cott it October 1986 cycte (16 zetgezzners, My crane zet6 manvetZ This 6inat change to the ezzentiat me Who Aemainz a vitgin becauze thete iz a parr t (16 me untouched by mat.e. petzuazion. Tkiz the sum ob my changes, my wings ate boded, I zpecutate on a ceasing citae Get Beadte on bon tiuing give you a ti6e time my ..41r. %IP. v. MO, "We 410110 4111P 111/~ 114 .111P 11131. you appointment. .eopt "pp. Ar - "41P "111/ or_ 411P,Ip. .A114;;..---. can it be mine v. i6e NORTHERN WOMAN me choose to zhake it page 9 keazon 6ot tiving ith gout needing me. at both o6 uz Cott ins ?belt 1986 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �DAY CARE NEWS By MARGARET PHILLIPS Lots happening on the day care scene -- unfortunately not all of it is positive. First the good news. The Northwestern Ontario Regional Day Care Forum re-convened April 24/25, bringing together day care parents, workers and advocates from across the region. This was a high energy weekend with delegates sharing information and planning strategy for the next six months. Northwestern Ontario day care people are determined that our day care services are going to survive and grow. Efforts will focus on pressing the provincial government to provide direct grants to all nonprofit day care centres to ensure that quality services are maintained and parent fees kept affordable. Another positive development is that day care is a high priority with the Ontario Federation of Labour. The O.F.L., in conjunction with the Ontario Coalition for Better Day Care, has been holding forums across the province, from which they will develop recommendations they will make to the Ontario government. Forums were recently held in Dryden and Thunder Bay, and again day care people presented briefs explaining Northwestern Ontario concerns: the crisis experienced because of the elimination of the long held Liberal policy of support to the non-profit sector). Government funding of the commercial sector could set day care in Ontario back years. While the commercial issue has not been a significant factor in Northwestern Ontario - as less than 3% of our day care is commercial - we do NOT want it to become a factor in this region. Thus, we must add our voice to provincial and national advocacy groups to oppose any provision of public dollars to forprofit day care. All evidence points out that in commercial centres quality and standards - not to mention staff wages and working conditions are inferior to non-profit care. In Alberta, where commercial care dominates, horror stories abound. We don't want this to happen in Ontario. Children are not a commodity from which profit should be made: (for more detailed discussion of this issue see insert below.) A video tape on this issue has been produced by the Ontario Coalition for Better Day Care which is an excellent information vehicle which groups could use to raise awareness in their communities. To rent/borrow this video contact N.W.O. Regional Day Care Committee, Box 144, Thunder Bay, P7C 4V5 (leave message at 3457802). the indirect subsi =dy; the need for , On the federal scene day care problems accelerate. The long-awaited report of the Special Committee on Child Care was released the end of March and, - as was feared - their recommendations will do nothing to produce the comprehensive day care system needed in Canada. The Special Committee report it should be noted - is a report of the Conservative members of the committee, the N.D.P. and Liberal com- secure funding; the desire for a comprehensive system to meet all families needs; and our opposition to commercial day-care. Commercial day care has become one more issue that day care advocates have to address. Earlier this winter the Hon. John Sweeney, Minister of Community and Social Services, indicated that he is considering providing direct grants to for-profit day care centres (which contradicts es',411.,EffraCARaEditI-P 0 mittee members each having produced a minority report. The Conservative recommendations focus on tax measures for individual taxpayers (assuming this tax break will help parents purchase day care in the marketplace) - ignoring the reality that quality, licensed day care services are available to scarcely 10% of the families that need them. Most of the $600 million funding recommendations would be directed to these tax measures. In fact, barely 13% of the suggested spending would go to operational and capital grants to non-profit day care. Further, the report ignores the link between equality for women and day care. As a Toronto Star editorial (March 31/87) nointS out "In Canadian society today, the paramount barrier to the achievement of equality by women is the unavailability of day care for their children ... Unfortunately, that issue was scarcely recognized by the special parliamentary committee on child care in its 160 page report tabled yesterday. By trying to be all things to all people, the Progressive Conservative majority on the committee proposes scattering $600 million of the federal government's scarce resources so thinly as to be utterly ineffective in solving the basic problem, which is an acute shortage of day care spaces. ... By ..OPPOS ; DIRECT GRANT Over the past decade, childcare advocates, women's, religious, and voluntary organizations, labour groups and many others have developed a consensus around a future direction for childcare in Canada. ,:.-7$777e7774""ecir7a7I ion family must ' system which ,ensures :occessobst,WITtz,,,:affordability,'par.enfal onvi)14.7ielifVeviiie;'"Virectic,W1'dOOd y Ara DIRECT GRANT . S FROM FEES & SLIISIDIES FOR FOE CHIED CHB: CARE CARE PROFIT FOR-PROFIT DAYCARE NON-PROFIT DAYCARE In a non-profit program, all income - from parents' fees and public funds - is used for childcare. sponsorship adequate Wages and working In a for-profit program, a portion of income - from parents' fees and public funds - 6;;;;aiiic;g1tk!Qtfe' goes to the owners, and is lost to childcare. - - ett ;VIA.; Ibme Economics Many of those who have advocated for high quality childcare believe that public funds should not be used to support for-profit childcare. WHY? WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO? Profits can be increased by reducing salaries and operating expenditures. Salaries in foi.-profit centres are an average of 30% less than those in non-profit childcare programs. Even with a direct grant, in a for-profit program, less money would be spent on the child core program, and salaries would still be considerably lower than salaries in a non-profit program. THIS IS A POOR USE OF PUBLIC DOLLARS AND POOR PUBLIC POLICY. How does a for-profit sector affect the quality of childcare? All evidence indicates that the for-profit sector is much less likely to provide high quality core, and much more likely to provide poor care than the non-profit sector. The for-profit sector, in Canada. and in other countries, has actively worked to reduce childcare standards, and has lobbied against improvements in regulations and financial accountability. Improved public funding for for-profit childcare, particularly in the form of capital or direct grants, will allow the for.prolit childcare sector to eupond to dominate the field and determine the quality of care. In Alberta, this has resulted in on erosion of childcore standards. What can you do? I Oppose any federal or provincial moves to improve public funding to for.profit childcare owners 2 Phone, write, or visit your federal and provincial Members of Parliament or provincial legislature 3 Contact your provincial Minister in charge of childcare and the federal Minister of Health and Welfare 4 Ask other individuals and organizations to do the same THE CARE WHICH CHILDREN RECEIVE IN THEIR EARLY YEARS, IN THE FAMILY AND IN ALTERNATIVE SETTINGS, IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE. CANADA NOW STANDS AT A WATERSHED IN THE Am. DEVELOPMENT OF PUBLIC POLICY WHICH WILL OFFER FAMILIES A RANGE OF OPTIONS TO HELP THEM COMPARISON OF NON-PROFIT AND FOR-PROFIT CENTRES FOR-PROFIT MN NON-PROFIT =Z5i9 NORTHERN WOMAN some size same fees PROVIDE THIS CARE. LET'S BEGIN TO BUILD THE SERVICES WHICH WILL DO THE BEST JOB, AND MANE THE BEST USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS ... ACCESSIBLE, AFFORDABLE, HIGH QUALITY, AND NOT-FOR-PROFIT CHILDCARE. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Notional Action Committee on the Status of Women Conadion Day Care Advocacy Associotion Ontario Coalition for Better Day Care 416-922.3246 613-594-31;5 416-535-41S8 page 10 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �HERizons Laid to Rest HERizons' distributor serviced the "upscale" bookstores across the country. It's a wide distribtion HERizons has suspended publicabut narrow and in many centres tion. The last issue came out in the magazine was never available to March. the general public. HERizons started out in WinniNowhere was this more noticeapeg as a newsheet staffed by volunble than when HERizons did a lead teers, a typical feminist alternacover article on Thunder Bay rock But five years ago tive newspaper. star Lauri Conger of the group "Parwhen it went national and moved to achute Club." a glossy format it made an immediate Conger is extremely popular in impact. At the time it seemed everyher home town. People line up for one was getting a subscription. It her autograph whenever she comes was praised, not only for its proIt should follow home for a visit. fessional polish but for its up-tothat a magazine with her picture the-issue content. on its cover could expect huge However from the beginning HERnewsstand sales in Thunder Bay. Yet, izons had two disabilities to overexcept for the Women's Bookstore, come. First it was Canadian, one ofnot one issue of HERizons could be the few Canadians braving the massfound on any display rack or in any market publication ocean--an oceanbookstore in Thunder Bay. owned and operated by American products. It is a sad but true fact that 95% of the money spent op magazines in Canada goes to American publications. A quick glance at any news stand will tell the tale. The major magazine distributors, the ones who stock your local supermarket, the corner newsstand and the mall book chains, give priority to American publications with the exception of our two tokens--Maclean's and Chatelaine. Other mass market Canadian magazines are classed as "alternatives." "Alternatives" get a rough time. They are displayed irregularly, given a short shelf life. One month they show up at your corner store, and the next month not Its no way to build a newsat all. stand readerAhip. HERizons would be classed as an alternative by the distributors. Even Saturday Night is classed as an alternative! This is one of the most prestigious magazines in Canada, 100 years old this year. Next time you are at your corner stores, give the magazine rack a quick nationalistic eyeball to check if Saturday Night is available. YOZ>V<ZoKZoroZOK2A4.44:14::AcC>k<SVICAr'ZIA4Z9.' by JOAN BARIL DAY CARE pting ... a scattergun approach, report fails women. 'Child care a ramp that provides equal access the workforce for mothers' wrote ge Rosalie Abella in 1984. This ort is mighty weak material for p-building. The government ought think twice before implementing provision of direct grants to nonprofit day care. We asked for VISION in the development of a quality system. We didn't get it. So the struggle continues. Across the country day care advocates are mobilizing to oppose the Special Committee's recommendations, and to state again our need for a comprehensive, quality day care sys- The Special Committee report n only anger and frustrate the rthwestern Ontario day care comnity. Much time and effort was exnded by many people in preparing d presenting briefs to the Commite's 1986 hearings in Dryden and under Bay. Although the Committee stened to us, obviously they didn't ar us. Not one of the over 30 NWO bmissions recommended tax measures. at we, and most other Canadians, d call for was a comprehensive y care system with high standards quality care; a wide spectrum of rvices to meet families varying eds; a recognition - through apppriate wages and benefits - of e value of child care work; the tem. Addendum As we go to press we learn that the Ontario government's White Paper on day care policy has just been released. While there has been no opportunity to study/analyze this document, the public announcements suggest that the government is taking the first step to remove day care from its present welfare context. The provision of direct grants to non-profit centres is a positive move which we applaud. Mr. Sweeney's June 4th announcement is the first good news day care has received in many years. We all know it takes years before a new magazine makes a profit- most people in the business say ten years. The news sheet U.S.A. Today, which has all the advantages of nationality and distribution, just announced it first profit exactly at the ten year mark. So HERizons, like many another Canadian publication had to fill in the gap with government grants. In Canada, there are grant-supported magazines by the dozen, most with very thin subscription lists- trade mags, academic journals, health news sheets, poetry publications, literary efforts, architectural glossies--all dependent on the Canada Council, or a provincial arts council or a government department. HERizons, which was seeking a mass market, had to lean on something called LEAD (rhymes with "weed"), a program of the federal department of Employment and Immigration. To get LEAD (Local Assistance and Development) a venture has to "demonstrate financial growth" and continue to demonstrate it each year. And every year HERizons sailed thro -. ugh the financial hoops. Each year of publication showed a solid advertising revenue and a subscription increase. (Their most brilliant stroke was to buy the Ms magazine subscription list and canvass Ms' Canadian subscribers. Subscriptions jumped. As everyone knows, you can't publish a quality magazine for peanuts. LEAD invested $900,000 in HERizons in total--the amount decreasing every year. The HERizons administration estimated it would take another $500,000 to carry them through to the ten year self-sufficiency mark. Yet LEAD and the federal government decided to axe HERizons. Why? As usual, when dealing with the bureaucracy, the truth has been buried in the bushes. At first officials stated that LEAD had a policy of only funding a venture for five years and no longer. This statement is misleading and untrue. Next LEAD said the magazine had not "demonstrated financial growth" and would never become self-sufficient. Also misleading and from all indications untrue. Finally there is the question of pressure from the anti-abortion organizations which had publically announced their intent to pressure governments to cut off funding to any groups which support the women's movement. The minister, Benoit Bouchard, admitted he had received "a number of letters on the subject." Although he labels the material in HERizons as "controversial", he also claims the letters were "not a factor in the decision to discontinue funding." Whatever the true reason, LEAD led HERizons down the garden path, into the woods and just before it had come to a break in the trees, turned and destroyed it. NORTHERN WOMAN page 11 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �UPDATE continued from Page 7 Intercede, a domestic workers' rights group, and the Legal Education and Action Fund want the governTent to demonstrate the exclusion of domestic workers from the provisions on grounds other than cost to employers. Judith Ramirez, spokesperson for Intercede, described the challenge as "a simple and clear cut issue of social justice". Domestic workers, many of whom are women and immigrants, are excluded from the hours of work and overtime provisions of the Act. Many women work from dawn to dusk for families while also being expected by Canadian immigration to use this time to demonstrate their eligibility for life in Canada, by improving theL it education, becoming involved in community groups, and saving money. (from BROADSIDE) 000 ow) Five half hour videotapes examine the 17 year period of the abortion rights movement in Canada from the liberalization of the abortion law in 1969 until today. The tapes present the abortion rights issue in an overall political context and cover: the history of the movement since 1969; access to abortion and family planning across Canada; the history of the movement in