230 10 13630 https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/5/2809/270808-001a.jpg 77ed5974f473cc6b4cdc56e930f51e35 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 Scene at Bennett Subject The topic of the resource Mining People Description An account of the resource Sepia-tone photograph of Bennett, British Columbia. The photograph of town buildings and walled tents are along shoreline, with several riverboats tied along creek and boat under construction at right, signs for Dawson Hotel and Hotel Portland are visible. 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#270808-001 Bennett bridge British Columbia https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/5/2810/030908-012a.jpg eb7fc336e84e467d3abfa575d84fa755 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 Canadian Bank of Commerce. Klondike Subject The topic of the resource Mining People Description An account of the resource Sepia-toned photograph of Canadian Bank of Commerce. The bank operated from a large brick building on the west side of Front and Princess Street. Staff outside the bank wearing winter clothing. 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#030908-012 Canadian Bank of Commerce employees https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/5/2811/080908-001a.jpg 71a56a230cc7159d390a0f8b17928142 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 Moose hunter en route to Dawson on Klondike River Subject The topic of the resource Mining People Description An account of the resource Sepia-tone photograph of a moose hunter en route to Dawson on Klondike River. The sleigh is pulling 1300 lbs of game .75 per pound wholesale. Captions on image: " Moose hunter en route to Dawson on Klondike River 1300 lbs of game .75 per pound wholesale", "Goetzman Dawson, 205. 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#080908-001 Dawson Dogsled moose winter https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/5/2812/080908-005a.jpg 75e129e56e741ccea3dc89ab555d7095 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 City Subject The topic of the resource Mining People Description An account of the resource Sepia-tone photograph of men, women dressed in winter clothing. posing for the photograph in downtown Dawson City. Wooden buildings visible include J.P. McLennan Hardware and a Cafe. Sled dogs are sitting in the snow which is covering an otherwise muddy front street 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#080908-005 1900 Dawson City dogs J.P. McLennan sleds winter https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/5/2813/080908-008a.jpg ee7956b228790a1d0e4c4fb1d4b2140e 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 Ice on the bank of the Yukon below Dawson Subject The topic of the resource Mining People Description An account of the resource Sepia-toned photograph of ice on the bank of the Yukon River. Two men are standing among a huge ice cake which could stand almost perpendicular 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 May 23, 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#080908-008 1902 ice Yukon River https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/5/2814/120908-004a.jpg 5069a223c2c49109a5fa5b77d746e603 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 Forty Mile Town Subject The topic of the resource Mining People Description An account of the resource Sepia-toned photograph of the waterfront of Forty Mile townsite on the Yukon River. Distant view of wooden buildings, boats onshore, and laundry blowing in the wind. Caption on image: "Forty Mile Town", "Goetzman Photo Dawson". 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 May 25, 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#120908-004 Forty Mile Ricer Forty Mile Town May 1902 https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/5/2815/120908-005a.jpg b63e560b0b70fa56825a136e4c7e68aa 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 Ice cakes at Forty Mile Subject The topic of the resource Mining People Description An account of the resource Sepia-toned photograph of ice cakes at Forty Mile. Captions on image: "Ice cake at Forty Mile, Y. Ter. 15 feet thick", "Photo by Goetzman Dawson, 1958 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 May 23, 1901 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#120908-005 1901 Forty Mile Town ice cakes https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/5/2816/160908-001a.jpg 05f22ab917f3ab94d8ed332246f07ce3 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 “Old Man Rock” on the Yukon River Subject The topic of the resource Mining People Description An account of the resource Sepia-toned photograph of Old Man Rock on the Yukon River. The rock is a natural feature below Dawson City. Caption: Goetzman Photo Dawson. 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#160908-001 Old Man Rock Yukon River https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/5/2817/160908-002a.jpg c9894abf3d1bbfab84053dbebf66d6bd 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 Steamer “Nora” discharging cargo Subject The topic of the resource Mining People Description An account of the resource Sepia-tone photograph of the steamer, Nora discharging cargo for U.S. army, at Eagle. 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 July 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#160908-002 1902 Eagle July Nora steamer https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/16/2818/1989_Vol_12_No_1.pdf 39521c7b0de218ef066f1cf1bdbc659a PDF Text Text PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �EDITORIAL In the NORTHERN WOMAN Vol.11 #4 we analyzed the election results and the free trade implications. At that time as said; "We must mature our awareness and analysis of the full Conservative agenda - social policy, tax reform, trade - and determine what is in store for us in the next four years. Behind the mask of free trade lies a neo-conservative agenda (which would not on its own be risked) that will devastate the vulnerable in our society, will erode the modest gains that women have made, and will set back the cause of social justice and equality for a decade." We now have the federal budget and our fear becomes reality. The propaganda about the deficit is, of course, a smokescreen. What the Wilson budget does is deliver the free trade agreement and begin the harmonization of our social and economic systems to the American model. And what is the American model? We need to understand that the United States, among industrialized nations, has: -the biggest gap between the rich and the poor -the highest per capita poverty rate -the most children living in poverty - the most people without health care -the most homeless -the highest rate of adult illiteracy -the poorest legislation governing working conditions. So we have the Wilson budget. A budget that begins the process of destroying our Unemployment Insurance system. And make no mistake, it is women that will be most seriously hurt by the U.I.C. changes. A budget that ignores child care...while the decade -long child care CRISIS escalates. A budget...that begins the erosion of universality. A budget that embraces privat zation...again most seriously harp ing women. A budget that reduces support for regional economic development and the development of Native communities. A budget that reduces transfe payments for health and post-secor dary education. A budget that cuts funding to women's, Native and multicultural organizations...Decade Council cut 15%, Northwestern Ontario Regional Day Care Committee cut 30-35%, Women's Place Kenora cut, etc., et If we are to avoid the erosior of our Canadian society until we a/ indistinguishable from the Americar we must act NOW. We must inform ourselves. Infc others. Protest. Organize. Keep Canada alive. BREAKING THE SOCIAL CONTRACT On June 9th, about 150 Thunder Bay people gathered at the CPR station- with petitions outlining QUI' In response to the federal budget, representatives of the National Action Committee on the Status of Women, the Pro-Canada Network and the Canadian Brotherhood of Railway Workers joined together to GET THE BUDGET BACK ON TRACK, travelling coast to coast protesting the budget and pointing out that: "Past and ptezent genetations of Canadians have developed a unique zociat conttact with theit govetnment. Thtough this sociat conttact, Canadians have ctaimed theit basic democtatic tights as citizens to a system o4 zociat programs designed to ensure decent emptoyment, education, eon- uMet ptotection, cuZtukat development, and 4ait taxation. The current 4edetat government La now bteaking that sociat conttact. The Free Trade Agreement has set the stage {got hatmonizing out economy and sociat programs with the economy and sociat programs o4 the United States. The recent Witzon budget zetvez to accetetate this process Tog ethet, these economic sttategiez past wL destroy the investment generations in out nationat and democtatic 4utute." . Northwestern Ontario concerns for the protesting travellers to take to Ottawa. The Northwestern Ontario protest centred on child care, Via Rail and postal service cuts, Air Canada privitization, regressive sales tax, U.I.C., Old Age Security, Family Allowances and cuts to the Secretary of State Women's Programs. Congratulations go to the Northwestern Ontario Women's Decade Council who spearheaded the Thunder Bay event, which was an energyzing rally, complete with protest songs led by the "Raging Grannies". A similar rally was organized in Kenora by Women's Place, Kenora. "I with to shake my betie4 abo, the ideotogicat peupective {j nom I think thiz government opetata. I believe that Mutitoney'4 Conzekvativ unlike any Canadian Conzetvative go etnment bepte them, wish to change the iundamentat bafance between pub tic good and ptivate gain that has chatactenized out history. They wiz to move Canada toward an economic m et in the image o4 Thatcheez BAita and Reagan'4 Ametica. They betieve that the unlettered (tee market La the bent alb -ton (14 oppottunity one that government shoutd disengage it set4 4tom the dizttibution o4 weatt They have been joined by Cotpo ate Canada (and I diztingui4h this sector ?nom smatt and medium sized businesses who create most o4 the jobs, and who ate 6u46eting under this government as wett), who have out grown Canada, and whose set intetezt cteatty no tongeA patattet outs nationat interest. Canada La be coming a cta)mic cotpotatist state, whete huge cotpotations ate the don inant in4titutows, and who pursue growth in wea -Pth and power as theL' singte ovettiding goat. National Autez ptomoting competition and Lin iting theist growth ate seen as an impediment. In 4cect, big business was seeking (nee ttade, not to tinh businesz to the nationat putpoe, but tathet to itee it {tom such a Aesponsibitity." Maude Battow Chaitpetson Council. o4 Canadiak PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor 'NORTHERNWOMAN page 2 �RED FLAG BILL 124: An Act to Amend the Children's Law Act by LENT UNTINEN for: The Northwestern Ontario Women's Decade Council Sub-commitee on Violence We also challenged Section 24 (2c) in respect to custody and access: "The length of time the child has lived in a stable home environment" as a consideration. This clause does a disservice to battered women whose move from the home has been forced by fear and to the many shelters for battered women which have been established to provide stability for the women and their children in times of crisis. The Violence Sub-Committe of the Northwestern Ontario Women's Decade Council recently submitted a brief to the Standing Committee on Social Development. Sub-Committee members identified many concerns regarding the Bill 124 An Act to Amend the Children's Law Reform Act. Under this legislation access by a non-custodial parent is assumed to be "in the best interest of a child". Further, "encouraging and supporting the childls-continuing parent-child relationship with the other parent" assumably requires some co-operation. If co-operation were a factor in custody-access agreements a legislation of this type would be unnecessary and in fact is unnecessary in the majority of cases. Subsequently this legislation is designed for the minority of custody-access cases with implications