Quebec; the impact of the economic recessions; and Dr. Morgentaler's challenge to the abortion law from 1983-1987. "The Struggle for Choice". written and directed by Toronto video artist Nancy Nicol, raises a number of questions: Why.is there a crisis to access to abortions today, althoCanada has a so-called liberal law? How is women's reproductive freedom affected by the economic recession? Why is there a persistent and on-going oppression of women around this issue? Why the reemergence of anti-abortion forces today? What are the major gains the struggle for abortion rights has achieved and how were these gains achieved? What is the history of the movement in Quebec and how is it different from the history in the rest of Canada? Who are and were the women and men involved in the struggle? Placed in an overall political context, the history of the prochoice movement reveals the commitment, strategies, and dedication of individuals and organizations to the struggle for free abortion on demand. For information about "The Struggle for Choice" write V/Tape, 183 Bathurst St., Toronto, M5T 2R7. (from BROADSIDE) ows 000 Over 200 pro-choice supporters attended a meeting in late January to discuss plans for opening a free-standing abortion clinic in Vancouver. The first item of discussion was whether to establish a freestanding abortion clinic similar to those in Ontario and Quebec or to establish a facility called the Women's Community Health Clinic which would provide other services such as birth control and pre-natal counselling as well as abortion. Those who supported the more comprehensive clinic said that it would have a broader based appeal for fundraising and that it would be harder for government to attack. Supporters of the free-standing abortion clinic argued that a comprehensive clinic would require much more energy and money, and it would be seen as an abortion clinic anyway even if it offered other services. A resolution was adopted that women's reproductive health clinics be established throughout the province which will include abortion services funded by provincial medical services plan, and that, in the meantime, an abortion clinic be established in Vancouver, with the goal to have this clinic established within a year. (from IMAGES) sem oeo A belated but none the less sincere congratulations to the women who organized International Women's Day (Week) activities. It was the most ambitious celebration of IWD in Thunder Bay to date. The week's acti vities included a film showing at Women's Centre of Desert Hearts and Lianna. The Congress of Canadian Won en sponsored 'Towards the Year 2000: Without Nuclear Weapons' with women peace activists Elena Kemenetsky of the Soviet Union and Connie Van Prat of the United States. The Canadian tour of these two women symbolizes the hope of peace groups to unite us all in the movement for peace. Lakehead University Women's Centre held a day of workshops and events, and Women's Health Information Network led a PMS seminar. As well, Decade Council organized a two-day Conference of Transition Houses and Family Resource Centres. Northwestern Trans ition House workers deeply appreciated the opportunity to share information, build links with other houses and reduce the isolation and burn out they often experience. The week culminated with a wonderful Women's Party where the Company of Sirens performed the Working People's Picture Show. This performance, along with the traditional IWD pot luck, music and dancing was greatly enjoye Famous Foes by JOAN BARIL The woman and her adversary, now and through history. COME AND VISIT INSTEAD: Match them up. 1. Margaret Sanger a. Napoleon 2. Nellie McClung b. The Roman Empire 3. Emmeline Pankhurst c. Henry II, King of England 4. Madame de Stael d. The British War Office 5. Florence Nightingale e. Prime Minister Mackenzie King of Canada 6. Boudicca f. Ovid 7. Caroline Norton g. Premier Rodmond Roblin of Manitoba 8. Fanny Kemble h. Norman Mailer 9.. Mary Wollstonecraft i. Anthony Comstock and the Comstock laws 10. Eleanor of Aquitaine j. Pierce Butler 11. Rosa Parks k. Premier Maurice Duplessis of Quebec 12. Christine de Pisan 1. Jim Crow 13. Margaret Atwood m. George Norton 14. Emily Murphy n. Jean-Jacques Rousseau 15. Therese Casgrain o. Prime Minister of Great Britain Herbert Asquith OTLUCK AND REBIRTH SHOWER AT THE CENTRE WEDNESDAY JUNE 24 at 6:30 p.m. suggestiono include: garbage bag oitet papek, and ecotogizek, too, Wing cabinet, welcome mates and ??? answers on Page 15 NORTHERN WOMAN page 12 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Family Law * Reformed Again by LYNN BEAK THE ENFORCEMENT ORDERS For many women, it took a long, painful time to obtain a child sup-' port order. Further disappointment occurred when their ex-husband did not pay the order, because they then discovered the protracted and often unsuccessful process called "Support Order Enforcement". The fact that an order for child support has been made by a Judge does not mean that the father will pay it. initiatives '75-'87 Compiled and edited by Fiona Karlstedt, NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO STATUS 3F WOMEN INITIATIVES 1973-1987 is nearing completion. Commissioned by the Northwestern Ontario Women's Decade Council, the document traces the ebb and flow of the women's movement in Northwestern Ontario, identifying trends and processes that contributed to the increased social, economic and political equality of women in Northwestern Ontario. In all over 75 conferences, action research projects, studies, workshops, political action committees, self-help grou-)s, feminist services, lobbies and other actions are considered. Historically, support for and advancement of women's rights have occurred only during periods of economic prosperity and generalized social reform. The present political and economic climate is depressing. The emergence of groups like R.E.A.L. women is synonymous with the times-closed minds accept myth most easily, but a frightened society seeks it actively. If we are to rationally anticipate the future, we must understand how the present has grown out of the past. If we are to continue developing strategies which will enable us to move on together as a movement, we must draw on our experiences and enormous skills. Clearly, an understanding and appreciation of our own history is essential to that process. Most support orders are unpaid or in arrears. Women were shocked to discover that they must act as a collection agency, often with limited assistance from the Family Court. However, there are changes to the law that are intended to assist women to enforce support orders against fathers and husbands who will not pay. Both the federal and provincial governments have recognized that the present system does not work and have developed new systems which are intended to provide real assistance. In Ontario, an act called the Support and Custody Orders Enforcement Act was proclaimed in 1986. Its purpose is to establish regional offices whose sole function is to enforce support and custody orders, and separation agreements which have been filed in Family Court. Any orders which have been filed in the Family Court for enforcement will be moved to the Enforcement Office when it opens. The office will have the power to obtain information as to the place of employment, address or location of the debtor from any person or public office in Ontario. They will have the power to check federal records and those in other provinces in some situations. The Enforcement Office for Northwestern Ontario will be opening on July 2, 1987 and will be located at 430 Waterloo St. South, with phone number 623-7327. For those women who already have support or custody orders they will be invited to file their order for enforcement. Filing will be voluntary, and the Toronto office staff anticipate a large demand for services. There will be a public information campaign once the office is open, and they will have an 800 line telephone for long distance calls. They anticipate that the staff will be busy locating debtors and their assets, and bringing them into court to explain their default in paying. Although this new government service will assist many women to obtain their support payments, there are some words of warning. For debtors without assets, or those who have hidden them cleverly, an enforcement hearing will not bring any money to the woman. Also, if the woman is receiving welfare or single parent benefits, any support payments received will be fully deducted from the benefits. Despite these limitations, I hope that the new Enforcement Office will assist women by obtaining for them the support payments that the courts have ordered and thus decrease the number of women-headed families that live in poverty. Although not an exhaustive account of developments in the region over the past 14 years, NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO STATUS OF WOMEN INITIATIVES does reflect, in whole or in part, the experiences of many of us. It records not only what Northwestern Ontario women have done, but also what they tried to do - the motives and goals that impelled them to strive for some- thing better. It is a record not only of achievement but potential. It validates the contributions women have made and attests to their credibility as decision makers, organizers and negotiators. Obscured from public view, women's social and political participation is often seen as inconsequential. In mirroring our visibility and collective strength, NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO STATUS OF WOMEN INITIATIVES sets the record straight. If the Government in Ottawa gets its way, they may take this magazine right out of your hands The Great Depression; two world wars; a small, spread-out population; recessions; inflation; overwhelming competition from the U.S.-none of these could kill Canada's magazines... ...but the current Government in Ottawa just might. Pr he Government is considering demolishing the delicate structure of postal, tariff and tax-related incentives that helps keep the Canadian magazine industry alive. If this happens, many Canadian magazines will die. Those that survive will cost more to readers and publishers and will be more vulnerable than ever to competition from foreign magazines that have the advantages of huge press-runs and lower per-copy costs. Those that survive will be less profitable and, therefore, more likely to succumb to adverse economic circumstances in the future. CANADA'S CANADIAN PERIODICAL PUBLISHERS' ASSOCIATION, 2 STEWART STREET, TORONTO, ONTARIO M5V 1H6 MAGAZINES ...a voice of our own NORTHERN WOMAN page 13 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �BOOK REVIEW: reviewed by MARGARET PHILLIPS NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO WOMEN'S DECADE COUNCIL OTHER FIRES Short Fiction by Latin American Women, edited by Alberto Mangeul, Lester & Orphen Dennys, 1986. OTHER FIRES is a selection of short fiction by Latin American women, edited by Alberto Manguel, a native of Buenos Aires, who now teaches at York University. Manguel advises that while interest in Latin American literature has flourished in North America since the 1960's all the translated authors were male, while " ..so many of the best untranslated books from Latin America had been written by women." OTHER FIRES gives us a taste of this excellent talent. Although I did not find the stories equally interesting, even the less impressive ones sparked a desire to know the writer better. As these writers are, in the main, novelists, I sincerely hope their longer works will also be translated. In the forward to the anthology Chilean writer Isabel Allende says "In this selection I feel interpreted as a Latin American woman. These writers of diverse Latin American countries have expressed our fears and hopes:our delicate ceremonies, our secrets and rebellions, our love and rancor. They are feminine voices trying to interpret the hidden meaning of the sexuality, the power, the ambition, and the injustice of the macho world where they must live. This anthology demonstrates that Latin American women have their own vision of the world and know how to express it in their own personal, irreverent, furious, fantastic, ironic, and poetic language. They tell of the multiple forms of violence they suffer and, in doing so, violate the first rule imposed upon them since birth: the rule of silence. They do not accept it; they do not bow their heads; they do not resign themselves; they are not silent. These stories were written with tears, blood and kisses." 0000=p000000a,===opuucceccocco:". WHAT'S NEW In the BOOKSTORE Now that we are moved and settled in our new home, our efforts are re-focussed on ordering new books and wonderful, new women's books continue to pour off the presses. The Bookstore expects new shipments weekly - so drop in regularly. New titles that may interest you include: HEAR THE SILENCE: Stories by Women of Myth, Magic and Renewal, "Some of edited by Irene Zahava. these stories can be easily identified with the broadest definition of spirituality. Others are so subtle that you have to look between the words to see that slight shimmer of cosmic consciousness. All of them have the potential to reveal another truth, one which lies just beyond the surface of our daily lives." NORTHERN WOMAN OTHER FIRES is an impressive anthology, and the diversity of the stories will make the book attractive to readers with varying tastes. "Magic realsim and political realism are the two main currents of Latin American literature" Manguel tells us. Readers who tend toward magic realism will be more than satisfied. Given my own bias I would have welcomed more political selections, however, those that are included are indeed fine. The Guerrillero, by Albalucia Angel (Columbia), the shortest story in the book, is a truly remarkable self-dialogue of empowerment and courage; while The Stolen Party, by Liliana Heber (Argentina), defines most powerfully the awakening of a young girl's class consciousness. One story that will stay with me for a long time is Ines Arredondo (Mexico) The Shunammite, which is perhaps the most subtle depiction of the multifaceted violence of a patriarchal society I have read. It's The Fault Of The Tlaxcalteca by Elena Garro (Mexico) I plan to read again and again in the hope of truly understanding it. I am interested in learning Garro's heritage. The story suggests to me Indian heritage and I'm continuously fascinated by the universality of themes and images in native writing - north or south. The women contributing to this book are established writers in their own countries. They are middle aged or older, the youngest being 44 and the eldest 87, and much of the work was first published 20 or more years ago. With these writers as role models and given the expanded publication of women's writing in recent years, we should assume there are also many new young women writers who are augmenting the scope and excellence of Latin American literature, and we can only hope that their work will also be available to a Canadian readership. =.6,Q**=NIXPOCCCANNIMCCMXXXX1NN)=400,,T.C.04= DZELARHONS by Anne Cameron. The long awaited successor to Daughters of Copper Woman. BAKE FACE and OTHER GUAVA STORIES, by Opal Palmer Adisa. "Bake Face and Other Guava Stories brilliantly captures the complexities of our island homeland, Jamaica (Adisa's) stories chart the experience of island women ... with a deep understanding and compassion, and a true sense of their terror and pride, the ghosts that dog their tracks, the dailiness of their lives." (Michelle Cliff) RAPUNZEL'S REVENGE: Fairy Tales for Feminists. "Rapunzel's Revenge is a feminist re-writing of fairy tales .... revealing that Snow White organized the seven dwarfs into a trade union, .... exposing Cinderella's prince as a foot fetishist, and .... showing that feminist fairy tales can be written in fairy tale language." Supporting; individual women and organizations as they work together for equality for women in education, enmloyt ment, the home and community. - Working to eliminate the harriers that prevent local and regional xvomen from reaching their full potential. - Lobbying on issues to improve the quality of women's lives in Northwestern Ontario. - Providing resources to existing and emerging status of women's organizations. - Net \corking area women's organizations to share ideas and concerns. neC.Itle (enure I/ meet, b1-1111)11I/1/y %% All It'ilIV.st'IlIailt)/1 1W/11 /11.1/1% it'gl011,11 communities. Our at priontles are de+11meti to reflect the i:Nne, presented esters) )ntario women. 1-011 FUR111LIZ INFORMATION, CONTACT: NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO WOMEN'S DECADE COUNCIL 905 TUNGSTEN STREET THUNDER BAY, ONT. P7B 5Z3 807-623-7556 :000=N000====v00.101100AW=VVCCM WOMAN OF POWER magazine. Issue 5's theme is Healing, and Issue 6 is Art As Activism. NO FAIRY GODMOTHERS, NO MAGIC WANDS: The Healing Process After Rape, by Judy H. Katz. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF WOMEN AND THE LAW, Vol. 1 #2, Women and Reproduction. "This issue highlights the theme of male control over women's reproductive capacities and activities - a theme that pervades the seemingly disparate issues of abortion, sexual ideologies, reproductive ethics, artifical insemination, "surrogate" mothering, prenatal screening techniques, the pharmaceutical industry, reproductive hazards, eugenics and lesbian mothers." And for Heather Bishop fans, Heather's newest release - A TASTE OF THE BLUES - both record and cassette. page 14 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Upcoming Events From August 14-21, 1987, the CANADIAN WOMEN'S WRITING RETREAT will be held at Far Hills Inn, ValMorin, Quebec. Women writers of English fiction, poetry, plays, nonfiction prose, and translators working from French to English, will be able to take intensive workshops. Well-known Canadian women writers will conduct morning writing workshops and afternoon discussion groups. There will also be a panel discussion led by representatives of the Canadian publishing industry. The Retreat will not be devoted solely to work. As well as the readings over the week, there will be time for recreation. In the Laurentians, the well-appointed inn offers hiking, swimming, boating, tennis, squash, billiards, and just plain relaxation. For further information, please contact Debra Martens, c/o Centre for Continuing Education, Dawson College, Victoria Campus, 485 McGill St., Montreal, Quebec, H2Y 2H4, phone 514-931-8731 local 6102; or call Greta Hofmann Nemiroff at 514931 -8731 local 6075. SOLSTICE CELEBRATION: Saturday, June 20, 8:30 - ?. Port Arthur Prosvita Hall, 540 South High St. $5.00 For women only. Call at the door. Women's Centre 345-7802 for more info. 0.1e. Fera Sevichter The 12th MICHIGAN WOMYN'S MUSIC FESTIVAL takes place August 12-16. The Festival "is a gathering of mothers and daughters for womyn of all ages. We come together to celebrate our common experiences and unique strengths as womyn - to cel brate our culture, our similarities and our diversity." Brochures with full info are available at the Bookstore. The Third Annual KINGSTON WOMYN'S MUSIC FESTIVAL will be held July 2426, 1987. The Festival began as the vision of two womyn, Georgia Ferrell and Merri Macdonald. In 1983 Georgia bought a large area of undeveloped land on a lake north of Kingston. She bought it to live on, but also to provide womyn with a place to come together, to celebrte nature and each other. The Festival with musicians from Ontario, Quebec and the U.S., along with workshops and crafts, will provide a great weekend. For more information contact GAIA, Kingston Womyn's Music Festival, P.O. Box 1792, Kingston, Ont. K7L 5J6. (Brochures available at Northern Woman's Bookstore.) A Peace Festival is happening in Thunder Bay on Saturday, August 8th. If you would like to sing, dance, sell food or crafts, read a poem, show a picture, or share ideas and energy call Tanya at 622-1416. POT LUCK at Women's Centre, Wednesday, June 24 from 6:30. Housewarming gifts that would be useful include - garbage bags, paper towels, toilet paper, soap, herbal tea and a filing cabinet. -ftliwttgetkol ANSWERS to FAMOUS FOES 1--i. Sanger, American birth control pioneer, repeatedly defied Comstock and the Comstock laws which defined information on birth control as obscene. 2--g. The Premier of Manitoba was a staunch opponent of women's rights. Nellie used all her organizing ability and her famous wit against him, even caricaturing him in a "Mock Parliament". 3--o. Through political maneuvers and lies, Asquith was determined to prevent women's suffrage. He encouraged Street violence against the women, had them arrested on trumped up charges and later set up the policy of force-feeding. He hoped the movement would give up. It didn't. 4--a. Madame Germaine de Stael, prominent political thinker and writer, supported the ideals of the French Revolution but turned against Napoleon when he made himself dictator. Forced into exile she continued her opposition. 5--d. Nightingale fought a life-long battled with the war office to improve hospital conditions for troops. 6--b. Boudicca rallied the tribes of southern Britain in a revolt against the Roman Empire, killing as many as 70,000. Defeated she took poison. 7--m. Norton left her brutal husband but the laws of the time did not allow her custody of her children. Her public agitation resulted in the passing of a custody bill. When her husband seized her money she worked for the successful passage of a bill to allow a married woman to own things. 8--j. After her marriage to a wealthy man, Kemble, a famous actress, discovered he owned a southern plantation. He thwarted her efforts to help the slaves and refused to allow her to publish her book about slavery on threat of taking her children. Eventually he did take them and she did not see her daughters until they were adults. 9--n. It was in order to refute and counter the misogynist ideas of Rousseau that Wollstonecraft wrote her famous 'Vindication of the Rights of Women'. 10--c. Eleanor led a revolt against her husband and landed in prison for fifteen years. Released by his death, she consolidated the kingdom for her son Richard the Lion-Hearted and went on to make her Dutchy of Aquitaine a centre of literature and learning. 11--1. Jim Crow was a system of laws and customs which oppressed Blacks in the southern States. Parks, coming home on the bus tired and with sore feet, refused to obey the driver and move to the Black section of the bus. This refusal touched off the Atlanta bus boycott and fueled the civil rights movement. 12--f. De Pisan, the great medieval writer, was angered by the hatred towards women shown in the works of Ovid and other writers. She wrote 'The Book of the City of Ladies' in 1405, the first treatise on women's 13--h. When PEN, the international writers organization held a congress in New York in 1986, Atwood was one of those who protested to American branch president Norman Mailer about the small number of women writers on the panel. Mailer refused to agree claiming that the women writers he could have invited were mediocre. 14--e. Prime Minister King gave plenty of lip service to the idea that Canada should have a woman in the Senate and that the B.N.A. Act should be amended so that Canadian women could be declared as persons and therefore eligible to hold a Senate seat. However he did little to help Murphy and four companions (the Famous Five) steer the case through several court battles. However when they won he acted in typical male political fashion. He did not give the first Senate seat to Murphy as was expected but to a woman who had no connection with the long struggle but who had worked for years for the Liberal party. 15--k. Duplessis, an unswerving opponent of women's suffrage was premier of the province from 1926 to 1940. Women's groups worked hard for his defeat and in 1940 won the vote at last° rights. Women and Environments NORTHERN WOMAN page 15 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �CHANGE OF ADDRESS THE NORTHERN WOMEN'S CENTRE THE NORTHERN WOMAN JOURNAL NORTHERN WOMAN'S BOOKSTORE Are pleased to announce their new location at 184 Camelot St., Thunder Bay P7A 4A9. We have a spacious new storefront facility. Why not drop in? PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Second Class MAL Registration No. MAIL TO: 5697 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: p2 DATELINE KENORA/YOUR VOICE p3 REBIRTH p4 A COLLAGE OF BARRIERS p6 NFB FILMS p7 UPDATE p8 POETRY p10 DAY CARE RETURN TO: THE NORTHERN WOMAN 184 CAMELOT STREET THUNDER BAY, ONTARIO P7A 4A9 Return Postage Guaranteed Don't forget to renew your subscription! Here's my sub: Name pll HERizons Address p12 FAMOUS FOES (postal code) p13 FAMILY LAW/INIATIVES $ 5 p14 REVIEW/BOOKSTORE NEWS o Lestltatlosal $10 p15 UPCOMING EVENTS *********************************** WORKERS THIS ISSUE: CAROLYN GREENWOOD MARY-ANN KLEYENDORST MARGARET PHILLIPS ROSEMARY PITTIS *IS THERE AN ASTERISK ON YOUR LABEL? t * PLEASE RENEW YOUR SUBSCRIPTION * * * * * *********************************** Northern Woman. Journal 184 CAMELOT STREET THUNDER BAY, ONTARIO P7A 4A9 (FOUR ISSUES) $5.00 $10.00 Business or Institution PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Northern Woman Journal Description An account of the resource Northern Woman Journal Published in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Northern Woman Journal (originally called Northern Woman) started in 1973 following the first annual Northern Women’s Conference in order to keep the conference attendees connected. Initially serving as a newsletter of events, local issues, and women’s resources, the Northern Woman Journal quickly became a diverse publication reaching national and international readers. Not only did it serve as a newsletter to keep local women up to date on feminist issues in Northwestern Ontario, but also as a safe space to discuss women’s resources, law, politics, economics, health, racism, sexism, homophobia, feminist organizing and activism, transnational feminist issues, poetry, feminist reading, feminist art, and women’s diverse lived experiences.One of the longest-running feminist perodicals in North America, the Northern Woman Journal reached its end in 1995. Throughout its 22 years, the Northern Woman Journal was produced by its many collective members, with membership evolving year to year. For many years, the journal worked closely alongside and shared space with the Northern Women’s Centre and the Northern Women’s Bookstore. With the exception of a year-long government grant in the 1970s, the journal relied entirely on subscription fees and donations in order to maintain publishing, which presented challenges throughout its entire existence. As stated in an early version of the editorial policy, “only by a free and open exchange of views and opinions will we develop a basis for unity which can be used as a basis for action.” Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Northern Woman Journal, Vol 10 No 3 Description An account of the resource Vol. 10, No. 3 (June 1987) Title: Northern Woman Journal Topics include: Women’s Place Kenora Crisis services City funding withdrawn from Northern Women’s Centre, Thunder Bay Northern isolation Violence against women Barriers for women who live in the North Feminist film list Women Health Information Network Poetry Daycare access Daycare policy For-profit childcare Herizons Domestic workers Abortion rights movement in Canada International Women’s Day Child support legislation Family law reform Feminist book review Other Fires Northern Women’s Bookstore Authors/Contributors: Teresa Mallam Carolyn Greenwood Leni Untinen Rosalyn Taylor S. Barry Susan Collins Gert Beadle Margaret Phillips Joan Baril Lynn Beak Mary-Anne Kleynendorst Rosemary Pittis Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Northern Woman Journal Collective Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1987-06 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Published on this site with permission. Language A language of the resource English https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/16/2794/1987_Vol_10_No_4.pdf 0aa077e2c1514edbfa2c8742af40173b PDF Text Text Northern Woman Journal October 1987 Vol. 10 No. 4 Thunder Bay, Ont. $1.50 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: Dear Sisters: AFRICAN NATIONS AND AIDS POLITICS According to a report released in June 1987 by the Geneva based World Health Organization (WHO) about 50,000,000 Africans are supposed to be carrying AIDS and that the disease had reached epidemic proportions in Central, East and Southern Africa. Many African nations are often outraged and embarrassed when their countries are associated with AIDS and have sometimes refused to cooperate with Women's groups and organizations that make such revelation to Western sources. Zambia, for instance, has banned health authorities and women's organizations from sending any information on AIDS outside the country, and Zimbabwe has refused to assist with funding the projects or programs of all women's bodies or organizations that release the latest figures of AIDS carriers in the country to the outside world. Kenya, with 10,000 cases of AIDS has so far coninued to deny the existence of thatMagnitude of AIDS and has blamed Western media for gross exaggeration of figures. At the International AIDS Conference held in June 1987 at Washington D.C. USA, a revelation was made by Dr. Robert Gallo, an American AIDS specialist, that 10 Nigerians were identified with a special AIDS virus whom he called "Nigerian Red Virus". In the usual re-action of African governments over the association of AIDS with their countries, the leader of the Nigerian delegation at the Conference, Dr. E. Essien, became outraged with Dr. Gallo's revelation and emphatically denied the existence of the "Nigerian Red Virus". Uganda, which has the greatest share of AIDS victims in Africa has opined that "They saw no point in making people panic when there is no risk of an epidemic". Thus African nations continue daily to deny the threat of this disease to the citizens of their countries so that their so-called national image abroad may not be tarnished while the battle to fight AIDS is raging in Western countries. Indeed, the Refugee, Famine, and Drought problems are not of more threat to human lives in Africa than AIDS. An Italian source has revealed that an average AIDS patient runa hospital bills roughly $10,000 which could potentially bankrupt a country's :public health system if the number surges. What becomes the national economies of the already impoverished countries of Africa which develops a care free attitude to the existence of AIDS in their countries? NORTH ERN WOMAN_ loggg,;g., The USA budgetary allocation to AIDS has risen from $5.5 million to $411 million in the past five years. Britain has unleashed a media blitz to alert and enlighten the public on the killer disease. The anxiety is much the same throughout Europe and America, but in Africa the response has not by the least fraction matched the problem. The combined health care budget of all Central African countries afflicted amounted to a paltry sum of $1 million in 1982, and the figure for this year is hardly an improvement. Coupled with this is a general reluctance of governments to admit the enormity of the problem. In addition, it is the sexual aspects of AIDS that has riveted public attention over the disease and it is not without good cause. Sexual transmission is the most common route; some 65-75% of AIDS in Europe and America have occurred in homosexual men between 20-40 years and intravenous drug users who share dirty hypodermic needles. But the opposite is the case in Africa where heterosexual intercourse and female genital mutilation has been the major routes of AIDS. In Africa women are noted carriers. In a survey recently concluded in Uganda, of the 170 pregnant women tested 3/4 were found to have AIDS and half of those affected were sexually mutilated. In Equatorial Guinea, of the 100 women who were tested 78 of them carried AIDS and 65 of them were those whose genitals Aremto prove Prof. Uli Linke's research in the University of California, Berkeley, USA that female genital mutilation is one of the causes of the present widespread of AIDS in - Africa. We, of this centre, have decided not to fold our arms and wait for government action against the deadly disease. We have launched a massive campaign of education and persuasion against female genital mutilation and spread of AIDS by homevisiting countryside enlightenment tours where women are addressed in public places. Campaign by literature; newspapers, radio and television. But our problem is lack of funds to run the campaign and our services as a non-governmental voluntary organization with limited funds. We therefore through your magazine appeal to all