for the majority and very serious implications for women and children ending a violent relationship. In reality shuffling a child back and forth, between parents 1) where there is a history of violence, or 2) where parents are in conflict, or 3) where one parent is,kin fear of the other, other, is is definitely not in the best interest of a child. Inclusion of this duty clause sets the stage for granting custody, weighing consideration of a parent's intention to co-operate in according access. This particular clause offers a dangerous choice of options for battered women: a) fight for custody, deny access and risk losing custody or b) agree to access and risk the safety of herself and her child. , Section 24 (2e) includes the "ability and willingness of each person seeking custody to provide ... the necessities of life and to meet the special needs of children". Clarification must be made in order to ensure that the lower average income levels of women (yet to be corrected by adequate Ontario Pay Equity legislation) does not penalize mothers and that custody and access are not "bought" by the higher income earner. Concerns were expressed regarding "reimbursing reasonable expenses" when access has been denied and the ability of women on limited income to comply with this order. Section 35 suggests "Appointing a mediator" and the possibility of court ordered mediation. Court ordered mediation between two persons where an equal negotiating status may not exist, particularly in circum- between the two may have either been controlling or violent is a very dangerous option. While the subcommittee supports the paragraphs listing the possibility of physical and emotional harm as reasons for denial of access, we are aware of many women leaving relationships after years of physical and emotional abuse and where "proof" of the violence has not been documented. The Ontario Government is well aware of the many reasons for this and through their literature have titled wife assault as "the silent crime ".. How- ever, we are not convinced of the judical system's sensitivity to this characteristic of family violence. This particular status leaves open the possibility that women who cannot prove past violence may be forced to agree to access in order to not appear uncooperative and risk losing custody, or, the possibility that women who have left violent relationships will not seek child support knowing that access may be a condition and possibility of further harassment may be realized. "Require Supervised" access as referred in section 35 a (6) (a) is not available throughout Northwestern Ontario. The region has, at best, minimal support services to deal with both family breakdown and family violence. Laws applicable to Ontario should consider the reality of all Ontario regions, in order, that courts do not order support systems which a community cannot provide. No clear data exists that access denial is a major problem. The lack of consultation with persons that will be most affected by the proposed legislation leads to speculation that Bill 124 is a political response to pressure groups reacting to The Supand Custod. Enforcement Act. Reof children require in depth study and consultation. Legislation presented to protect children must not be initiated as a political maneuver. Drafted pieces of legislation are always complicated documents. By their very format they tend to intimidate the average person. It requires time and hard work to absorb the meaning of clauses and to think through the implications. But legislation, policies or programs involving custody, access and mandatory mediation should be a red flag to women's organizations across the country. This is not a time to be apathetic to drafted legislation because of the complexity of the language. Study it, understand it, react to it. The future safety of thousands of women and children may depend on it. '774E S niEr PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor NORTHERN- WOMAN page 3 �LONG DISTANCE DELIVERY: A Guide to Travelling Away from Home to Give girth by HOLLY RUPERT Birthing is a special health issue for Northern women. The medical services women need during pregnancy, labour and delivery, are not always available in the small towns of Northwestern Ontario. That means women must travel, often to a large hospital in a distant city, to get the care they need. "When I got to the Thunder Bay hospital, I was alone. My husband was left behind, so were my three other boys. You're really lost and alone. I asked the nurse who went with me for a hug -- I really thought I was going to die, or that the baby would die. That's why I was willing to get a hug from anyone." If a woman is sent by ambulance to another hospital, often her partner or relative is not allowed to accompany her. The space in an ambulance is limited, especially if an air ambulance is used. If an incubator is needed for the baby, there may not be room for an extra passenger. Sometimes poor weather conditions mean more fuel is needed for the flight and that too, restricts the number of passengers who can be on board. For many of the women we spoke to, being separated from their partner or other relative was the most difficult aspect of an out-oftown birth. The Project on Out-of-Town Birth grew out of a concern about the impact birthing away from home has on women. We wanted to find a tangible way to help women in our region find positive ways to cope with the demands of this situation. We decided to research and write a booklet that would serve as a practical guide to out-of-town birth. The project, which began in December 1987 and will come to an end this summer, has been funded by Health Promotion Directorate, Health and Welfare Canada. It is co-sponsored by two women's groups - the Red Lake Women's InformatiOn Group and the Northwestern Ontario Women's Health Infoimation Network based in Thunder Bay. In the early stage of the project, we went to several small towns in NorOwes tern Ont4r,igt,t.st, hear T44941g44441,ftsmIewm-:could tell us about out-of-town birth. We travelled to Marathon, Terrace Bay, Manitouwadge, White River, Sioux Lookout, Ignace, Vermilion Bay, Dryden, Ear Falls and Red Lake. At an open meeting in each town, women talked about the problems they had faced. They suggested things that would have made the trip Often the things that worried away easier. women reflected the isolation and naThe women in towns like Ignace tural challenges that characterize and Vermilion Bay, which lack a hospilife in the bush. tal, told us about the many practical For instance, being stranded on details they had to plan for in addithe highway by poor weather was a contion to finding a doctor and thinking cern for women who must travel to hosabout the obstetrical care they would pital in their own car. We heard of prefer. For instance, they had to ara couple who, in their panic to get range for friends or neighbours to care to the hospital once labour had startfor their children and homes when they ed, hit a moose calf on the highway. left for hospital. One woman talked about her confusion "With my second pregnancy I had a when the whole town was evacuated girlfriend lined up" an Ignace woman just before her due date because of said. "If I went into labour during the a threatening forest fire. Some even night, she said she'd come and stay said they would try to avoid a spring with my daughter. She was basically on or fall delivery as the flying weathcall for my last month. And if she coer is notoriously fickle at those uldn't do it another woman would." times of the year. Some spoke of the tremendous fear The ideas, advice and stories we that took hold when things went wrong gathered during the community meetings during labour or delivery. In many comhave become the basis of the booklet munities, the local hospital is not eto be distributed this summer. As we quipped to handle emergencies and womlistened to women talk about their exen must be sent to another hospital by periences, we were moved by the loving air ambulance. When this happens, womcourage with which they face birth un7 en may feel they are being swallowed der these circumstances. up by events beyond their control. In the second stage of the proMany told us about the loneliness they ject, we asked health care workers felt giving birth in a hospital far what they felt women need to know abfrom family and friends. out out-of-town birth. We sent a sur"My husband stayed with me until vey to prenatal instructors who help they put me in the ambulance" said a to prepare women for birth. We asked woman from Marathon who was sent to doctors and nurses who care for women Thunder Bay by airplane. She had bein small and large hospitals for their gun to hemorrhage with her fourth baideas. And we surveyed public health by, now a healthy preschooler. nurses who visit women when they return home from the hospital. The res- ponses gave us a clearer picture o the medical reasons for out-of-tow birth. We learned about the proble in providing continuity of care fo women before and after their birth Why are women having to trave away to give birth? The most commo reason is the lack of local birthi services. In most places, the loca doctor provides prenatal care, but another doctor in a large city hos tal will assist at the delivery. I that hospital is far away, it may difficult to have prenatal visits with the doctor before the birth. This situation affects many Native women from reserve communit In our region, they represent the jority of those having out -of -tows births. The demands of travel and paration from family and friends E especially hard for Native women. They must make the trip out to hos tal about two weeks before their d date and wait for their baby's art val. They may feel lonely, displac and bored as they try to cope in a world so culturally different fron their own. In some places, such as Nipig the doctors haver-emmMitrvartr/tPINn ver babies although there is a loc hospital. In 1985, the Nipigon doc tors decided the number of babies they delivered the previous year about 25 -- was too low to ensure necessary competency level for obE etrical care. That is, the doctors weren't getting enough practice at delivering babies to feel that the could do it safely. When the Nipigon doctors ann( ced they would be sending women t( out-of-town doctors for labour an delivery, some community women wet angry. They did not want to lose familiar, personalized care they 1 known at the local hospital. Desp: lobbying efforts and community sui port for continued birthing servi( the doctors have stood firm. An informal survey of Nipigoi women, carried out in 1987 by the Northwestern Ontario Women's Heali Information Network, found that d re were at least 68 births that yo Even with this apparent increase, birthing services have not been r( instated. There has been a growing tree in the last decade, in Northweste. Ontario as in other parts of the try, to use a regional model in p viding birthing services. Within given region, hospitals provide b thing services based on their geo, phic location and the specialized people on their staff. In some ca smaller medical units may be clos to consolidate services. Women wi greater medical risks are sent to hospitals which can offer more sp cialized care. Those who support 1 . continued on pg 7 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor NORTHERN WOMAN page 4 �*********************** * * * Ontario Women's Directorate * RESOURCE CENTRE * * *********************** A new TV and VCR for previewing videos in the office are two new resources available to the commmity. We now have an audio cassette of THE COURAGE PO HEAL: A Guide for Women Survivors of Child Sexual Assault and a cassette of Elly Danica's Morningside interview. Elly Canica is the author of DON'T: A Woman's Word/ Four copies of each book are also available to borrow. WIFE ASSAULT PREVENTICN MONTH WOMEN AND POLITICS consists of six one-hour programs designed to help women achieve, exercise and hold on to political power. This video series presents highlights of a twoday conference held in November 1986 at Ryerson. Host Rosemary Brown introduces participants such as Chaviva Hosek, Michele Landsberg, Kay Sigurjonsson and Maude Barlow. A 48 page booklet comes with the NOVEMEiER 1989 series. November has again been chosen for the public education campaigns of Ontario Women's Directorate and public This community groups. education campaign ties in with November 25th - International Day EREADUNG FREE is a video recently purchased from the Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women Disability Awareness Project. Disabled women present their Against Violence Against Women. experiences. Committees and groups active in area of wife assault prevention will have ,rpceived -information and grant to funding up for applications education a public for $1,500 project. that reflect must Projects "Wife Assault is a Crime" and that the community has a responsibility to address this issue. APPLICATIONS !CST BE violence prepared for and used in schools in London, Ontario also is available. Amazons and Military Maids: Women who Dressed as Men in Pursuit of Life, Liberty and Happiness, Julie Wheelwright Politics of Reproduction, Mary O'Brien northern organizations Story Behind Child custody, The Susan Crean Children's Story: Sexually Molested Children in Criminal Court, Judge Sandra Butler Smith (US). looking for this? Immigrants need to be part of the Ontario Community and contribute to economic and social development. Ontario has skills shortages and many of the immigrants that have came to Canada are skilled to work in many kinds of jobs. Immigrants need to improve their level of income and to be able to make enough money to cover their basic living and social needs. They don't want to stay on social assistance and be a burden to learn society. They need to English to qualify for professions, community by the selection committee to participate in the Sumer Experience '89 chosen to have the opportunity to finish their studies or to have specific training in order to get skilled program. The Directorate's Northern Office will have a student working on jobs. immigrants will have these opportunities, it will be easy for society to fill its skills shortage and together Canadians and newcomers can work for the development of Canada. Maria Albizurez If several projects this summer: - the development of an employment equity information mailing list - the cataloguing of written materials in the Resource Centre - the development of a catalogued video /film section of the Resource Centre, and - the updating of last years Directory of Women's Organizations in Northern Ontario The Thunder Bay Immigrant Women's Planning Committee is trying to open doors for immigrants to enter educational programs. Why are they its In the Name of the Fathers; Beendigan, Women in Crisis, SiouxHudson-North, Women's Place Kenora and Mattawa Family Resource Centre IMET.GRANT VEMEN IN TEENIER BAY SOME NEW BOOKS Seam Allowance, Industrial Home Sewing in Canada, Laura Johnson SUMMER EXPERIENCE 7171,7Wrl PS WE CARE, a K-13 school curriculum discussing the issue of family RECIll[VED BY AUGUST 4th are 1960 - Birth control pills go on sale. 1943 - Betty Frfedan's The Feminine Mystique becomes war cry of women's movement. 1967 - Ottawa appoints Royal Commission on Status of Women. 1969 - Criminal Code amended, making abortion legal if approved by a hospital's therapeutic abortion committee. 1970 - First women's studies course given at Uni versa./ of Toronto. 1971 - Robert Andras appointed first federal cabinet minister responsible for status of women. 1972 - NationalAction Committee on We Status of Women founded. 1973 - Canadian Advisory Council on the Status of Women established. 1962 - Bertha Wilson first woman appointed to Supreme Court of Canada. 1984 - Jeanne Sauve appointed first woman Gov. ernor General of Canada. 1984 - Ottawa passes Bill C-82, dealing with of action for women, visible minorities, disabled. 1957 - Coalition of women's groups protest Meech Lake constitutional accord. 1988 - Abortion law struck down by Supreme Court. Coordinating Shelters, REMINDER: Milestones for feminism This page is sponsored by the Ontario Women's Directorate. The material contained on it may be photocopied and distributed without permission, but with credit to the original source or the Ontario Women's Directorate. NORTHERN WOMAN page 5 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �PAY EQUITY WHAT DO YOu WANT TO BE WHEN YOu C3ROw uP 7 GIRLS CAN BE ANYTHING THEY wAryT TO BE THESE DAYS BRAIN SURGEON. .COLLEGE PROCESSOR PRESIDENT ..YOu SHOULD DREAM THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM I by LYNN BEAK HOW ABOUT PAID EQUALLY? Pay Equity? What is it anyway? We've all heard the term and associated it with an increase in women's wages. But how and why? It seems that so much is still unclear. EQUAL PAY FOR WORK OF EQUAL VALUE Part of the confusion comes from the fact that pay equity is a recent term for an old concept - equal pay for work of equal value - an idea that has been debated and fought for by women throughout the world since the turn of the century. In the USA another term is used - comparable worth - for the same concept. So what does it mean? In its simplest form it is the idea that men and women should be paid the same level of wages for doing the work that they do in the paid labour force, even though men and women traditionally, and even now, have done different kinds of work. It is the idea that waitresses and truck drivers should have the same starting wage and should progress on the same kind of wage scale. Although trade unions and governments (including Canada) had endorsed the concept of equal pay for work of equal value since the early 1950's, little practical change occured in Canada until the mid 1970's. EQUAL PAX FOR EQUAL WORK DISTINGUISHED During this same period of time, women were also fighting for equal pay for equal work, so that when men and women did the same job they would receive the same pay. Until the 1950s it was very common for male and female account clerks (for example) to do the same job in the same company and be paid different wages. Teaching salaries were also significantly different for men and women. By 1951 Ontario and then other provinces had passed laws that required employers to pay men and women doing the same work the same wage. There were a few exceptions, seniority being one of them. Why were laws like this necessary? The reasons are complex, for an excellent discussion, see the early chapters of Just Give Us The Money: A Discussion of Wage Discrimination and Pay Equity, and its thorough bibliography. (Just Give Us the Money - Women's Re-search Centre, Ste. 101, 2245 Broadway, Vancouver, B.C. V6K 2E4, (604) 734-0485) In summary, some reasons are women's limited participation in trade unions; the belief that men should be'paid a "family wage" high enough to cover the needs of the family unit and that women therefore only needed enough to cover supplementary expenses (pin money); the fact that many women did the same work that was done, unpaid, in the home - cleaning, cooking, services, child care, etc.; and ultimately, the difference in wages was caused because employers could get away with it since not enough people objected strenuously. 9Du'vE 6OTTA BE REALISTIC.. Err" 1-tuLME Noss ...aim Swat -TV not without its flaws. Men's wages have not traditionally been based on a logical, rational assessment of their value to an employer. Men fought for an average industrial wage based on the cost of living and raising a family, not on the intrinsic "worth" of the work being performed. Many people also disagree with comparing the "value" of work... why should a garbage collector be be paid less than an accountant? What notion of value should be used - value to an employer, value to society as a whole? Also, at this time, neither employers or employees have experience "valuing" jobs. It requires an expert, a "job evaluation" consultant to train employers and perhaps also employees and union members to speak this new language. There are fears that there is sex bias built into the theory and language of job evaluation in the same way that sex bias is built into so many facets of our society already and that women will therefore be fighting the same battles after learning the rules of this new industry. Nevertheless, job evaluation within the parameters of the EPFEV concept has been endorsed and is now being implemented in Canada and many other countries. It will be a task for women to monitor this concept and determine if it has led to the achievement we fought for namely, reducing the wage gap between men and women. At present women earn 64c for every dollar that men earn when they both work full time. It has been calculated, in the Ontario Green Paper on Pay Equity, that wage discrimination accounts for approximately 10c to 12c of that wage gap and that in theory pay equity would therefore raise the wages of women overall by that amount. However, since some employers are excluded (private sector employers with less than 10 employees) and since many workplaces will not have male groups against which to compare their female employees (ie hospitals, day care centres), it is unlikely that the wage gap based on wage discrimination will be closed. THE CANADIAN EXPERIENCE By the 1970s women's organizations had done the research to show how little women were paid for their full time work compared to men working full time. As the women's movement developed, a key component was fr4E f'. 7 increasing women's economic p increasing our wages. In 1977 the federal gover added an equal pay for work of value provision to the Canadia man Rights Code. Over the year ce, it has been infrequently a major factor has been that complaint-based system which r an individual woman to make a plaint against her employer an low through for a period of y while the complaint is investi and decided. Most successful c ints were made by unions since had the resources to do the re and the onus was not put on an vidual woman to expose hersel the possible harassment, lack motion and a great demand on that an individual complaint w bring. By the 1980's several Ame states had implemented_w4At t called "pay equity" which was same concept implemented in a ent form. An individual compl system assumes that violations the rarity and that most emplo are complying with the law. S know that this is not the case that most employers are not pa women equally, a different app is necessary. Minnesota devised a syste their state employees which as that all womens' jobs needed t looked at for pay discriminat This system was adopted by Man for their provincial employees some other sectors (hospitals, and then by Ontario for all t sectors: all provincial emplo all broader public sector (ho municipalities, school boards, leges and agencies fully funde the government); and private s employers who have more than 1 ployees. Ontario's decision to imp pay equity came following year active lobbying by the Equal Coalition, women's groups and unions. This is the first part of a 2 article on pay equity. The sec page, to be published next iss will focus on the Ontario legi and the impact that it is havi women's wages in the workplace Lynn Beak 416 a 6otmek membet o NORTHERN WOMAN JOURNAL catect and ha4 Jong been active in t women'is movement. EQUALNORTHERN.WOMAL..page-6 PAY FOR WORK OF EQUAL VALUE: THE CONCEPT, Although women's groups have supported and fought for implementation of equal pay for work of equal value (E.P.F.E.V.) systems, it is PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Long Distance Delivery: regional model believe it ensures higher quality care and fewer baby deaths. The unfortunate effect of the regional model is that it tends to centralize services in large urban hospitals. The result is that more women have to travel away from their home community to give birth, and that, as we learned from the women affected, is often a stressful experience. It means that women lose access to the more intimate, familycentred care offered in smaller hos- continued from pg 4 Such things as diabetes, a history of premature delivery, or the fact that she is carrying twins can put mother and baby at risk. In these cases, both would benefit from careful monitoring in a hospital where specialists can act quickly if problems arise. More than likely a woman in this situation would travel to the large hospital well before her due date. Whether or not she made