feminists, womensfolk, women's groups and organizations to come to our _lid by donating to our campaign fund in the interest of international feminism; for as Virginia Wolf said "as a woman I have no country .... as a woman my own country is the whole world". We shall accept donations by cheque, bankdraft and currency notes in any currency. Send your donations, gifts and enquiries to: HANNA EDEMIKPONG, WOMEN"S CENTRE, BOX 185, EKET, CROSS RIVER STATE NIGERIA, W. AFRICA. I enclose my thoughts on th issue of abortion, which were pr mpted (finally) by the advertise ment in the September 5 C-J enti led, "Candidates on the Level", Campaign Life Northwestern Ontar I believe that due to the large amounts of money the pro-life mu ment seems to have (due to the n bers of ads and films and variou promotional materials put togeth, over the years), this movement h a distinct advantage over the pr, choice movement and/or women who believe it is their right to hay, access to abotions if they belie' it is necessary to their well -be: (Physically, emotionally or final cially). This is unfair. There are v, numbers of people who are confuse about the issue of abortion, or who are neutral (they haven't ma, up their mind about where they stand on it; some have expressed they don't know if they can take a stand, firmly, on one side or the other). All of this material - especially the more grotesque (such as colour pictures of aborted foetuses in trash cans) -and does corrupt. Much of it is blatant propaganda. I am thorougl ly opposed for reasons stated in this letter, to the pro-life move ment getting any more mileage oui of what has been often slimy and distorted tactics based on misinformation, which are now aimed al election. there is a very were in orderstrong opposing view to the prolife movement, but the pro -choice movement, I fear, is much less ai fluent. Many of us are students, single women and men in low-payir lobs, single parents and on sociz assistance or U.I. We do not have $20, $50 and $100 to donate to -CI Canadian Abortion Rights Action League, or any other organization supporting women's rights. For this reason, I am writin and will urge other women to writ to make our views known. We are n high profile, but we are there; however, a nation of letter write we are not, and I fear the worst: that we won't be heard. However, starting by writing to the following people and organizations I fe, should know this opposing viewpoi: The Chronicle/Journal/Times News (Editorial Department) Campaign Life Northwestern Ontari( Mr. Taras Kozyra Mr. Mickey Hennessy Mr. Don Smith Mr. Chris Southcott Ms. Evelyn Dodds Mr. John Maclennan Ms. Lyn McLeod Lakehead Living (Editorial Dept.) Northern Woman Journal The Argus Mr. lain Angus MP Mr. Ernie Epp MP The Canadian Abortion Rights Attic League In Sisterhood, HANNAH EDEMIKPONG (FOR WOMEN'S CENTRE). PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Pay Equity by Liz Poulin During the last several years the issue of Pay Equity has been a major topic of debate in Ontario. Often the emotional form of this debate seemed to obscure the basic principles of fairness and justice that women were seeking to have addressed. The new terms and language complicated the discussion and caused many to throw up their hands in frustration and wait for others to plough through the rhetoric and the misconceptions to the core issues. It cannot be stated strongly enough that it was the concerted and relentless work of feminists that finally brought legislations forward. It was these women who, firmly committed to the improvement of the status of all women, pushed pay equity to the top of the political agenda and, indeed, kept it there. The women of the women's movement are the real stars and their effort must be given full recognition. All this in spite of the enormous opposition from most segments of the business community. Pay Equity is not a new, untried idea. Both the federal government and Quebec have had legislation since the mid-1970's and Manitoba since 1985. The European Economic Community members, Australia, New Zealand and many state and municipal governments in the United States have also legislated various forms of the concept. Much can be learned from their experiences - we don't have to reinvent the wheel. We just have to make it run on our own soil. At this point we can only give an educated guess about how this legislation will affect us here in Northwestern Ontario. There are holes in it that will mean little to women in our small resource-based towns with a single industry. For example, the legislation will apply best to the populated cities and areas where large businesses, industries and governmental agencies locate. Establishments with less that 10 employees are not included in the legislation. Small communities have many under 10 employee businesses, and many of these provide the traditional work of women. This requires further legislation - these women can not be left out. So pay equity will serve many women but by no means all. What we will continue to lobby for will be employment equity which includes a broad range of initiatives that address discrimination against women in the workplace. One of the Pay Equity initiatives is a pay practice based primarily on the relative value of work performed whether the worker is male or female. It is simply another way to express equal pay for work of equal value. Two Bills were introduced in the Ontario Legislature in the past year. The first, Bill 105 was brought forward by Hon. W. Wrye, Minister of Labour. It covered the Ontario Public Service Employees and the second, Bill 154, introduced by Hon. Ian Scott, Minister responsible for Women's Issues, covered private sector firms with more than nine employees and the broader public sector such as employees in hospitals, municipalities, school-boards,s4iniveraities., town ity colleges and Crown agencies. Bill 105 was strongly. criticized and died in the committee stage and Bill 154 was amended in committee to include the Ontario Public Service employees. The purpose of the legislation is laid out in fairly straightforward language and I quote Section 4(1) "The purpose of this Act is to redress systemic gender discrimination in compensation for work performed by employees in female job classes", and Section 4(2) - -Systemic gender discrimination in compensation shall be identified by undertaking comparisons between each female job class in an establishment in terms of compensation and in terms of the value of work performed." The onus is on employers to develop plans and strategies to address discrimination that is gender based. If the establishment is unionized then employers and union representatives must work together to identify comparable jobs, review workers' salaries and identify any pay inequities in female dominated jobs. Employers will need to clarify the values of their organization. For example, what is most valuable to the firm - technical skills?, interpersonal skills?, Product knowledge? etc. Once a firm knows this then it can move to compare Female-dominated job classes, (i.e. there must be 60% or more females), are compared with male-dominated jobs classes which must be 70% or more males. These percentages are higher than womens' groups recommended and may well prove to be a stumbling block in some cases. Compensation (wages and benefits) of the higher paid job (read male!) cannot be lowered to meet the lawer paid job class (read female). Criticism from the business community revolves around the need to compare dissimilar job classes. They say it can not be done. However, it already is being done in many management and administrative areas. The Hay Job Evaluation System is an example which has been widely used for over 40 years. The Community Colleges use this method. The value of jobs is assessed by using the criteria of skill, effort, responsibility and conditions of work. Skill may include education, experience and special expertise. Effort encompasses physical and mental efResponsibility includes problem fort. solving, decision-making, and having responsibility for people, machinery or budgets. And finally, conditions of work concerns the work environment, both the physical and mental aspects of stress. These kinds of guidelines as well as experience in other jurisdictions will all enable employers to meet the legislative requirements. The legislation makes provision for four exceptions. They are: seniority, merit pay, temporary training as i Ekets es ii oy p differences in c..7-7,ensation are be- cause of one or more of these exceptions. Most women across Northwestern Ontario have always had difficulty accessing any kind of training opportunities so the temporary training assignment exception will not affect any great number. However, skill shortages will. Males have the best paid jobs in our resource dominated economy and women have made little headway in moving into them. There is a problem accessing skills training courses, surviving the training, finding jobs and maintaining the energy to be exceptional over a long period of time. The Equal Pay Coalition has this to say - "We strongly object to labour market shortages as a factor for exclusion .... Rather than avoiding the spirit of the legislation by paying high rates to attract the few men with the skills, we would like to see employers spend the money training women to do traditionally male work." The inclusion of this exception is not helpful to the women seeking non-traditional work. jobs. Unions can-play a vital role as they are in a prime position to have input into plans and to monitor the implementation process. Women will be depending on them for this. However, it needs to be noted that women in small Northwestern Ontario centres will not benefit greatly since many do not work in unionized establishments. page 3 NORTHERN WOMAN PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �PAY EQUITY (continued) An independent Commission with sufficient resources and a strong and clearly defined mandate was believed to be essential to the success of the legislation. As set up the Pay Equity Commission (two sections - the Pay Equity Hearings Tribunal and the Pay Equity Office) will be in charge of administering and monitoring the implementation of the legislation. It will provide specialized educational materials and consultative services, investigate employees' complaints, hold hearings if necessary and make the final decisions. it will have the power to order compliance with the legislation, The enforcement mechanisms will include fines, search of files, require answers and impose changes. One of the first assignments of the Commission is to conduct a study into sectors of the economy where employment has been predominantly female and where there are no appropriate male job classes for purposes of comparison, i.e. child care centres, social service agencies. This study is to be completed within one year. Since this has been a major concern because large groups of women working in these areas had been left out of the legislation, we can only applaud this amendment to the original bill. This report ought to help in the early addition of these groups. Keep your eye on this so we can all lobby as soon as possible. Concerted efforts of women are going to be need. ed again. The biggest critics of Pay Equity have attacked the Commission as expensive, a waste of tax dollars, another big bureaucracy, arbitrary and powerful. It has been called the "Pay Police". Women fervently hope it will be powerful and thorough in its work. Most of us would view an agency that will work hard on our behalf as long overdue. There is no doubt that the Commission is the key to how effective this legislation will be. Will sufficient resources be allocated to it? Monitor this as well. Two real disappointments in the legislation are its gradual implementation and the lack of coverage for those in very small (under ten employees) establishments. There is no question that both of these resulted from the heavy lobbying done by business organizations. Their argument stated that the very small business operations did not have either the staff, time or resouces to go through the exercise of job comparisons, job descriptions and so on. Thus, it was decided that the public sector and private sector businesses with 500 or more employees, large personnel offices and more sophisicated policies and systems would lead the way. The following is the schedule: Public sector and private sector employers of 500 or more employees - 2 years (from date the Act comes into effect). Private sector employers of at least 100 but fewer than 500 employees - 3 years Private sector employers of at least 50 but fewer than 100 employees - 4 years Private sector employers of at least 10 but fewer than 50 employees - 5 years. Private sector employers are required to set aside not more than 1% of their payroll per year to begin making the wage adjustments and public sector adjustments must be completed within five years of the implementation period. It might be seven years before all the inequities are addressed - a long ti -me indeed. With this legislation we are moving in the right direction. It cer-. tainly takes us many steps along the path to fair compensation for our work. On the one hand it has been called a "bold initiative" and on the other "highly interventionist". The debate is still going on and the monitoring by women will still be necessary. So take a deep breath and eat some high energy food because we'll be the real "Pay Police"::: BEST SELLERS A somewhatdifferent listing than you will find in Macleans. These are the best sellers at the Northern Woman's Bookstore since opened. If you like this best sel. column we'll do it on a regular bi NON-FICTION 1. 2/4 2/4 2/4 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. FICTION 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. If the Government in Ottawa gets its way, The Great Depression; two world wars; a small, spread-out population; recessions; inflation; overwhelming competition from the U.S.-none of these could kill Canada's magazines... ...but the current Government in Ottawa just might. The Government is considering demolishing the delicate structure of postal, tariff and tax-related incentives that helps keep the Canadian magazine industry alive. If this happens, many Canadian magazines will die. Those that survive will cost more to readers and publishers and will be more vulnerable than ever to competition from foreign magazines that have the advantages of huge press-runs and lower per-copy costs. Those that survive will be less profitable and, therefore, more likely to succumb to adverse_ economic circumstances in the future. CANADA'S CANADIAN PERIODICAL. PUBLISHERS' ASSOCIATION, 2 STEWART STREET, TORONTO, ONTARIO M5V 106 NORTHERN, WOMAN, . page 4, , . 8/9 8/9 10. they may take this magazine right out of your hands MAGAZINES WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIRST by. Michele Landsberg STILL AIN'T SATISFIED edited Maureen Fitzgerald, Connie GI erman and Margie Wolfe NEW OUR BODIES, OURSELVES by the Boston Women's Health Bo( Collective VOICE FROM THE SHADOWS by Gw' eth Ferguson Matthews MOTHER WIT by Diane Mariechil HOW TO BECOME AN ASSERTIVE WOMAN by Jean Baer BATTERED WIVES by Del Martin WOMEN AND MALE VIOLENCE by Susan Schechter CHOICES: A TEEN WOMAN'S JOUR] WOMEN'S WORKBOOK by Patti Schom-Moffatt& Cynthia TeIfi THE COLOR PURPLE by Alice Wa THE HANDMAID'S TALE by Marga Atwood WOMAN ON THE EDGE OF TIME by Marge Piercy MERIDIAN by Alice Walker DAUGHTERS OF COPPER WOMAN by Anne Cameron OBASAN by Joy Kogawa SARAH JANE OF SILVER ISLET b Elizabeth Kouhi DESERT OF THE HEART by Jane BLUEBEARD'S EGG by Margaret Atwood THE TATTOOED WOMAN by Marian Engel NWJ Subs The financial health of the Northern Woman Journal is dependen on subscriptions. If there is an asterisk on your label it means that your subscription is due for renewal. If there is a ** double asterisk on your label it means that your subscription is way past due and that this is the last comlementary copy you will receive. Now you don't want us to cut you off do you?? We'd be really pleased if you also decided to give all your friends a NWJ subscrition for Christen ...a voice of our own PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �As a result of the $100,000 grant from the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines, received earlier this year, WOMEN'S PLACE KENORA has purchased a house at 530 3rd St. N. There will be a celebration on October 17th to coincide with the Northwestern Ontario Women's Decade Council annual general meeting in Kenora. The official opening of the new centre will take place later in the fall. A high Court judge made British legal history when she told a 23-year old student he was not entitled to a court order preventing his girl friend from having an abortion. This landmark case represented the first time an expectant father had sought to prevent an abortion on the grounds that it would mean killing a child. The student argued that an 18-weekold fetus could be born alive. The judge ruled that evidence presented to the court did not allow her to say with certainty that the child would have been born alive at 18 weeks. A feminist political party held the balance of power in the Icelandic parliament in April after voters handed the ruling centre-right coalition a major political defeat. The Women's Alliance, which first sent feminists to parliament in 1983, doubled its vote to 10% and could find itself included in a new government. The two current ruling parties hold only 31 of the 63 seats in parliament. Pay Equity: A Cost Benefit Analysis.. Housing for Canadian Women: An Everyday Concern, Bill C-31: Equality or Disparity?-The Effects of the New Indian Act on Native Women Personal Autonomy and the Criminal Law: Emerging Issues for Women Women Entrepeneurs Briefs: Progress Toward Equality for Women in Canada Caring for our Children Booklets: Planning our Future: Do We Have to Be Poor? CACSW Annual Report 1985-86 Fine Balances: Equal Status for Women in the 1990's Newsletter "Inside Out", the CACSW'S Newsletter is mailed periodically, In it you will find the latest Council news, findings from major research and highlights from recent and forthcoming publications, Dr, Mavis Burke, formerly chairperson of the Social Assistance Review Board and chairperson, then president, of the the Ontario Advisory Council on Multi culturalism and Citizenship, has joined the Ontario Women's Directorate, as Special-A ble Minority Women, "I believe we must work towards a perception which recognizes and reveals a diversity of race and gender in Ontario's workplace for what it truly is--an asset, not not a liability to be borne by our visible minorities,, My entire career has reflected my concern for human rights, My work at the directorate is but a logical extension of this commitment,' . A new national action group wants to help the 95,000 Canadian women who missed filing a claim against the manufacturer of the Dalkon Shield, The American-made intrauterine birth-control device was linked to pelvic inflammatory disease, blood poisoning, infection, sterility, spontaneous abortion and death before it was removed from the market in 1976. Dalkon Shield Action Canada was launched after an attempt to get the April 30, 1986, deadline extended for Canadian women failed last summer, and it is trying to reach these women. The lawyer appealing that decision is optimistic that it will be reversed, especially in light of growing national membership in Dalkon Shield Action Canada. For further information, write Dalkon Shield Action Canada, c/o Vancouver Women's Health Collective, 888 Burrard St., Vancouver, B.C. V6Z 1X9, The following materials are available free, from the Canadian Advisory Council on the Status of Women, 110 O'Connor St., 9th Fl. Box 1541, Stn.B, Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 5R5, Forthcoming Books: Battered But Not Beaten: Preventing Wife Battering in Canada. Growing Strong: Women in Agriculture. Background Papers: A Critique of Bill C-114 as Proposed Legislation on Pornography: Principles and Clause-by-Clause Analysis. Immigrant Women in Canada: Current Is sues, The Canadian Jobs Strategy: Current Issues for Women.. . Arja Lane is back from two months in Finland and will be in Thunder Bay for the Interweave Conference. She is presently working on a documentary about housing problems in Sudbury, The Ontario Government recently committed total annual funding of 12,5 million to prevent and reduce family violence in the province, The new funding of $7,1 million is in addition to the $5.4 million in family violence prevention programs announced by the two ministers last september (Attorney General Ian Scott, Minister Responsible for Women's Issues, and Com-munity and Social Services Minister, John Sweeney,) The continuing focus is on support services and protection for assaulted women, and on the criminilization of wife assault, For women working and training in the Trades, the group "WOMEN IN TRADES" is collecting data on women working in non-traditional fields. Their goals include speaker's lists, role models and personal links, and they are looking into the formation of regional groups. If you wish to contact them please write or phone: Mary Addison Women in Trades c/o Times Change Women's Employment Service 22 Davisville Ave., Toronto, Ontario M4S 1E8 Telephone: 416-487-1776 000 BOOK STORE NEWS 000 We want to tell you about Ragweed Press, a woman-owned publishing house in Charlottetown, P.E.I. Libby Oughton, the owner/publisher became involved with Ragweed in 1980, purchased it in 1981, and yearly publishes 10-12 books. Originally, titles included children's books, regional cook books, fiction and poetry. In 1986, Oughton decided to concentrate on feminist and lesbian prose and poetry, which she publishes under the Gynergy imprint. From what we understand Ragweed has been, not only a publishing house, but also a resource centre for Charlottetown women's and peace groups. Unfortunately in July of this year arson destroyed the building adjacent to Ragweed, causing extensive damage to Ragweed's books, manuscripts and office. The loss is only partially covered by insurance - about $60,000 is needed just to bring Ragweed's published books back into print. With Ough.ton's determination and the support of friends and colleagues across Canada, Ragweed is being rebuilt. Readers wishing to support this important women's press may send donMontreal, Confederation Court Mall, 107 Grafton St., Charlottetown, P.E.I. You can also support Ragweed's future by purchasing their fine publications. Ragweed books that are currently available at the Northerm Woman's Bookstore include: THE FAT WOMAN MEASURES UP by C.M. Donald. These poems tell of a woman's conflicting feelings about being fat. "Sometimes her fatness is defiantly celebrated - 'Fat women/Are not few./ When we rise,/ The earth will shake.' And sometimes it is miserably loated, as she asks her thin sisters for more compassion .... Donald writes with power, humour and emotion about a subject that has received far too little positive attention and understanding." This is perhaps Ragweed's best known publication (at least in the women's community) and has received excellent reviews. THE BOOK OF FEARS, by Susan Lerslake (who was nominated for the Governor General's Award in 1985). "In these stories, Kerslake interrogates fear; she pins it under her lights and questions it until it confesses that fear leads to vision,,that fear may need cooperation; that fear, finally, is a power vacuum, a surfeit of possibility, and a silence. Kerslake is a gifted writer, with an extraordinary imagination. OUT ON THE PLAIN, by Frankie Out on the Plain is "of four women who meet and come together not so much in the physical world we know, but out on the plain, a mysterious and unfamiliar landscape which at first appears unfocussed but takes on colour and clarity as the bonds strengthen between the women. Finn. Cont. on page 14 NORTHERN ,WOMAN page 5 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Michigan Womyn's Music Festival by Rose Pittis The ferry pulled away from the Wisconsin shoreline as we headed for the deck, found chairs, and settled in for the long trip. Although we were still hours from our destination it took only seconds to realize that the majority of people on deck were womyn enroute also. Womyn in groups of all sizes, dressed in everything from shorts and summer tops to woolens and heavy jackets, carrying guitars, boo ks and food hampers. A womon came up to us and asked if this was our first time. When we said, 'Yes', she said "Ahhh, you're going to Paradise-. The 12th Michigan Womyn's Festival was indeed a paradise, though a somewhat wet one as it rained at least half of every day we were there. Weather aside, the energy emanating from 600 acres of land holding over 7000 womyn is difficult to describe. The feeling of womon-power, pride, and community simply becomes a tingling in the scalp and a sob in the throat and something which I will never forget. From the moment of entering the land it became evident that the organization of the event was near-perfect. Womyn directed us to a parking spot where we registered and unloaded our gear,on a long island of grass ready for the shuttle service. (No personal vehicles go beyond the main parking area) We were then directed along.-a road to coloUr-coded parking lots. After parking, we were directed to an orientation tent where an information video played continuously explaining the philosophy of the land and the collective spirit. We then moved to the work tent where everyone is asked to sign up for a four-hour workshift in transportation, daycare, security, kitchen etc. Up until this point I had been amazed by the number of experienced volunteers that the festival organizers had collected together. Now .I realized that everyone I had met directing me along the way was a participant like myself already doing her workshift. This collective spirit is one of the secrets to the organizational success of the festival. In no other way could 7500 people move onto the land, set up tents, eat communally, and move off the land in the space of five days with very few problems. In celebrating womyn, the festival not only promotes the collective spirit but honours our diversity. Camping areas are divided into general, quiet, chem-free, and 'loud and rowdy' to provide everyone for the type of atmosphere they want. Camping areas for disabled were also available close to the hub of the festival. Other serices consisted of 'the Wqmb', a firstaid area; the Oasis for emotional support; and the Sober Support Tent. The Community Center Complex had tents for Festival Information, Womyn of Colors, International Networking, Womyn over Forty, and lost and found. The craft market offered crafts and art of over 150 womyn as well as literature and music. The day stage and acoustic stage were active daily from Thursday to Sunday, offering a variety of workshops in voice, instrumental and dance. Highlights for me were Heather Bishop's Children's concert where fifteen little people managed to squeeze up on stage to help Heather with her show, and The Reel World String Band who got thousands of women up square dancing for the afternoon. Every evening the night stage program provided a diverse program to satisfy all tastes in music. Jasmine, a 3-piece jazz band, showed excellent musicianship and tight harmonies. The Maxine Howard Revue, a glossy 7-piece band, gave us a big band sound and a night club routine. Faith Nolan, from Halifax, sang some beautiful folk pieces, and Phranc, from New York, performed from her original repertoire with such songs as 'I Want to be an Amazon' and 'I Like Female Mud Wrestling'. The L: ian Allen Band was a collection o: some of Canada's finest musicians with Lorraine Segato weaving harm( and Sherry Shute playing haunting echoes of Lillian Allen's lilting ice. Of course Heather Bishop, Ho: Near, and Ronnie Gilbert were the: playing old favorites and new mat( al to thunderous applause. On the final night the secon( last act was Robin Flower Band. they were playing their fine blue the skies opened up and provided incredible light show of lightenii while everyone sat in awe. A few I utes later a gale whipped up, the poured down, and Robin Flower Ban( had to run off stage in- danger/Mqm electrocution and the huge stage opy collapsing on them in the win( Stage crew and audience alike rust to cover thousands of dollars wore of sound equipment from the storm, In the glow of the lightening one could see the bodies of the light] and sound crew scaling the fifty towers to secure and cover their E pment, This was certainly a grand ale to an incredible week. 1:)( A c 1 The next day, thousands of we silently packed up their sopping and splashed through the mud to tt shuttle service,preparing themsell emotionally and mentally for the N outside paradise, A sadness fell our group as we slowly drove off land, vowing to return next year. August See ou GI r?J ip NORTHERN WOMAN 1 'Sak ma w page 6 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Name Change by LYNN BEAK expensive process, since the perTo change their name on documents son had to hire a lawyer, and such the as S.I.N. cards and driver's Ontario Legal Aid Plan seldom licences, paid they would write to those for the legal costs. agencies requesting the forms to change their name, then notify banks and SHappily, the rules have now employers of the change. been changed regarding name changes. The power to change the name on birth certificates has been given to TO OBTAIN THE APPLICATION FOR A LEGAL the Office of the Registrar-General. NAME CHANGE An application form must be filled out by the person wanting to change Write to the Office of the Regtheir name - it is not simple - but istrar-General, Ministry of Consumer it also does not need a lawyer. and Commercial Relations, MacDonald There is a fee of $100.00 and an adBlock, Queens Park, Toronto, and exditional $15 for each child. plain the name change that you want Both of the women in the and ear-they will send the appropriate lier examples are now able to forms chan- to be completed for a legal ge their children's names. Anyname per-change. son of the age of 16 years can apply to change their name, and the PARENTS only RIGHTS REGARDING CHANGING THE general restriction is the requireSURNAMES OF THEIR CHILDREN ment that the person applying has lived in Ontario for a year prior If parents are sharing custody to their application. of their children, then both of them WHEN IS A LEGAL NAME CHANGE NOT NEEDED For many years the change of name rules in Ontario did not meet A legal name change is not everyone's needs. If a woman was a needed in some circumstances. If a single parent, unmarried when her woman wishes to use a nickname, but child was born and she and the not birth actually change her birth certifather have registered the child in ficate then a name change is not his surname, she could not change needed. Anyone may use a name that the child's name to her surmaneis withnotlegally yours (such as the out the consent of the birth father. surname of6your legal or common-law If he could not be located, or spouse) was as long as they are not dounwilling to agree to the change, ing so in order to defraud creditors, the child had to remain in his name. avoid police or for any other improAlso, if a woman was separated per purpose. and reverted to her birth name, she could not change the names of the Just as a person may change their children in,kierustody without her name to (or hypenate that of their spouse without needhusband's consent. ing a legal name change, so may they The old rules required everyone change their mind and revert to their who wished to legally change the birth name on their birth certificate (or name whenever they choose to do so, that'of their children) to apply to either during the marriage, separation or after divorce. the court for an order. It wasafter an - Writer in Residence GOOD NEWS: Veronica Ross has n appointed Writer-in-Residence the Thunder Bay Public Library. s will take up residence at the erley Resource Library from Oct. 1987 to June 3, 1988. She will be ticipating in the new Writers-Inraries Program sponsored by the istry of Citizenship and Culture. The program is designed to inase public awareness of Ontario's writers and Canadian literature and to provide professional assistance to emerging writers. During the eight months of her residency, Ross will take part in public workshops, critique manuscripts, and provide ongoing creative and marketing advice have to consent to the change of the children's surnames. This would occur when both parents are living with the children or have signed a joint custody agreement. However, if only one parent has custody after a separation or due to the fact that the other parent never lived with the child, then the