the trip by ambulance would depend on her condition. Sometimes women choose to have out-of-town birth. They may prefer to have access to pain medication, like an epidural, which may not be available in small hospitals. Others feel more confident knowing they will give birth in a large hospital. This was the case for one woman from Red Lake. She had her second baby in Winnipeg because her first child needed an emergency transfer shortly after birth. "The doctors here are good, but they just don't have the equipment like they do in the city. My doctor and I agreed I would go to Winnipeg. If we ran into problems, the intensive care unit would be there. I was a lot more relaxed knowing an pitals. Groups such as the Advisory Committee on Reproductive Care appointed by the Ontario Ministry of Health, caution in their 1988 report "Reproductive Care: Towards the 1990s", that routinely sending women to large regional hospitals is creating an unrealistic load for specialists. The committee suggests that if appropriate supports are put in place -- such as opportunities for doctors and nurses to strengthen their birthing skills-- quality care can be provided in smaller hospitals. Not all community hospitals have withdrawn birthing services. In Red Lake for example, the doctors have a strong commitment to birth with as little intervention as possible. Women are able to labour and deliver in the local hospital. They are transferred only if there are medical reasons that would make it safer for them to be cared for in a larger hospital. They are usually sent to Winnipeg or Thunder Bay. 11 A A, In the booklet we discuss some of the common medical reasons for a transfer. We hope this will give women the information they need to be better prepared and to know what questions to ask if they face this situation. Before some obstetrical procedures can be done, there must be an operating room and adequate staff available for surgery if it is needed. This is true, for instance, if a woman chooses to have a VBAC -- vaginal birth after Cesearean -- where the possibility of a Cesearean is considered higher. It's also true if a woman has high blood pressure which cannot be controlled, leading to a condition called pre-eclampsia. Her labour may be induced. In both situations, safe obstetrical practice requires that a Cesearean section is planned for, just in case. If a small hospital cannot provide this surgical back-up, a woman would have to be sent to another hospital. A woman from Sioux Lookout told us, "Never in our wildest dreams did we think that after doing so well I would run into problems 24 hours into labour. It was arranged for me to be transferred to Thunder Bay. I remember feeling panic at first, but I quickly relaxed. I was to fly on Bandage Five (the Ministry of Health air ambulance). This was reassuring because I am familiar with how well equipped it is." the care of older children may affect where the birth takes place and how long she may stay in hospital. And an out-of-town birth can be expensive. There are costs for travel, accommodation, and long-distance telephone calls. "The doctor said make sure you take your Visa. Then we were on our own," recalled another Red Lake woman who was transferred for the premature birth of her first son. "My husband stayed at a hotel across from the hospital and he had to get meals. We had to pay for our own air fare home. If you don't want to sit in a car for five hours with a newborn, flying is the fastest way to get back. We figure it cost us between $600 and $800." 14, 61 iJ IJ ),./ Mw N w 1.4 N w MJ 4-0 tut 6,./ 16/ NJ 1.-1 4 LJ W 4J 11.1 161 4 L.1 iou M. that." Can an out-of-town birth be a positive experience? Many women say they are glad they chose to travel away, especially if they or their baby needed specialized care. But most admit it was by planning ahead that they were able to make their birth a positive event. For instance, it's not always necessary to go to the closest hosgive birth. Going "home" to pital the community where family and friends can offer support before and after the baby arrives may be a better choice. A Sioux Lookout woman planned a VBAC with her second baby this way. She went to Hamilton, where she had family. "I wanted to try a vaginal birth and they wouldn't give me a trial of labour here. I contacted a friend in Thunder Bay who is a midwife and she gave me the names of a couple of midwives in Hamilton. I went down when I was four or five months pregnant and found a midwife I really liked... It was worth it to me to go that far to have a vaginal birth. I didn't think VBACs were being done in Thunder Bay and didn't know any-. one I could stay with. The birth was just wonderful. Cameron was born and we went home three hours later." In planning an out-of-town birth, it's important for women to consider their needs. If others will be involved- a partner or relative and older children - what do they need? The plans a woman can make for 111 \I :VW' I) ) 3- ( In Northern Ontario, if medical care is not available locally, the cost of travel to obtain that care is partially covered by the Northern Health Travel Grant. The prosram is administered by the Min- stry o7ealt IrdarriTtOrtirfteglim."""' natal care and out-of-town birth. However, there are restrictions. The person claiming the grant must be a minimum of 250 kilometres away from the needed services. The grant doesn't cover a companion's travel costs, unless the patient is under 18 years of age. And the grant only applies if a patient sees a certified specialist. Some women have found they did not receive the grant if they went for prenatal visits with a general practitioner rather than an obstetrician. Through all the conversations we've had with regional women, we know that having an out-of-town birth places extra demands on a woman at a time when she needs things to be less stressful. It's more difficult to find a doctor and investigate choices for the birth when it will take place far from home. It's harder to find out about hospital policy for labour and delivery. Even planning where to stay before the delivery is an added worry. We've tried to address these concerns in the booklet with practical advice. We hope this will help to reduce the isolation women in out-lying areas feel as they plan for their birth. Women have told us how important it is to ask questions and be firm about what you want. They feel it can make a difference of a woman tells those caring for her that she's from outcontinued on pg 13 NORTHERN WOMAN page 7 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �The Women's Movement and Struggles in the Philippines .The 6ottowing antic& is taken 6tom an adottess given by Netia Sancho to the zecond Women's Intetnationa, Saidakity Aailc in the Phitippines NeZia Sancho (WISAP) had in 1987. Lo National Secketaty Genekat, o6 GABRIELA. Whenever historians discuss the status of women in the Philippines prior to the arrival of the Spanish colonizers, they usually paint a more egalitarian picture. Pre-colonial Filipino women, it is said, occupied a high social position. They enjoyed a large measure of freedom which was unknown to women of other Oriental countries. As they were free, they were able to participate in social, economic and political activities to the advantage of both individual and society. They commanded the respect of men; they were protected by the native laws and they possessed civil and political rights. Except in the Islamic societies in southern Philippines, marriage was monogamous, and women retained their names after marriage. Divorce was by mutual consent. Women could inherit and dispose of property in their own right. In some instances, the position of chieftain could be passed on to the eldest daughter. Also,. many of the religious leaders of that day were women. Colonization by Spain and the subsequent imposition of Catholic Spanish culture, which was very patriarchal and oppressive to women changed all this. If indeed, women's oppression was not the norm in pre-colonial Philippines, it became a socially held ideal during the 300 years of Spanish rule. Under the Spanish Civil Code, the rights of married women became severely restricted. Divorce was not allowed; women had no right of disposal over property brought into their marriages, could not engage in any outside economic activity without the formal consent of their husbands, and could hold no public office except that of teacher. The almost wholehearted acceptance of the religion and culture of the Spanish moulded the values and attitudes of Filipino women, making it possible for them to internalize these values. Catholicism inculcated in them the notion of male superiority and endowed it with the strength of religious dogma. Relationships between males and females were regulated by an elaborate set of conventions, which effectively made the female the passive object of male. Women were segregated into the domestic sphere; although women of the peasantry still laboured by the side of males in the field, the dominant ethos was one in which they were economically non-active and socially non-initiating. It is not surprising therefore, to find that an organized women's movement in the Philippines first stirred to life only towards the end of the 19th century. Conceived in the womb of the anti-colonial struggle against Spain and the U.S., one of the first women's groups to emerge was composed of enlightened women of the intelligentia and other women of the upper classes. One of its leading members, Trinidad Tecson, was later to join the revolutionary war as a woman general. WOMEN'S PARTICIPATION IN ANTI COLONIAL STRUGGLES PAVED THE WAY FOR THE ARTICULATION OF WOMEN'S PROBLEMS AND ISSUES Many other women participated in the anti-colonial revolutionary war in various capacities -- some as guerillas directly engaging the enemy in battle, and others as members of auxilary groups. Still others, like Melchora Aquino or Tandang Sora, quietly gave aid and succor to wounded revolutionaries, even at great risk to their lives. Today, we remember these courageous women and salute them for their invaluable contributions to the anti-colonial struggle. Women's participation in these struggles also paved the way for the articulation of some women's problems and issues, such as their right to formal education. Later, but with the advent of the Fil-American War and the subsequent colonization of the Philippines by the U.S., free public education was extended to Filipino boys and girls as part of the general effort to quell the insurgency then being waged by Filipino revolutionary forces. While education succeeded in bringing women out of their homes, it did not lead women to question either their subordinate position within society and the family or the deeper roots of their and the people's oppression. This method of captivating the minds of Filipinos through colonial education had its corresponding impact on the emergent women's groups at the turn of the century. On the one hand, it lead to the creation in 1902 of the Liga Femenina de la Paz, which supported the U.S. forces "pacification drive" against Filipino insurgents. In reality, however, the "pacification drive" was a massive suppression campaign that led to the death and displacement of millions of Filipinos. The rise of such a woman's group signalled the beginning of a relatively long era of cooptation for the women's movement in the country. ADVANCE THE MILITANT WOMENS MOVEMENT Ii IN THE PHILIPPINES. HI 1 1 1 KJNESIS Subsequent women's organizations advocated the right of women's suffrage. This latter development saw the formation of a women's movement whose main concern was to advance the women's right to vote and to achieve legal equality so that they could fully participate in the electoral processes as defined within the framework of U.S. sponsored elite democracy. KJNESIS The women's groups that followed, which engaged in socio-civic won and which were mainly led by elite w( en, tended to follow this general pa tern of working within the existing social framework, with little or no effort to critically examine what HI at the root of women's oppression or of social ills. No genuine women's movement can be said to have existed during this period. What existed were aggrupations of women whose