consent of the non-custodial parent is not needed unless a separation agreement or court order states that the child's name will not be changed without their consent. If the non-custodial parent has visiting rights, the parent with custody must notify them of the fact that the child's name is going to be changed. FURTHER QUESTIONS If you have further questions about name changes, you may contact the Registrar-General's office, a lawyer or a legal clinic in your area. to writers. While in Thunder Bay she will be working on her new novel and hopes to do some work with older adults and students, as well as individual writers. Veronica Ross is the author of three collections of short stories: Goodbye Summer (Oberon, 1980), Dark Secrets (Oberon, 1983) and Homecoming recently published by Oberon. A novel, Fisherwoman, was published in 1984 by Pottersfield Press. Her stories have appeared in a wide variety of magazines - several stories have won national awards. A native of West Germany, she grew up in Montreal, lived many years in Nova Scotia and for the past three years has been living in Kitchener, Ontario. She has been involved in two previous writer -inresidence programs in Nova Scotia where she taught creative writing, and she is presently the associate editor of Antigonish Review. If you are interested in bringing a group to the library, or if you would like to schedule your own appointment with Veronica Ross, please call Barbara Koppenhaver, Co-ordinator of Community Services at 344-3585. NORTHERN WOMAN page 7 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �No Pasaran by JOSIE WALLENIUS The World Congress of Women, held in Moscow in June was not only a political debate but a festival of culture, dancing and song. It started off for Canadian delegates in the Aeroflot Jet taking off from Montreal, with Arlene Mantle, singer songwriter from Toronto, leading us in some of her superb Women, class struggle songs. As one of her lines goes, "When you know that the Right is wrong, then all that's left is Left". Close to three thousand women from 154 countries gathered in Moscow to discuss Women's Issues. Peace and Disarmament, Women in Society, Women and Work, Women and Family, Women in National Liberation Struggles, Problems of Development for Women, Women in Education, Mass Media and Women, and the role of Women in the Forward Looking Strategies adopted in Nairobi in 1985. All this was convened by WIDF (Women's International Democratic Federation), an organization founded in 1945, which broadly speaking was meant to ensure that we would not bow to Fascism again, the political reality of Monopoly Capitalism gone criminal., I mention the reason for the founding of W.I.D.F. because fortytwo years later'in Moscow, in session after session and workshop after workship, women worldwide condemned our banks and our institutions as the root cause of their problems. Unless we women in the West stop playing the Sleeping Beauty, we will have betrayed not only our sisters but the planet itself. South African Women's Day Campaign As a priviledged woman who is literate and eats more than once a day, I went at first to the Peace and Nuclear Disarmament Sessions. I was initially disappointed, as I was looking for solutions, not a rehash of the problems. On the first morning I heard at least four Japanese women tell us again about Hiroshima, and there was an endless stream of women from countries in Liberation wars, bleeding from our Military Industrial Complex and the greed of our banks. Knowing of these things before I went, and being at the end of the speakers list I decided to leave and attend a workshop organized by U.S. activists, where Helen Caldicott was going to speak. I have always held Caldicott in high regard, and thought I could at least have my say in question time. However, after hearing Helen speak, I had lost the frustration I had felt, as she said the things so many of us had been waiting to hear. She started off by describing her experience with the Physicians for Social Responsibility. She had spearheaded this organization, done massive education work, only to find herself a -non person when the time came for the P.S.R. to receive the Nobel Peace prize. She returned to Australia, not only wounded, but aware that all of her vision and energy had been spent fighting shadows, and that the weapons and effects of war were not the only things we should be talking about. She spent the next two years studying the corporations, and is now talking about them. She said that the North American public is totally brainwashed, and the rich have orchestrated this brainwashing by T.V. She said that since World War 1 the corporations have spent billions of dollars in destroying our unions, and that the C.I.A. is as active in Australia as in Bolivia. She said that the U.S. is socialism for the corporations and capitalism for everybody else. NORTHERN WOMAN page 8 She agreed with an 85 year old won an who denounced the U.S. government as criminals and gangsters, E a few days later, when we spoke tc her in the dining room, she said i was now like the thirties, we have nothing to lose, we must confront Fascism. She actually used the wo/ revolution. This is Helen Caldicot speaking, not Angela Davis. I. thinksome libera.)._woW.a-faj to grasp the point. The ones who tumade a decision NOT to attend the sions run by Palestinian women, or those run by A.N.C. Women and Womer from the Frontline States, or who failed to seek out the Afghan womer to hear their story about the C.I..t orchestrated counter revolution in their country. To further illustrate this poi some women actually resisted what they saw with their own two eyes. C day some of us went to an automobi] plant where we were greeted by members of the Union, Women and Peace Committees. We ate, sang and dance( together, and then went to workers homes to talk more intimately. Abot common family troubles, sex, A.I.D. and anything we felt we wanted to. When we returned to the plant we the museum where cars were display dating from their first production. to the tanks of the war years, to modern cars of today, so that worki people can have pride in their history of accomplishments. t The plant had day care centres and medical centres at the site, an subsidised holidays on the Black Se resorts, yet some still were not im pressed. Perhaps one has to go with out holidays, or go hungry to pay a medical bill, before one is impress by Socialism. PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Az a ItiorfAh I; -:AV. COUriTRY... MY CovnTR.Y dik* ATHC. WoRLD * .14 from Women and Environments A few days later, lazing on a seat on a pleasure boat on the Moscow River, watching families opening their picnic baskets, I wondered sadly if some thought secretly that the K.J.B. had organized this day for us. That they had ordered sections of the public to sunbathe on the river banks at a given time, that they had told the people to smile and the sun to shine. Another highlight for me was going to the indiginous Women's workshop. Seeing the Native Canadian women meeting the Indiginous Women from Australia and Paraguay, and finding out that they were going to unite and organize together. Feeling the strength of the Native Canadian women who have decided that spirituality is not enough to solve their problems. At the final Peace Rally, thousands and thousands of women gathered with Moscow citizens to walk hand in hand and arm in arm, with banners, balloons, clowns and colour, to Gorky Park. The last singer to perform was our own Arlene Mantle, and she sang, "We Shall Overcome", She sang it not with humility, as it is too often sung, but with full throated power, and we sang it back at her, and with her. She began to walk away, bending down to receive flowers from children, but the crowd did not move, so she sang again, this time the Central American Freedom song, with a Guatamalan woman singing at her side, Nicaragua is, after all, the Second Spain, As she finished, she raised her fist, and sang out, "NO PASERAN", the cry of resistance first shouted almost 50 years ago during the Spanish Civil War by the Spainards and the International volunteers, including Canadians, who fought to defend Madrid against the Fascist supported armies of Franco, A cry of Hope and Defiance meaning literally "They will not Pass", But fifty years ago they did pass, because the people in the West did not defy their governments who were supporting Fascism, pretending they did not know, as we pretend in Canada not to know of our governments support of the regime in El Salvador. I think Helen Caldicott has, like other women have started to do, made, not a marxist analysis, but a clinical assessment for this dying planet, and it remains to be seen what we do with it "If We Love This Planet". For myself, I know that there is a lone group of women on a picket line in our town. I don't know them, and probably if I asked them what Trident is, they would say it is chewing gum. I'm joining them on Monday, as a peace activist. While keeping the words "No Paseran" firmly in my head, I also remember reading the case of Suttons Hospital from 19th century Britain "The corporations cannot commit treason, nor be outlawed nor excommunicated, for they have no souls." ON HEALING I am a 'Loch s, quiet convictionz My Compa/mion Ent/Lenched with ofmtinacy Stnength unnoticed Waiting I am a pond LayeAz o6 Zi6e Peace in motion Unexpected depth Untimited Expto/Le my pond And you wit-E. (find The. /Lock I am a 6o/Lezt A banned-out oite.t that Rquzed to die Laughter pLom dapondence -ExpZoke my 6otezt my pond Within it Exptone my pond And you witt 6ind The 'Lock.. Suzan Cottin4 May 1987 page 9' NORTHERN WOMAN PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �In Search of a r.e.a.l. Womar by Teresa Mallam of Women's Place Kenora At Women's Place Kenora, we have come to the conclusion that R.E.A.L. women do not exist. We arrived at this conclusion after futile attempts to reach the aforementioned party through the telephone directory service - there was no listing for them. "I've looked under everything" said the harried Winnipeg operator "even under the heading WOMEN and there's nothing coming up on the screen." We thought so. We were just checking. Then we reached the same dead end from Kenora Information. "Never heard of them" said the operator. Then we phoned our good friends at Klinic-in Winnipeg and we were told R.E.A.L. women were not listed on their resource list. This did not surprise us given the fact that most employees of Klinic are of feminist orientation and R.E.A.L. women are above all else, anti-feminist. The group who call themselves R.E.A.L. women emerged in the domestic kitchens of its founder, Grace Petrasek, a homemaker from Etobicoke, Ontario. Rumour has it that.she was preparing the family meal - from scratch of course - when the idea struck Rer to mount a ,chalienge.to feminism - a group she felt only "thought they spoke for people like me" - but REALLY didn't. She then joined forces with Gwen Landott and together they set out to set the world upright again - or something to that effect. They began by denouncing prostitution, then homosexuality, then sex education, universal day care (based on want, not need) and no-fault divorces - or any kind of divorce for that matter. The group is also vehemently opposed to abortion, naturally, because many of their members sprang up from right-to-life groups. But R.E.A.L. women are still a mystery to our organization. The closest we have come to hearing the voice of R.E.A.L. women is on a Radio Noon Show from Toronto in which Grace remarks: "I really don't know why they (feminists) are so upset." Well, we are not really upset, just perplexed. WHO ARE THESE R.E.A.L. WOMEN? Do they, like their male counterparts - eat quiche? I mean some people have actually gone so far as to accuse us (feminists) of being jealous of their cleverly devised name. Harrumph. Even if we interpret R.E.A.L. as Real (and we do not), we can hardly be jealous given the word's real meaning. "Real" as defined by the Pocket Oxford Dictionary means "actually existing as a thing." Frankly, we would rather exist as people. We should also point out that "feminist" according to the same source is defined as "an influence of women, belief in or advocacy of ..." Columnist Doris Anderson unearthed some fascinating tidbits in her NORTHERN WOMAN _page. 10 1985 column "The Real Truth about Real Women" saying that "they are, not really women at all. They want to be dependent. And dependents by any 1985 (read 1987) definition are not adults. Dependents are children." Which brings us back to our original problem. If in fact R.E.A.L. women do exist, in whatever form things or children - (and that is interesting because neither Petrasek nor Landott will reveal her "real" age according to a Chatelaine article). I mean maybe they really are children dressed up in Mom's twinsets and pearls. Anyway, if they do exist, where are they? Part of our objective in finding them is that some of their platform (about 5% according to NAC president, Louise Delude) is the same as ours. 5% is_better than nothing. At least we have that much in common. For instance, the group is for the family unit. Well, what a coincidence so are we. They support homemaker's pensions. Funny, we thought we said that. They recognize the contribution of women in the home. Well, so do we. In fact, we were the first ones to say so. But the reason R.E.A.L. women are getting a lot of press lately and no, we aren't jealous of that either, even if Stan Graham, Tory M.P. does say their testimony is "like a breath of fresh air". So, who wants to be known as a group of airheads? But anyway, for three consecutive years they have been griping because they have not been given funding by Secretary of State Women's Programs. Now, you have to appreciate these programs are intended to further the cause for women. To promote advancement of women and to improve their status. Funding is not available to groups who wish to help with a movement backwards in time. But ... humor, maybe they should try another ministry, say Citizenshi and Culture. After all, no one can deny they are citizens. And funding for preserving old relics and ancien ways of life is certainly high on their list of priorities. We wish th real luck, we really do. P.S. If we ever succeed in finding this group, I have a'great recipe fc orange muffins.... maybe we could have a bake-off! Wanted AN INEXPENSI'IE LEGAL SIZE FILING CABINET IS URGENTLY NEEDED BY THE NORTHERN WOMEN'S BOOKSTORE. PLEASE CALL 344-7979. PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �INTERWEAVE Sharing our common threads; strengthening our ties; designing the fabric of our future; INTERWEAVE is a conference for Ontario women's centre workers that will be held October 23, 24, 25, 1987. INTERWEAVE intends to examine issues of survival for women's centres; develop a provincial network among centres; and identify future needs and create action strategy for centres to deal with concerns such as the institutionalization of women's issues. INTERWEAVE believes that we must develop an analysis for change based on our own experience as women's cen tres. Workshop facilitators will draw on participants knowledge to create and implement strategy designed to ensure our future. All Ontario women's centres are invited to send delegates, and to be prepared to contribute their centre's unique experiences so that the result will be workable strategy for all centres. Workshop discussions will include an overview and analysis of organizational models/towaris the creation of a uniquely feminist model; funding possibilities and their implications; strategy to make positive change in a conservative world; why feminist issues are co-opted by non-feminist financial sponsors/developing strategy to reclaim and maintain our own issues; understanding lesbian visibiility/how internal conflict relates to homophobic and heterosexist reaction from without, and how that reaction is reinforced by the political and social climate; how women's centre workers find ways to satisfy and nurture themselves while working toward change/developing strategies to encourage a sense of ownership and involvement of new women, and target methods for renewing energy among seasoned members. INTERWEAVE will be held at Memory Lodge, which is located on the shores of Lake Superior, approzimately 40 miles southwest of Thunder Bay. Transportation from the Thunder Bay airport to the Conference