efforts were not specifically directed towan the advancement of women's particular issues or problems. Except for the ii volvement of some women guerillas an political activists in the Huk movement of the 50s, there were also no other systematic attempts to at least harness the participation of women on a massive scale for any significant social cause. IN ADDITION TO RECEIVING LOW CCFPENSATION FOR THEIR LABOR, WOMEN HAD TO CONTEND WITH SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND DISCRIMINATION Meanwhile, women's oppression continued. As peasants, workers and poorly paid professionals, they frequently suffered even much more than the men of their own class. In addition to receiving low compensation for their labor, they had to contend with sexual harassment and discrimination. Since the vast majority of the unemployed and underemployed were woe en, this led to their economic and political marginalization and their treatment as second-class citizens. This situation in turn became fertile ground for the flourishing of dehumanizing and anti-women practices the commodification and sexual objectification of women in prostitution, pornography, mail-order brides and the trafficking of Filipinas. Within the family, women largely con. .tinned to be denied choices other than to perform the socially ascribed but limiting roles of wife, mother, or dutiful daughter. In many re spects, elite Filipino women achieved, through education, the legal or social appearance of freedom. But in essence, they remained subservient beings, especially within the family and continued to suffer from the prevailing system of patriarchy. It was in the late '60s and early '70s that a different kind of women's group emerged. The women's group, founded by political activist patriot and poet, Ma. Lorena Barros, was aptly named the Makabayang Kilusan ng Bagong Kababaihan (MAKIBAKA) or the New Women's Patriotic Movement. PDF compression, page 8web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor NORTHERN WOMAN OCR, �The new groups's acronym, MAKIBAKA, which meant "struggle" was also an appropriate choice. For along with other national democratic or-. ganizations, this new group bannered the struggles of peasants, workers, the middle class intelligentsia and nationalist businessmen for a society free from the shackles of foreign domination, feudal oppression and state terrorism. MAKIBAKA sought to mobilize Filipino women in their millions to join the organized people's struggle for national sovereignty and genuine democracy. But more than this, MAKIBAKA also started to address the issue of women's distinct oppression and recog-, nized that the Filipino people's liberation can never be accomplished without the liberation of women. The Aquino government then proGABRIELA REGISTERS A NAME IN THE MINDS posed the ceasefire policy with all OF THE PUBLIC THROUGH ITS CONSISTENTLY armed groups engaged in insurgency. ACTIVE AND MILITANT PARTICIPATION IN It went NATIONAL STRUGGLES FOR JUSTICE AND into peace talks and negotiations. The people's organizations, inFOR WOMEN'S RIGHTS ISSUES cluding GABRIELA and other women's groups, GABRIELA has since grown, fromrejoiced then at what they thought an assembly that attracted mainly to be a sincere desire of the to solve the social causes middle class women, into a government national of the insurgency. The women's groups coalition of about 100 women's organshowed their support for the peace izations, which span across the difprocess by forming a Women's Peace ferent regions and represent a crossCommittee. GABRIELA also joined othsection of sectors and classes of er women in drawing up the "Women's Philippine society. Agenda for a Full and Lasting Peace" Ever since its birthingand in presented 1984, this to the government GABRIELA has registered a name in and the NDF peace panels. the minds of the general public throIn presenting this agenda the ugh its consistently active women's and mil-groups declared: "We believe itant participation in national that struthe roots of insurgency - the unggles for justice and for women's equal distribution of our resources rights issues. Immediately after its and foreign control of the country founding GABRIELA joined the foreare the very same conditions that blofront of the struggle of theckFilipino the economic and political progress people to topple the Marcos of dictatorFilipino women. Putting forward the ship. women's agenda, therefore. helps not Together with the revitalization only in attacking the roots of insurin late 1986 of the underground womgency, but also in seeking the broaden's group MAKIBAKA, the emergence of est participation and support of womGABRIELA represents the highest point en for just and basic social reforms to date in the development of a Philthat could lead then to a full and ippine women's movement. We lasting now have peace." a women's movement that, in the words of a sister in struggle, Maita Gomez "seeks to change a whole society, THE WCMEN'S AGENDA CALLS FOR A with a vision of the future where THAT GUARANTEES WOMEN feudalisn, imperialism, fascismSOCIETY and EQUAL RIGHTS WITHIN AND OUTSIDE inequality for women will have been THE FAMILY, AND ENSURES FREEDOM overcome". FROM ALL FORMS OF VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ABUSE AND HARASSMENT The imposition of martial rule in 1972 nipped in the bud MAKIBAKA's attempt to develop a revolutionary women's movement. MAKIBAKA's cause, however, stayed alive with the continued participation of thousands of women who undertook revolutionary work in various capacities. In both countryside and urban areas, women engaged in organizing and propaganda work in the underground and in the legal sphere. Not a few took the option to fight alongside their male comrades as guerillas of the New People's Army. Throughout the dark days of martial rule, women gave their share in suffering and struggle. Among the women who became victims of repressive martial rule was MAKIBAKA founder Ma. Lorena Barros, who was killed in 1976 while leading The Women's Agenda calls for a self-reliant economy that undertakes a squad of uerillas in the mountains comprehensive land reform and a natIn 1978, a number of courageous women, some of them involved in the ionalist industrialization program, In-WOMAIrrfITCRrICAULTR'711111P1 , .4.especially bP4O411EPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM suffrage movement in the 1930s, grouas these pertain to adMIRRORS i4ER FugmT3o LIVE ped themselves together in their coldressing the issue of women's lack -TOTAt AN g FlittY lective disgust over the rampant fraof control of resources or access uds committed during the first parlito land and jobs which have led to amentary elections. The result is the their further marginalization and Concerned Women of the Philippines. sense of powerlessness. The agenda also called for the exercise of full But it was the Aquino assassin-P sovereignty and freedom from foreign ation in 1983 and the heightened polintervention and control and the conitical and economic crisis that folvening of a genuinely representative lowed which spurred a massive polit.people's government, which should inical awakening among millions of Filclude women's representation at all ipino men and women. Hitherto uninlevels. The women's agenda, too, volved members of the middle class calls for a society that guarantees joined those from grassroots organiwomen equal rights within and outzations who had long been taking to side the family, and ensures freedom the streets to demand basic changes. from all forms of violence, sexual Among the first to protest the Aquino abuse and harassment. It demands the Struggling to attain this visassassination were various women's women's basic right to have control ion has all the more become urgent groups, which held an all-women's over their own bodies, especially for the progressive women's movement march in October that mobilized in decisions related to the number today. 12000 women from all walks of life.Like everyone else who activeof children and use of contraception. supported the struggles against This historical all-women's ly march deUnder the new government,women's dictatorship, the Filipino woman was manded justice for Aquino and all vicgroups first sought to include these hopeful that the new government tims of military repression very and calldemands in the constitution that was installed ed for an end to the Marcos dictator- to power in February 1986 being drafted in 1986. But the prewould be able to effect the needed ship. dominantly elitist and male dominathat would alleviate the opA few months later, in changes March ted constitutional commission sucpressed 1984, politically active women from conditions of Filipino women ceeded in diluting or deliminating and men. the ranks of workers, peasants, urban these demands, retaining only a vaThe new government did lift the poor, professionals, and the business gue passage that refers to "recogon the press and on puband religious sectors gave arestrictions new dimnition of women's equality before assemblies, and freed the most ension to the celebration oflic Internathe law". prominent political prisoners from tional Women's Day by convening the detention. It dissolved the rubber General Assembly Binding Women for stamp parliament, formed a commission Reforms, Integrity, Equality, Leaderto draft a new constitution, repealed ship, and Action or GABRIELA. Again, a number of decrees that were represthe choice of GABRIELA as an acronym sive to workers, and formally recogis a fitting tribute to the memory of nized the just causes of the armed a courageous woman, Gabriela Silang, struggle being waged by the New Peowho led one of the major uprisings ple's Army of the National Democratic against Spanish colonial rule in the Front. 18th century. cortinued on pg 10 ;4 1 9 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor NORTHERN WOMAN page �continued from pg 9 The same demands were presented during the peace negotiations. But the peace talks broke down. Despite the existence of a ceasefire agreement, the Armed Forces of the Philippines began to press the civilian government for a more thoroughgoing counterinsurgency program. During the ceasefire period, peasant marchers seeking land reform were shot, killing 19 rallyists. The AFP was allowed to continue with its military buildup. Military campaigns in the guise of keeping day to day peace and order, continued to be launched in the countryside. While it is true that prominent political prisoners were freed, hundreds still languished in jail. Among them is Miriam Dugay, a church social worker and community organizaer, who was arrested without warrant in mid 1986. She has been ordered freed by a civilian court, but the military authorities continue to hold her in defiance of the court order. Neither Mrs. Aquino nor any other high government official has intervened in her behalf, despite several appeals for her release.. MILITARIZATION IS VERY MUCH A WOMEN'S ISSUE With these recent developments, it has become more and more evident to people's .organizations and women's groups that the Aquino government lacks the political will to institute basic social reforms being demanded by the dAprived sectors'of the society. It was also becoming clear to the organized basic sectors that as the Aquino government moves to strengthen parliamentary processes in the country by having a new constitution ratified and calling for new legislative and local elections, it has veered more and more towards defining itself as a government for the elite with a plethora of unfulfilled promises for the Filipino people. OUR VISION OF A TRULY JUST, FREE AND EGALITARIAN SOCIETY WILL BE DIFFICULT TO ATTAIN SOLELY WITHIN THE FORMAL PARLIAMENTARY FRAMEWORK While women's groups have formed the Kababaihan para sa Inang Bayan or KAIBA, a women's political party, to enter electoral politics and maximize whatever advantages this has to offer, a pragmatic assessment of the situation reveals that the fulfillment of our vision of a truly just, free and egalitarian society will be difficult to attain solely within the formal parliamentary framework. For the progressive women's movement, this means reconvening the parliament of the streets, building up our own organized strength, particularly