site will be provided. Shuttles from town will also be arranged. Accommodation consists of shared cabins and rooms at the Lodge. All meals, entertainment and recreation for the weekend will be provided on site. For further information please call Northern Women's Centre (807) 345-7802 read any good books lately? NORTHERN WOMAN'S BOOKSTORE 184 Camelot St Thursday & Friday : 11.30-600 Saturday: 430-4 30 SpectAum Cotouted watts stide in and out pa termed tite4 and potished gtain some watts pretend to be tainbows tentacte4 cotoca teaising w with pnomtis es and dreams - -- Watts 6epakate cetts, /1.0001, people you and me btack shadow Watts s tatk_ white watts wtao astound me in an endtess 6og I took 6ot you Watts keep us waiting inside out isepatate cetts t/Lapped inside bodies that tage agai_nst hems elves aging gesh watts accommodate gtowing ptisons watts come ctoset to us cat tying tiie and death Shatt I paint myTh)atts with blood red gowets on golden dream-iitted takes? Sptinkte 0/Lange chat on gAey tty to pooh the waltz away? on play inside them tike a chitd ptanning 6/Leedom .. Rosatyn Taytot Pettett NORTHERN WOMAN page 1 1 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �- Abortion Access Reprinted from PRO-CHOICE NEWS Ontario residents will perhaps remember that during the provincial election in 1985 all three political parties agreed that access to abortion services was inadequate and needed improving. This was a remarkable admission and a significant one The poLiticians were no longer quibbling about whether abortions should be performed, but were in fact acknowledging that such a medical service belongs in the mainstream of medicine and provision of that service was now the issue. Perhaps they had finally begun to read the polls rather than only reading their antiabortion mail. Perhaps they had finally realized that pro-choice groups and virtually every women's organization in the province were speaking for the majority and were making sense. Perhaps, because they understood this they were more willing to display a little political courage. There was also the embarrassment of the Morgentaler clinic, a constant reminder that women in Ontario (and other parts of Canada) were not able to get abortions through the hospital system. The Liberals promised that if they were elected they would improve access, especially in Northern Ontario. The Liberals were elected and in June of 1986 (it only took a year) Dr. Marion Powell, who had been a member of the Federal Government's inquiry in 1977 into the operation of the abortion law (the Badgley Report) was asked to review access to therapeutic abortion services in Ontario. These were the terms of reference: (1) Review with those Ontario hospitals that provide therapeutic abortion services to: (a) identify the demand and availability of services by geographic area; (b) identify program components that women require and the means of achieving optimum provision of these components; (c) review the referral patterns and scheduling process; (d) review the operation of therapeutic abortion committees, and (e) encourage the development of this service as a total program. (2) To work with the public health units in Ontario to identify needs in their family planning programs and to examine ways in which the programs can be co-ordinated with those provided by hospitals. PDF (3) To work with local hospitals, public health units, and the like, to develop a regional or local referral system for birth control services. (4) To work The with firstconcerned phase of comthe study munity groups, e.g. Planned Parentwas undertaken in the summer and hood, to develop informational andmet with fall if 1986. Dr. Powell educational programs on family planservice providers throughout the proning. vince. Her report was released on (5) January To identify resources 27 ofthe this year. Its findrequired ings to assist and to expand as "damning" were characterized these services hospitals, health by the in media. Dr. Powell found the units, and so on. system rife with problems. Among the problems she identified were the following: (1) In over 50% of counties the majority of women obtaining abortions had the procedure outside their place of residence. (2) A minimum of 5000 Ontario women obtain in free-standcompression, OCR, abortions web optimization using ing clinics in Canada or the U.S. All the criticisms of the existing system of service delivery contained in Dr. Powell's report have been mode by provincial pro-choice and family planning personnel for years. All the critcisms of the existing system of service delivery contained in Dr. Powell's report have been made by provincial pro-choice groups and family planning personnel for years. For that reason Dr. Powell's report is a welcome and long overdue acknowledgement of the unacceptable delivery of service in the curarent watermarked evaluation hospital-based system. Itcopy is of also a credit to the provincial gov- CVISION PDFCompressor �RESPONSE OF ONTARIO GOVERNMENT TO POWELL REPORT In March, Health Minister Murray Elston announced his government's response to the Powell Report. The Province will spend up to $2.5 million to encourage hospitals to provide better service. In this way Elston hopes the need for the two free-standing clinics will be eliminated. The provincial government has hired Dr. Powell to begin implementing some of the recommendations of her report. In 1970 the late Dr. Elsie Gregory MacGill, member of the Royal Commission on the Status of Women and subsequent Honorary Director of CARAL, issued a separate statement to the Commission's Report. She said, in reference to section 251 of the Criminal Code (the section dealing with abortion), that if this law is not repealed immediately it "will linger on for a decade or two more to harass and punish women." Dr. MacGill's words were prophetic. We are in year 17 of that prophecy. The basis for the inequities and scandalous treatment of women seeking abor- tion care in this country is the abortion law itself. Despite protestations from some that access can be improved under the current legislation we have seen no evidence of this. In fact we have seen a constant and steady erosion of service across the land. It remains to be seen whether Ontario can honour its pledge to improve access, given the refusal to confront what everyone knows are unworkable and unnecessary constraints in the legislation, namely, the requirement that abortions be performed in hospitals and only upon approval by a therapeutic abortion committee. .************,.*****************.*40***********#*******.*****...***.*******.*..*.o.***.***.o.*****************.*********.** Women's feelings, needs and thouward right-and-far-right-wing conservatism, ghtsmanifested have consistently in reactionary been challengand right-wing governments ed on this issue. and organizations) of women's rights and freedoms (This issue is extremely complex. Theoretically, all of Canadian socI will forward a longer supplement iety's rights and freedoms are therewhich I have been moved to write, affore being eroded, but it is women ter all this time of trying to organwho are, and have been, paying the ize some personal response to all the price. members of the pro-life movement. Loewenberg and Dolgoff write: Many of these people, I think, are "A person can be said to be free well meaning, but in their zeal to only when all of the following condiprotect the "rights of the unborn", tions prevail: continued from p2 they forget those of us who've had 1. The environment provides a to live here for many years. However, set of options from which a person I am aware that many of the tactics can make choices. For reasons mentioned in the of the pro-life movement are very There Iisamnonot coercion attached 2. letter, signingon the destructive and uncaring of others- person from any source to choose a my name. I believe my thoughts rewitness firebombings and destruction given option. present those of many women, beof property -- and for this reason, 3. The person aware of all cause I have heard manyisexpress themI do not include my name, as I do not the available options. selves similarly to me. I am firmly wish to be harassed as a private cit4. in Thethe person hasthat accurate entrenched belief wom- inizen. I am not writing as a member about the cost conseen'sformation (and human) rights will and never of a party or organization.) quences to of become each option in order to be allowed a dead/nonI believe we must oppose-mnyabwillommm assess them realistically. issue, irrespective of the> prevailfurther suppression and denial of 5. The person has the capacity ing political climate. women's rights, as we should the denand/or initiative to make decision Suffice to say that I am awritial and suppression of the rights of theasbasis of this and assessment. ing on this a tax-payer voter, men to self-determination. Barring 6. The person a realistice and an L.U. student whohas works partminority males, men's autonomy and to I'm act writing on the basis timeopportunity at two jobs. this of self-determination have always been hisindividual, or her choice." as an and have not been regarded, historically, as a kind of this definition, women who coerced, By commissioned or otherwise sacred trust. are ordered an embryo cajoled to writetoitcarry by anyone otheror I firmly believe that if men foetus to full term, and give birth, than myself. Thanks for your time. could conceive and have babies, they are not free (the basic precept of would never have allowed the issue of our democratic society). Organizations Sincerely, of abortion, and of individual rights, such as Campaign Life (who ran the to deteriorate to its present state. latest advertisement in the Chronicle Make no mistake -- this is a women's Journal), if ever allowed to become issue. Men have a place in it, but the predominant activist organization TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: what ethical right do they have domon abortion, would see to it that inating it? I shudder at the conseabortions become illegal. This would I have always had a very hard quences of the potential acts of be a totalitarian, undemocratic act. unfeeling male decision-makers on time with hearing men predominate in I challenge the pro-life discussions about abortion, one ofmovethis issue. that to this: if you prove of the ment primary and true "issues" ourunder allThe circumstances, the pro-choice time. sad fact is that in prea pregnant say "As sentmovement Canadianwould society, it should not womabortion", then an,issue you must haveits an existence be an at all; argument, I will entire should be arefute basic this right, and a given. campaign. and wish been you success in your I have amazed and angered that this But youtoknow well as leaders, I listening maleaspro-life absolutemarchers nonsense. maleispro-life and organiof profact, (lately, the existence zers, andInindeed with the by groups confirms Babychoice "K" case), male ethicsdemocracy, profespro-life example, (and whereas thehaughtsorsthis consistently often fact of that it. The ily)movement discuss denies the various aspects pro-life movements exist is only abortion, including ethical/moral im- due the democratic to the good graces plications, attempts to of define life allowed country in which it is itself (something truly beyond the to the face operate, it including kicks it in grasp of mostyet, of us, theoundeby propounding an astoundingly logians and most learned professors), mocratic line. Thunder and what a woman -- And not in a man -- Bay, Messieurs Hennessy supshould or should not do and withKozyra her own Unbelievable, especially body.port More than not, when womitoften when Mr. Kozyra is such a staunch en are mentioned at all, it is as the of demoupholder of the principles villian, the vamp and/or the vessel. your OICE cracy: The crime of this entire issue is the gross erosion in present Canadian society (due primarily to the trend of the last several years to- NORTHERN WOMAN page 13 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �BOOK REVIEW: reviewed by MARGARET PHILLIPS The Myth of Women's Masochism, by Paula J. Caplan, Ph.D., Signet pb, 1985, $4.95 The myth of women's masochism is deeply entrenched in our society. That women contribute to our own misery; that women fear success, thus ensuring our own failures; that, some - if not all - women actually enjoy pain and suffering; are deeply held beliefs. The myth has frequently been "proven" by a variety of (usually male) "experts"; been embraced by the mental health profession; and has been widely accepted even by women. Feminists who have long been uncomfortable with the 'masochist' label will welcome the exposure of the myth that has been provided by Paula Caplan's important work The Myth of Women's Masochism. Caplan, a Canadian psychologist and educator, provides a solid analytical base to understand why women's behaviour has been mislabeled masochistic; the benefits that accrue a misogynist society to continue the myth; and the consequent difficulty in debunking the myth. It was only after some years of study and clinical practice that Caplan began to seriously question the accepted wisdom that women's behaviour is masochistic, leading to the development of theory that "the behaviour in women that has been called masochistic actually has other explanations" namely: " * the ability to delay gratifications, wait for rewards and pleasure, or attempt to earn happiness through effort. the capacity to put other people's needs ahead of one's own. * the belief, based on past experience, that what one has is about all one can expect to get, or * the effort to avoid punishment, rejection or guilt." Caplan believes women's unhappiness stems from our woman-hating society that creates attitudes, institutions and power relations that cause women much pain - a society that "uses the myth of women's masochism to blame the women themselves for their misery". When women are convinced their problems are pathological, we won't question "the social institutions that really are the primary cause of the trouble." It is the myth of womenls masochism that encourages depersonalization and sexual objectification of women, devalues womens traditional roles, and justifies verbal and physical abuse of women. No woman escapes the insidiousness of the myth. As Caplan says "The belief that females seek out pain and suffering, that we have an inate need for misery, poisons every aspect of women's lives." NORTHERN WOMAN page 14 Beginning with an examination of the theoretical assumptions that misname women as masochists, Caplan then leads us through an analysis of women as mothers; our relationships with men; attitudes towards women's bodies; women as victims of violence; women at work; and women in therapy. Through case studies, research, and analysis of other theories and assumptions, the contradictions that women face are thoroughly discussed. We're damned if we do, and we're damned if we don't. "If you don't become a selfsacrificing mother (or a mother at all) you seriously risk being punished and considered unnatural. If partly to avoid such punishment, you become a mother, then you are punished by being given enormous responsibility, little appreciation, and a great deal of potential blame." If you don't sacrifice your needs for those of your husband, you are not a good wife. If you do you are called masochistic. If you are competent at work you become threatening to male coworkers (a castrating woman!), if you suppress your competence to encourage co-worker acceptance you have "a fear of success." If your partner batters you, you must have done something to cause it. If you stay in a battering relationship - even when there is no alternative - you'll be labelled a masochist. I urge anyone who has casually, jokingly, or seriously used the term masochistic in reference to their own or other women's behaviour to read this book. I wager you will think twice before using the term again. Further, as Caplan advises, we must challenge others who glibly or professionally - are quick with the masochist label. Rather, we must promote or force discussion on the real causes of women's unhappiness - our lack of economic, social and political power. Only when we understand and challenge the misogynest society that benefits from and perpetuates women's so-called masochism will we demand the radical changes that we require. The powerful forces working to restrict such change must be continually analyzed. For me, the most disturbing aspect of Caplan's book is the Afterword, where she describes the struggle that she and other women have been obliged to mount within the American Psychiatric Association to prevent the APA from adopting "masochistic personality disoreder" as a new official category of mental disorders. Reading this Afterword is a chilling experience, as we realize the powerful misogyny of the APA, it's influence of the mental health profession, and the resultant effect this can have on women who may seek professional help. As well as trying to adopt "masochistic personality disorder" - later renamed "self-defeating personality disorder" - two other categories were proposed. "Premenstrual dysphoric disorder", which would make PMS a psychiatric disorder, and "paraphilic coercive disorder" to be applied to a person "who had repeatedly raped or been preoccupied with fantasies of sexual coersion for at least six months.' (An insanity plea for rapists!) It was only after enormous efj fort by Caplan, by Jean Baker Miller, the APA Committee on Women, and other feminist mental health professionals that a partial victory was obtained. "Paraphilic coercive disorder" was discarded totally. The proposals to categorize "selfdefeating personality disorder" and "premenstrual dysphoric disorder" in the APA manual were defeated. However, they are to be included in the manual's appendix, which may raise the problem of psychiatrists accepting these terms as official. And, as Caplan points out, attempts may be made to accept these categories for inclusion in the next APA manual, to be published in 1990. Caplan emphasizes that she and other mental health professionals cannot relax, but must be on guard to continually fight this battle. Women owe Caplan a debt of gratitude for making us aware of this disturbing situation, and feminist groups should offer all appropriate support as this struggle goeS forward. 