among grassroots women, securing step-by-step our demands as put forth in the Women's Agenda. Thus, it has to address vigorously, the need for equal rights in the political, economic, cultural and family spheres, and the demand of women workers, peasants and urban poor women for land, jobs, homes to live in and health to enjoy. The women's movement in the Philippines today see the resolution of these problems and demands as the cornerstone to create substantially women's development and empowerment. Despite the patina of liberalism and popularity possessed by Mrs. Aquino's form of rule, her government has been gradually showing itself open, ready and unhesitating to utilize as much brutal force as the past regime had done, to enforce its will on the people. On February 8, 1987, Mrs. Aquino has instructed "soldiers" to push through with its military offensives against the insurgents. Two days after, despite her admonition to the Armed Forces to conduct military operations with "respect for the human rights of civilians" the massacre of 17 civilians took place. Today, the progressive women's movement's capability to respond to the continued oppressive conditions of the women has to be developed. The women's keenness and sensitivit3 to their problems will inevitably lead women to expose and condemn ha/ assment, and other forms of militar3 abuse such as bombings, strafings, hamletting, forced evacuations, summary executions and arbitrary arrest Militarization is very much a women' issue, especially in the countryside because women feel its exacerbating effects to women's poor health and state of malnutrition, lack of contr and decision over her life, low and marginalized position both within th family and the larger society. THE PHILIPPINES WCMEN'S STRUGGLE IS TO CHALLENGE AS WELL AS CHANGE PREVAILING VALUE SYSTEMS THAT CONTINUE TO RELEGATE WOMEN AS PASSIVE, SUBORDINATE OR AS SEX OBJECTS AND COMMIDITION I have presented, in a nutshel] the historical development of our we en's movement and the full dimensioi of women's struggles in the Philipp: nes. It is a complex struggle again: foreign domination, feudal exploitation, fascist repression, and the ul equal, patriarchal social structure! that are oppressive to women. It is a struggle to expose the betrayal o our people by a seemingly liberal g( ernment that is in essence repressi, and unresponsive to the plight of d disadvantaged and marginalized sect including women. It is a struggle rise above these fetters and develo the necessary strength to achieve o goals. And it is a struggle to chal enge as well as to change prevailin value systems that continue to rele gate women as passive, subordinate or as sex objects and commodition. Books Feminist theory fiction health poetry spirituality peace international periodicals NORTHERN WOMAN'S BOOKSTORE 184 Camelot St, 344-7979 page 10 PDF compression, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor NORTHERN WOMAN OCR, �The Red Maiden's Tale by JOSIE WALLENIUS Did that Harmonic Convergance really happen? What are we drifting towards? How much do our visions empower us, how much do they blind us to reality? I am frightened! There are things happening in the cosmos, I have no doubt of that, but at this critical moment of consciousness, I refuse to take my feet off the ground, and I crave an honest debate. I crave a debate between women who see the Patriarchy as the main root of oppression, and women like myself who see capitalism as the root. We are called "rads" and "reds" by some, including the Trading Godfathers who must be very happy about this division. Do the "rads" know that Ronald Reagan sent his daughter Maureen Reagan to the Nairobi conference at the end of the U.N. decade of women with instructions to keep the debate ON women, and OFF Peace and justice. The men who control that old fool know what they are doing. The debate between "rads" and "reds" surfaces and sinks, surfaces and sinks, but never sinks too far below the surface. We never do enough holding of hands to sink to the bottom together, tp explore the slime at the bottom, to examine the roots together, to ask of ourselves if we are half wrong about things, or both Victim. "Because I believed that the newspapers were lying." GASPS FROM EVERYBODY. Prosecutor. "You didn't believe the newspaper, I see. What did you believe?" Victim. "I am a huwoman, and I believed that I was watching the beginning of the North American Indian experiment in Africa. In 'Oil area 15 Africafreemerica' it was going to be done under the camouflage of anti terrorism, and in the South of the continent by the silence strategy. Prosecutor. I am not talking about the silence, I am talking about terrorism. You admit, I hope, that terrorism, once the greatest human crime has been eliminated by US. Prosecutor... "I see. I want to ask you if you condone what the leader of 'Oil area no. 15 Africafreeamerica' did in the seventies and eighties of the last century?" "You mean land distribution, education, social services and chucking out U.S. military bases?" Victim. Prosecutor. "I mean terrorist acts." SILENCE. Prosecutor. "I would remind you that you are on trial for treason, and I am asking you if you condone the wanton acts of terrorism, the blowing up of civilian planes and the loss of white Freemerican blood?" Victim. "And I am asking you about South Africa." SILENCE. Prosecutor. "You mean gold, uranium, platinum area no.3 africafreemerica?" 41 4itiv right. I remember a "rad", a good friend, who laughed at me once saying "If you had your socialism, men would still beat their wives". I remember reading Atwood's "Handmaid's Tale", her prophetic vision of the Patriarchy gone berserk. My hair stood on end when I read that. "Red" feminists have prophetic fears too though, and I want to write about them. In a strange kind of way I would almost rather want Atwood's tale to come true than mine, if either does, because if mine does, the Western Women's Movement gave birth to nothing, and I don't want to believe that. Prosecutor. Victim. "But in El Salvador...." Prosecutor. "Objection your honour, it is illegal to call the 'Coffee area no. 4 Freemerica' by its old name. Judge. The scene takes place in a courtroom in the year 2050 in the capital of Canadafreemerica, Ottowa. There is a woman on trial, on a charge of sedition against freedom, a treasonable offence. She is being questioned by a woman prosecuter, in front of a woman judge, in front of an all woman jury. The women have blond hair. She is the last huwoman to stand trial. All of the others have been tried before her, and found guilty of sedition against freedom. Do you admit that?" "Sustained." "Thank you my lady. Now Prosecutor. (turning to victim) are you aware, do you admit, that we, Freemerica, eliminated the crimes of terrorism that sprung from 'Oil area 15'. "To my knowledge, the first move towards the Native American Indian experiment in Africa started with the blaming of the bombing of the Berlin discotheque by a Western European group on Libya, they said it was Libya who.... Victim. Prosecutor. uage." Judge. Victim. Victim. . "yes." "At that time, yo,. remen- GASPS FROM EVERYBODY. ber, we were getting rid of that terrible phenomenum terrorism. Why did you go to that area?" Judge. "Objection." "Sustained." Prosecutor. "I insist on an answer about your attitude to the crime of terrorism, the crime we have now eliminated." "You know, I used to wonder what I would do if all my family was killed, and all my village bombed, and the only people who could stop it were the ones in America watching T.V. I mean to realize that you had to do something really terrible to get on T.V. I used to wonder in fact if there were a lot of potential huwomen watchVictim. ing T.V. Prosecutor. "It is obvious that you condoned terrorism." SILENCE. NODS. THE JUDGE NODS, THE JURY "Objection sustained. Thank you. (turns to vicProsecutor. tim) you said that 'Oil area no. 15 Africafreemerica' was not responsible?" ''rosecutor. Prosecutor. "Objection, illegal lang- Prcsecutor, "I want to take you back to 1989, when you made a second visit to our part of the world Oil area no.15 Africamerica." "yes". Victim. "No, I mean South Africa before the silence." Prosecutor. "Thank you, your silence speaks for you. Now I want you to explain to the jury why you visited 'Coffee Area n. 1 freemerica' in 1986?" Victim. "You mean Nicaragua?" Prosecutor. Judge. "Objection." "Sustained." continued pg 12 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor NORTHERN WOMAN page 11 �The Red Maiden's Tale THE JURY FILE OUT HOLDING THEIR CRYSTALS, THE VICTIM TAKES OUT HER CRYSTAL AND HER BODHRAN DRUM, AND SHE STARTS TO STRUM AN OLD TUNE. "Very well, we will Prosecutor. move onto the next question, your attire. I see you have rags on?" "I have always refused to wear clothes from the Philippines." Victim. "Thank you my Lady. Prosecutor. (Turns to victim) Why did you go to that area?" Prosecutor. language." Judge. TEARS START TRICKLING DOWN SILENCE. VICTIM'S FACE. Prosecutor. Victim. dreams." "Why?" "Because I believed in "I am asking you if you Prosector. agree that it is better for all of us that we now have free Plantation Areas in Freemerica No. 1,2,3,4,5. Victim. THE JURY FILES BACK, AND BRINGS IN A VERDICT OF GUILTY OF SEDITION AGAINST FREEDOM. "Objection, illegal The National Anthem starts pla ing, the National Anthem is a song that became very popular in 1990. I is called "Towards a Kinder and Gen ler Freemerica" and the victim is led outside by two women jailers towards the fire and towards the stak, There are multitudes of people watt] ing, fair families, gentle kind families, women, men, and children. Th air was pure as they had learnt to sue for it, and they watched as the victim flung her crystal away, clue ched tight her old Bodhran drum, am walked into the flames to claim her husisters, the others who had gone "Objection sustained." "You refuse to wear Prosecutor. clothes from 'Garment Area No. 6 Asiafreemerica?" Victim. "Yes." "You know that that Prosecutor. area is the only source of clothing for our women, that there were no clothes made in Canadafreemerica afDo you deny our women the ter 1995. freedom to be clothed?" "No, I am a huwoman." before .her. SILENCE. "For the record, when Prosecutor. did you join the tribe of ' huwomen'. "When I woke up one morning Victim. and had a salty taste in my mouth, I thought at first my mouth had been bleeding." GASPS OF DISGUST FROM ALL PRESENT EXCEPT THE,'VICTIM. "Women, I have Prosecutor to jury. before me a woman who calls herself a huwoman who questions the fundamental right of Canadafreemerican women to decent food and clothing, a fundamental right and freedom gained after a century of free struggle. She stands accused of sedition against freedom, I ask you to take your crystals out and meditate." an au/Liz-tic &ton Jozie Watteniu4 tettek and a membet o6 the G.G.W.W. union (Gtabat GuevuLtta Women Wo-k I am told despair never completely spends itself in one generation, that a residue of collective despair nests in the subconscious for centuries. I sometimes feel its morbid tendrils in rooms raucous with the laughter of survivors a message written in invisible ink blinking off and on through the mascara. Some feeling that a tender word would shatter the mirror and expose more grief than anyone could bear, a loss of faith and face, a collective remorseless guilt for being less than we are by our own standards. I know this rage that lurks below the good manners and the careful rhetoric of the disappointed. It is a necessary part of our development the fuel of our new politic. Gert Beadle PDF compression, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor page 12 NORTHERN WOMAN OCR, �continued from pg 7 Long Distance Delivery: PATIENTS' RIGHTS GROUP of-town. The staff may not realize the effect the more impersonal atmosphere of a large hospital may have on people from small communities. And a woman may feel she has little support if family and friends aren't able to visit. In the booklet we stress the importance of asking for the care you need. However, we see our booklet as a beginning. There's lots more work to do--work that women can do in their own communities. For example, sharing what you know about out-of-town birth with local women, perhaps during prenatal classes, can help women to be better prepared. There is a need for more widely established support services for birthing women such as hostels for family members and coaches for women in labour. Write to your provincial member of parliament and the Minister of Health, stressing the need for these services. Letters, especially lots of letters, can make a difference. Women need to join the current discussion about health care options in Ontario. The Advisory Committee on Reproductive Care recommends examining the role of midwife in providing birthing services in isolated areas. Working with other members of the Midwifery Task Force - Ontario is one way to strengthen the call for more birthing options* Realistically, out-of-town birth is an issue that will stay with us. We know it shapes the birth experiences of many Northern women, indeed, women right across Canada. We are right to question its necessity. But we must also find positive ways to respond to its demands. We have taken as our motto a wise piece of advice from an Ignace woman. "Hope for the best, but plan for the worst." It's something every woman living in a small town might keep in mind as she plans for the birth of her child. The booklet on out-of-town birth will be distributed free of charge during the summer of 1989 to public health units, nursing stations, hospitals and clinics throughout Northwestern Ontario. Individuals may obtain the booklet for the cost of postage. The Midwifery Task Force-Ontario can be contacted at Postal Station 'T', Box 489, Toronto, Ontario M6B 5C2 Hotty Rape/it the Red Lake coo/Ldin- aton o6 the PtOject on Out-4-Town Bath. She hats wotked on the tokoject with the Thunder Bay coo' dinaton Dianne Lai. Both women have experienced out-o4 town bitth. To receive copies - fill out the coupon below and send along with a money order or alumna for $2.00 per booklet (to cover postage) made payable to 1.11.1.11. TO: nall20aiO5121NOLSIES c/o N.W.O. gammas' Health Information Network as B. Cumberland St. 817. Thunder Bay. Ontario or call (807)345-1410 P7A 4L1 4ew (days). The group has received encouragement from the Patients' Rights Association and hopes to become a formal chapter soon. The Association acts as a patient advocate by assisting patients to get their grievance heard; to advocate easier, simpler and more equitable complaint procedures; and to promote among the public an awareness of their health rights and responsibilities. The Thunder Bay Patients' Rights Group hopes to make information on patient rights widely known. Legal health care rights in Ontario include the right to treatment in an emergency, to refuse treatment, to voluntary informed consent, to an adequate standard of care, to choose one's own doctor, to treatment free from discrimination and to confidentiality. In addition, there are moral rights which are recognized by professional codes of ethics but which are not legally enforceable. The Patients' Rights Association publishes a hand book "Patients' Rights in Ontario" and the Thunder Bay Group hopes to assist people to become aware of complaint procedures. Anyone interested should contact the group. \% :;)/1 1. copy(ies) of LaggpiltaamadjayrnyLV-....,--N Pleas, send me A guide to Travelling Awav From Nome to Give Birth to cover postage. I have enclosed S The founding meeting of the Thunder Bay Patients' Rights Group was held March 31, 1989. Anyone interested should contact Prue Morton, 344-2997 (evenings) or 345-4009 G14- Gr4 ./4 GT4 GT4 fh. GI4 G -4Y4 RESOURCES SEXUAL ASSAULT: NEW INFORMATION 4 publications in a new series are now offered by the Victoria Women's Sexual Assault Centre. Titles SERIES. NAME 28.23I3PtESSZ Street Apartment Province Postal Code City Area Code i Phone Number tRA,A9M9PotkPe,AW WEN-DO CHALLENGED Wen-Do Women's Self Defence Corporation is fighting a complaint of sexual discrimination before the Ontario Human Rights Commission. The complaint was brought by a male black belt in judo who is a representative of a men's groups called "In Search of Justice". The Women's Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF) has agreed to assist Wen-Do in its response to this complaint. LEAF believes that Wen-Do's women-only policies are specifically designed to promote women's equality and therefore do not violate human rights legislation. If Wen-Do wins, they will have successfully protected their right to remain a women-only organization and will have strengthened the interpretation of the Ontario Human Rights Code as a protection of traditionally disadvantaged groups, such as women. If the Human Rights Commission rules against Wen-Do and allows woman-centred education and support groups to be forced to admit men, men may also gain access and rights to run women's shelters and rape crisis centres... where women go when they are most vulnerable and need the support of other women. include: Sexual Assault: Information for Adult Survivors Sexual Assault: Information for Families Sexual Assault: Information for Partners and Friends Child Sexual Assault: Information for Parents These innovative and unique booklets are packed with information specific to each target group. Areas of discussion include: misconceptions about sexual assault and child sexual abuse; common reactions of the survivor and their supporters, and how survivors can get the help they need - including medical, legal, and emotional support concerns. Written in a way that is nonthreatening and easy to understand, each booklet is useful for anyone who has experienced sexual assault or wishes to support someone who has. Professional and non-professional helpers alike will find these booklets a valuable resource to enhance the service they already provide. Individual copies are available at $1.00 each plus postage and handOrder from Victoria Women's ling. Sexual Assault Centre, 1945 Linden Avenue, Victoria, B.C. V8V 4H3 NORTHERN, WOMAN. page 11 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �BOOK REVIEWS Reviewed by ALICE RIIVES-SABOURIN HONOUR THE SUN by Ruby Slipperjack, Pemmican Publications, Winnipeg, 1987 The story begins with innocence, simple living and rich day to day experiences of a young Native girl in 1962. The descriptive and often humourous escapades of snuff chewing, legend telling and ritualistic blueberry picking would ring a warm light of familiarity to anyone from that special time and place of Northern Ontario. As a reader I was touched and impressed with the portrayal of characters special in HONOUR THE SUN, people the author describes are very real and important figures to Native people. The delicate interplay of roles between herself, her sisters, cousins and aunt and especially her mother clearly articulates how and why 'The Owl' has a strong sense of who she is - unafraid, open and very much belonging to the world which she so anMnately enjoys. And then it happens. The confusing disparity between the steadfast relationships between 'The Owl' and her impiediate family and the almost benign hatred she comes to experience towards neighboring men who upon returning from work go on terrorizing night rampages during drunken stupors The killing of 'Rocky' followed by an almost fatal entrapment by a town bully marked the end of innocence for 'The Owl' who now knows the meaning of fear and powerlessness. reviewed by PRUE MORTON CHILDBIRTH: What You Need To Know And Your Doctor Won't Tell You by Rosemarie Tugwood Manitouwadge, Ontario: Great Spirit Writers, 1989 This book begins by telling of the positive birthing experiences Rosemarie Tugwood experienced herself, first in helping her mother to give birth to her fifth child in an air raid shelter in England, then in giving birth to her own first child with the help of a midwife, also in England, and lastly, in giving birth to her other three children with the The summer of '62 continues on despite the harsh exploits of the returned workers. As the chapters progress 'The Owl's' character is revealed as being very much in control over her reactions particularly in painfully antagonizing circumstances where she becomes embarrassed, threatened and challenged. I could feel myself getting angry at the 'jokes' played on her by her brother Wess, In each event 'The Owl's' mother does not attempt to intervene or reprimand her older son for his tricks. Survival and control are taught in ways that perhaps appear to be cruel and harsh. However, to protect and defend 'The Owl' would be unrealistic as in most communities such as this where children are often left to defend themselves, to run behind the skirt of her mother pleading victim would have been viewed as childish and weak. Respect is given to those capable of enduring, a prerequisite for surviving in the North. The silent link between 'The Owl' and her mother is maintained giving the reader a pleasant feeling in realizing the power of ability 'The Owl's' mother had as teacher, leader, provider, particularly as it is done with very little conflict. The children know their place and their responsibilities, they have trust in their mother knowing any task asked of them will be within the bounds of their ability. This confidence and conditioning for control is probably one of the most misunderstood and misinterpreted characteristics of Native people. The toughness of 'The Owl' coupled with the respect and kindness shown to her family is what will see her through the diversions in lifestyle in later years come the infilteration of alcohol dependency in her community and within her own family. Ruby Slipperjack continually speaks of the advent of the 'Whiteman' including Christmas trees, skating, and linoleum flooring. Sometimes it hints of excitement and enthusiam of these inventions. What was evident throughout the journal was the economic disparity between the standard of living of that community as compared to modern day consumer oriente society that is very wealthy for som people. In living on a reserve and being familiar with the differences in culture I would venture to state that even with the coming of consumerism in our capitalistic society, Native communities remain separate from that realm of existence. The economic conditions of Native commun ities are not very good and Ruby Sli perjack notes very thoughtfully and without judgement these differences. What is lost in many Native families is the unity and leadership which wa: illustrated in 'The Owl's' life. Time passes with the seasons leaving her separated from her past security onl: to face the undefined future. The quiet deterioration of collectivity is marked by her mother's involvement to excess with alcohol. With silent strength 'The Owl' becom( increasingly detached from her commul ity and the once very loving bond bet ween her and her mother. The determit ation not to follow is not unfamiliar among Native people. The courage tWial continue to move forward is the most powerfully pronounced characteristic in 'The Owl' and perhaps in Ruby Slipperjack herself. Reading this boo reminds me and enlightens me of the strength of individuals who can foresee their vision despite circumstanc( beyond their control. The pain of her alcoholic community is softened by the love she has for her mother and the bitterness is perhaps prevailed by the nature of her surroundings. "Honour the Sun for shining on your face and pray it will acknowledge yoi and bless you each morning." (The Ow: mother to The Owl.) keice RiiveA-Sabou4n -ins a tiraditiona contempoAany Ojibway woman who enjoyz peopte, mcoic and w/uiting. help of a small town doctor who agreed with her determination to have her babies at home. The rest of the book is taken up with descriptions of the many medical practices, often unnecessary and counterproductive, to which doctors subject women and their babies during pregnancy and childbirth. The medical establishment, which isn't even well trained to assist what should be a normal natural process, have managed to transform it into an ordeal where the doctor is the only authority and the women's wishes are often considered unimportant. The book presents very clearly the many faults of the "medical model" but it is outside its scope to document scientific evidence to back PDF compression, OCR, webItoptimization up its arguments. would be well