3tjF is -ttif ft- Book Store News Cont.Emily Nasrallah's FLIGHT AGAINST TIME is a story about the immigrant experience. Nasrallah was born in Kfeir village, South Lebanon. She has published ten books, and won many awards for her writing and journalism. Her home (along with her unpublished manuscripts) was completely destroyed by the war in 1982. When asked why she stayed in such a strife-torn country, she replied that, as a writer, she felt compelled to document the devastating effects of constant war, and in particular the effect on women and children. Nasrallah has repeatedly spoken out in favour of the rights for women in Lebanon. PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Matching Canadian women writers create memorable women. This month's quiz is to match the novel's major character with the author. To really test you, the next step is to match character, author and title of the novel. There's a prize, for the first reader to send NWJ the correct answers to this quiz. Character Author Character Author 1. Minn Burge (a) Margaret Atwood 2. Evelyn Hall (b) Marie-Claire Blais 3. Naomi Nakane (c) Anne Cameron 4. Rose (d) Beatrice Culleton 5. Isobel Cleary (e) Marian Engel 6. Chiclet Gomez (1) Janet Turner Hospital 7. Marian McAlpine (g) Joy Kogawa 8. Pauline Archange (h) Margaret Laurence 9. Felicity (1) Alice Munro 10. April Raintree (j) Dorothy O'Connell 11. Anne Gray (k) Jane Rule 12. Stacey McAindra (1) Audrey Thomas Novel 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 7 A15,13 Ni W 0 ./%" A r A. G. AD E 1 I EHN 1 S u B ri NU _1_ y 13 0 0 17 5 ET c o By 1 tn. m E3 E. r7 oBoE PERT E .5 A E. o0p AF E 5 1_ 5 -r RE.HEAF6E E. A !L 7 A NI R. uLE ID the answers to the Woman Words crossword our in last issue. P o,L O o N' S v4 A F L E c. ; 0 o 7.1 Our apologies for neglecting to include R.1 13 E- E6 ) X T a w 0' HEE A L. RoN LA51 0NE N aaT L._ A 0yA ViA,7 E 6 NORTHERN WOMAN page 15 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �CASSETTES AVAILABLE AT THE NORTHERN WOMAN'S BOOKSTORE 184 CAMELOT STREET THUNDER BAY '=_II 11 fil LANIICCILICNIIII Of Films 1JedlIfig WIER INOMCITUS 1984 1985 1985 Delia spent years counselling women to confront their alcoholism and drug addiction while ignoring her own alcoholism. Fi- 12 min. Delia their sobriety is a renewed commitment to their Native Indian culture. sense of self-worth and helping to maintain addiction. A factor contributing to their Recovering alcoholics, two sisters talk about their battle to shake alcohol and drug 15 min Debby and Sharon Related to Turnaround: A Story of Recovery, this series of four films focusses on individual women who are recovering from drug or alcohol dependency. The Recovery Series Aurora House, a residential treatment centre in Vancouver, these women are learning to face painful truths. on alcohol, prescription medication, street drugs, or a combination of these. Living in Five women were brought together by a common illness - all had a dependence 47 min. Turnaround: A Story of Recovery 1985 Office national du film du Canada Well-DeIng 1985 Ontario, the film looks at providing 1985 the NFB office closest to you. March, 1987. For more information, contact also be available from NFB offices as of 16 mm from all National Film Board offices in Canada. Video rental, in VHS format, will These films are available for free loan in therapy for offenders are part of this city's attempt to break the cycle of violence. in London, Ontario. Services for victims and A co-ordinated effort by police, lawyers, doctors and social workers has resulted in an effective response to woman-battering 28 min. Moving On shelter and services for battered women in rural, northern, and native communities. in Filmed in Thompson and Portage La Prairie in Manitoba, and West Bay Reserve 28 min. A Safe Distance taining support and counselling. as a safe place for sharing experiences, ob- Sylvie recreates her experience as a battered woman seeking help at a Montreal transition house. This film emphasizes the importance of women speaking out and points out the role of the transition house 28 mm. Sylvie's1985 Story their lives. support services victims need to rebuild A series of three films that deal with the nature and scope of woman-battering and the The Next Step THE WOMEN'S BODY POLITIC 1985 D.E.S.: An Uncertain Legacy 55 min. in Between 1941 and 1971, a synthetic estrogen, diethylstilbestrol or D.E.S., was prescribed to pregnant women to prevent miscarriages. This practice resulted numerous cases of reproductive and genital abnormalities. This film looks at the development, marketing and medical consequences of D.E.S. 1985 The Best Time of My Life: Portraits of Women in Mid-life 58 min. Reflecting a wide range of income levels, lifestyles, careers and backgrounds, ten women in their middle years share their experiences of menopause. 1986 Is It Hot In Here? A Film About Menopause 36 min. One of the least understood and most universal of women's experiences is menopause. This film is an informative and sometimes humorous look at contemporary social attitudes, symptoms and treatments relating to menopause. 1984 Abortion: Stories from North and South 55 min. treatment that enabled her to gradually build a new life for herself and her son. nally she quit her job and sought the Of the estimated 30 to 50 million induced abortions performed annually, more than half are illegal, and an estimated 84,000 of 1985 Lorri Ruth National Film Board of Canada joined Alcoholics Anonymous. prostitution, Ruth turned to alcohol and drugs. After 18 years of addiction she cape from painful memories of childhood physical, mental and sexual abuse, and At 14 years of age and in search of an es- 14 min. Humiliated by her inability to control her drinking, and feeling confused and suicidal, Lorri committed herself to a psychiatric ward of a hospital, where she recovered. 14 min. them result in death. Filmed in Ireland, Japan, Thailand, Peru, Colombia and Canada, this film is a survey of the realities of abortion. Spirit of the Kata 28 mm. 1985 Five women, all black belts of world-class calibre, discuss how an ancient martial art has transformed their lives. NFB Offices in Canada Halifax: (902) 426-6001 - Sydney: (902) 564-7770 - Saint John: (506) 648-4996 - Moncton: (506) 857-6101 - St. John's: (709) 772-5005 Corner Brook: (709) 637-4499 - Charlottetown: (902) 892-6612 - Montreal: (514) 283-4823 - Chicoutimi: (418) 543-0711 - Quebec: (418) 648-3176 Rimouski: (418) 722-3086 - Rouyn: (819) 762-6051 - Sherbrooke: (819) 565-4915 - Trois-Rivieres: (819) 375-5714 - Toronto: (416) 973-9093 Ottawa: (613) 996-4863 - Hamilton: (416) 572-2347 - Kingston: (613) 545-8056 - Kitchener: (519) 743-2771 - London: (519) 679-4120 North Bay: (705) 472-4740 - Thunder Bay: (807) 623-5224 - Winnipeg: (204) 949-4129 - Regina: (306) 780-5012 - Saskatoon: (306) 975-4246 Calgary: (403) 292-5338 - Edmonton: (403) 420-3010 - Vancouver: (604) 666-0718 - Prince George: (604) 564-5657 - Victoria: (604) 388-3869 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Second Class MAL Registration No. 5697 MAIL TO: INSIDE THIS ISSUE: p2 YOUR VOICE p3 PAY EQUITY p5 UPDATE p6 MICHIGAN WOMYN'S FESTIVAL p7 LEGALLY YOURS/WRITER IN RESIDENCE p8 NO PASERAN RETURN TO: THE NORTHERN WOMAN 184 CAMELOT STREET THUNDER BAY, ONTARIO P7A 4A9 Return Postage Guaranteed Don't forget to renew your subscription! Here's my sub: p10 IN SEARCH OF A R.E.A.L. WOMAN Name Address pll INTERWEAVE p12 ABORTION ACCESS (postal mode) p14 BOOK REVIEW ladIvidaal $ 5 o lasdtettlooal $10 0 p15 QUIZ ************************************ * WORKERS THIS ISSUE: TANYA SHAW CAROLYN GREENWOOD MARY-ANN KLEYENDORST MARGARET PHILLIPS ROSEMARY PITTIS t *IS THERE AN ASTERISK ON YOUR LABEL ? t PLEASE RENEW YOUR SUBSCRIPTION * * * * * t t*********************************** Northern Woman Journal 184 CAMELOT STREET THUNDER BAY, ONTARIO P7A 4A9 (FOURISSUES) $10.00 Business or Institution PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Northern Woman Journal Description An account of the resource Northern Woman Journal Published in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Northern Woman Journal (originally called Northern Woman) started in 1973 following the first annual Northern Women’s Conference in order to keep the conference attendees connected. Initially serving as a newsletter of events, local issues, and women’s resources, the Northern Woman Journal quickly became a diverse publication reaching national and international readers. Not only did it serve as a newsletter to keep local women up to date on feminist issues in Northwestern Ontario, but also as a safe space to discuss women’s resources, law, politics, economics, health, racism, sexism, homophobia, feminist organizing and activism, transnational feminist issues, poetry, feminist reading, feminist art, and women’s diverse lived experiences.One of the longest-running feminist perodicals in North America, the Northern Woman Journal reached its end in 1995. Throughout its 22 years, the Northern Woman Journal was produced by its many collective members, with membership evolving year to year. For many years, the journal worked closely alongside and shared space with the Northern Women’s Centre and the Northern Women’s Bookstore. With the exception of a year-long government grant in the 1970s, the journal relied entirely on subscription fees and donations in order to maintain publishing, which presented challenges throughout its entire existence. As stated in an early version of the editorial policy, “only by a free and open exchange of views and opinions will we develop a basis for unity which can be used as a basis for action.” Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Northern Woman Journal, Vol 10 No 4 Description An account of the resource Vol. 10, No. 4 (October 1987) Title: Northern Woman Journal Topics include: Pay Equity Feminist book list Women’s Place Kenora Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival Legal name change World Congress of Women, Moscow Poetry R.E.A.L. women Abortion access INTERWEAVE solidarity initiative Powell Report Book review of The Myth of Women’s Masochism by Paula J. Caplan Feminist film list Authors/Contributors: Liz Poulin Rose Pittis Lynn Beak Josie Wallenius Susan Collins Teresa Mallam Rosalyn Taylor Perrett Margaret Phillips Tanya Shaw Carolyn Greenwood Mary-ann Kleyendorst Rosemary Pittis Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Northern Woman Journal Collective Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1987-10 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Published on this site with permission. Language A language of the resource English https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/5/2795/120908-001a.jpg b89bc026379812cabc617d50ed799081 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource General Archives Description An account of the resource Archival records that don't belong to another listed collection. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Governor General in Dawson August 14, 1900 Subject The topic of the resource Mining People Description An account of the resource Sepia-toned photograph of a celebration welcoming the Governor General of Canada. (At this time, Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, the 4th Earl of Minto.) Street is crowded with onlookers and at the far left of the photograph is an arch decorated with American and Canadian flags to welcome the Governor General of Canada, Dawson, Yukon Territory. Caption on image: "Awaiting the Arrival of the Governor General in Dawson, Aug. 14, 1900", "By Goetzman, 661". Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource H.J. Goetzman Studio Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource August 14, 1900 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Donated by Mrs. Cochran Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Public domain Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Photograph Type The nature or genre of the resource Still image Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context A0014#136,Z/13, scan#120908-001 https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/5/2796/120908-003a.jpg 0f6e21ea63050f523736ded25dac08a3 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource General Archives Description An account of the resource Archival records that don't belong to another listed collection. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Territorial Administration Building, Dawson City, 1902 Subject The topic of the resource Mining People Description An account of the resource Sepia-toned photograph of the Territorial Administration Building taken from Fifth Avenue. The building was home to government offices later the building was the Post Office. One of the many buildings built by Thomas Fullerin Dawson City. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource H.J. Goetzman Studio Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1902 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Donated by Mrs. Cochran Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Public domain Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Photograph Type The nature or genre of the resource Still image Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context A0014#136,Z/13 scan#120908-003 1900s Buildings Dawson City Post Office Thomas Fuller https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/5/2797/110908-001a.jpg 56edae0203b00a6405def73d7abf0732 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource General Archives Description An account of the resource Archival records that don't belong to another listed collection. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Dawson Post Office Subject The topic of the resource Mining People Description An account of the resource Sepia-toned photograph of the Dawson Post Office buildiing. Exterior view of the post office, main door east and west walls. Corner of Third Avenue and King Street. The post office was built by Dominion architect Thomas Fuller Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource H.J. Goetzman Studio Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource circa 1900s Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Donated by Mrs. Cochran Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Public domain Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Photograph Type The nature or genre of the resource Still image Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context A0014#136,Z/13 scan#110908-001 1900s Buildings Dawson City