using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor worth reading by any pregnant woman �BOOK REVIEW Reviewed by KIT MINOR Many Tender Ties, Sylvia Van Kirk, Watson and Dwyer Publishing Co., 1986. ' I had very much looked forward to reviewing this book which traces the role of women in the fur trade from 1670 to 1870. While I found the text informative, I was disappointed that the author did not attempt a clear feminist perspective, nor did she include the perspective of Native Van Kirk relies on the journals women. and writings of the men who where involved in the trading. I would suggest that she may have added a great deal to the perspective of women in the book if she had personally interviewed some of the elder Indian, Dene and Metis women residing in the Northern provinces, and the Northwest Territories. My own experience in these areas and personal contacts with elder women, whose grandmothers and great grandmothers had passed on detailed information about their role in the fur trade, leads me to believe that such information would have added a wealth of insight and understanding from the perspective of the women and their involvement in the fur trade. Van Kirk does provide detailed analysis and information as to the activities of the early fur trade, and particularly focuses upon the Indian and Metis woten. She emphasizes their role in aiding in the survival of the traders and trappers. The women possessed a wealth of information in the surviva41 techniques of the land. A relationship .between anindialnikaman_ and a trader brought with it these knowledges and certain securities, for the trader, as it created a social bond between the trader and the kinship network of the Indian woman. This enhanced the traders security in securing furs from the group. Van Kirk states that initially the trader adapted to the customs and practices of the people. However, I don't believe that her analysis really reflects the patriarchal and capitalistic benefits which the trader enjoyed when he assumed these customs and practices and married la facon du pays. ThL role which the Indian women played in the fur trade is really quite incredible, but Van Kirk seems to glide over this. The women were the teachers of the language and customs of the Peoples. They had the skills of tanning, making moccasins, and lacing snowshoes, all arts which were essential to the survival of the trader; but that Van Kirk does not seem to give credit as to how detailed and fine these skills were. The women provided the essentials of nutrition, such as pemmican. And in times of starvation, it was the Indian women whose skills and knowledge of the land secured the food. The Indian women were strong and able to assist the trader during his journey. She was a trapper of small animals, such a as the valuable marmot and thus increased the wealth of the trader. She was also often interpreter and peacemaker. Van Kirk does provide some information about the Chipewyan woman Thanadelthui. This woman became very important as a guide, integrater and peacemaker between the Chipewyan, the Northern Cree and the Nor'Westers. lighter the skin colour, the more EurVan Kirk does emphasize the strength and gives us some clue as to the bri- opean the ways, the more attractive lliance of this woman, but she also the women of the Peoples became to provides an undercurrent that Thandel- these men. Could the Metis women who thur became arrogant and self-serving, grew up within there father's home, which detracts from the wisdom and who were "educated" and "Christianized", skills of Thanadelthur. return to the rich and wise customs of the Indian women who chose to remain Van Kirk states that "There can be no doubt that, on a material within the Indian groups? I guess the questions here are could they return, level, life in a fur-trade post offered an Indian woman an easier would they be wanted, and would they existence" (pg.80). However, this know the ways? Van Kirk cloaks the blatant racism statement is either from her own perand sexism, and seems to say it was spective or that of the traders, okay because they really were nice men whose journals she quotes. Perhaps, it was just different, and perhaps the who really loved their wives, and gained indignities that the Indian women had nothing more from the union than a devIt seems to me that the to suffer, particularly when they were oted family. abandoned for Metis women, who were traders took a wealth of information, later abandoned for the white women, including the customs, and language were far more difficult than tradof the Peoples from these women. In itional Indian life. The Indian short they were educated by these women, women were encouraged to take on a who I have no doubt cared for these Europian life style while at the furmen, for the most part. If the traders felt so devoted to the Metis wives, trade post. They mothered from eight why then, after they had been educated to twelve children, three to four by the women, and with the arrival of times as many as the Indian women white women, did they leave the Metis who remained with their tribes. With women for the European women? Grantthe birth of these children came the ed this was not the case in all the confusion of cultural upbringing, relationships, nor perhaps the majority and often the children, particularly the sons were sent away to be "civbut, it happened significantly; so that many Metis women suffered an inilized" and educated. Now they were The children of the union between credible displacement° neither Indian, nor white, and that Indian women and Euro-men became confusion must have been an incredthe mixed blood, or the Metis. Many ible, lonely burden to bear. Van of these Metis women were educated Kirk again skims over this. Van Kirk in the customs of the mother and the does give evidence of numerous bond"civilized fashion" of their fathers. That is they know the traditional ings which were wholesome and caring, cultural ways of the Peoples, but 4Dut she just doesn't seem to repthey could dress in the fashion resent the other side of the coin. which the traders wanted i.e. European And from my own contacts and experVan Kirk writes "the European dress. fences of living with Native groups, traders sought to outfit their women for most of my adult life, I know in civilized fashion and to inculcate there is another critical part to in them the precepts of Christianity this story, and basically that is and proper womanly behaviour" (p.102). the story of the Indian/Dene and The authors fails to analyze, from Metis women. either a feminist perspective or a In the final two chapters Van Indian/Metis/Dene perspective, the Kirk does begin to attend to the blatant racism and sexism contained racism and sexism put upon the Indian Further she does not analyze, herein. and Metis women. But she also seems the tragic racism when these traders to indicate, particularly in the finabandoned their Indian wives for the al chapter, the benefits to the Metis Metis women. She does however give some of acculturation, that is the benefits clue as to the patriarchal nature of of the Metis taking on all the cultural the relationship between the traders traits of the Europeans, thus losing and the Metis women° And then on the the richness of their Indian heritage. Having read this book, I was exfollowing page (p. 122), she states tremely disappointed in Van Kirk's "with the emergence of the mixed Euro-Canadian attitude towards blood wife, the trend was the formation very the traditional wisdoms, skills and of lasting and devoted marital relatabilities of the women of the Peoples. Again I remind the reader ionships". It just seems that she missed the pothat Van Kirk secured her information int, and the strengths of these women. from the journals and writings of the I would refer the reader to a more men. I really wonder what the women would have said, or the grand-daughters succinct version of some of the traumatic events which took place during the of those women, whom Van Kirk could fur trade. This can be found in Ron I don't mean to have interviewed. The Development_af napBourgeault: imply here that there were not healthy italism and the Subjugation of Native and "devoted marital relationships", amen in Northern Canada in AlterBut I really I am sure some were. Carleton nate Routes Vol. 6: 1983. do wonder what the women of the Peoples Bourgeault, writing from University. Van Kirk seems to have to say here. a pro-feminist perspective, exposes expend a great deal of energy, and the fur traders as capitalistic adpages, extolling the wonderful and He further provides an venturers. caring aspects of these traders towards excellent critique of the struggles She seems the Indian and Metis women. and trauma which confronted the women to forget that the traders trementhe most affected by the fur trade: dously benefitted from these unions, Indian and Metis women. nor does she adequately analyize what these benefits were, nor in what frame of reference these benefits were secKit Mincft o a membet of the The fact seems to be that the ured. NORTHERN WOMAN JOURNAL catective. PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor NORTHERN WOMAN page 15 �Books for Summer Reading by MARGARET PHILLIPS Summer reading tastes frequently turn to fiction and this issue we wish to introduce lesser known Canadian novelists and short story writers whose words deserve to be heard. JANICE KULYK KEEFER is receiving critical acclaim for her first novel, Constellations, which "demonstrates an abundant talent... bold, riveting and beautifully executed". JANET TURNER HOSPITAL's most recent publication, a short story collection, is Dislocations. Winner of the Seal Books First Novel Award (1982) for The Ivory Swing, Hospital is also author of the excellent Tiger in the Tiger Pit, and Borderline, which is one of the most moving and amazing novels I have read. Book titles intrigue me. The Late Great Human Road Show is Paulette Jiles most recent novel. Jiles, who is best known for her poetry, now resides in B.C. but at one time lived in Sioux Lookout. Two novels by Alberta writer SUSAN HALEY have received fine reviews. A Nest of Singing Birds is said to be "a highly polished piece of fiction, the kind of debut that make publishers and critics share a sense of discovery", while in Getting Married in Buffalo Jump "her characters breathe and glow inside their excited talk and eccentricities." DIONNE BRAND has a collection of short stories Sans Souci. Brand, born in the Caribbean and now living in Torconto has published a number of books of poetry and is presently working on an oral history of black working women in Ontario. DONNA E. SMYTH, a Nova Scotia peace and environment activist, has combined her writing talents and activism in the innovative novel Subversive Elements. Smyth has also published Quilt. CYNTHIA FLOOD of Vancouver has been active in the women's movement and left politics since 1970. Her story collection The Animals in Their Elements was published in 1987. Mystery fans will be delighted with the work of EVE ZAREMBA. Her latest book Beyond Hope, follows the highly acclaimed Work for a Million. Manitoba author CAROL SHIELDS (Various Miracles, Happenstance, A Fairly Conventional Woman) has also turned her talents to mystery with the publication of Swann. Winner of the W.H. Smith Books in Canada first novel award is MARION QUEDNAU for The Butterfly Chair... "so imaginative and informed as to be exceedingly rare in a first novel". Interest in women's writing has encouraged the reprinting of earlier works (e.g.) In Due Season by CHRISTINE VAN DER MARK ... "a classic and highly acclaimed 1947 novel about northern Alberta..." with a new intorduction by DOROTHY LIVESAY, while The Stairway by ALICE A. CHOWN, first published in 1921 has been re-issued. There are many exciting Quebec women writers whose work is beginning to be made available in English. JOVETTE MARCHESSAULT's Lesbian Triptych has been translated by YVONNE M. KLEIN. Many Saskatchewan writers are emerging. BONNIE BURNARD's Women of Influence won the Saskatchewan Writers Guild major award for fiction in 1986, and SHARON BUTALA was a 1985 Governor General's Literary Award nominee for Queen of the Headaches. Fantasy devotees will be deligh ed to discover BARBARA SMITH's Renew The Prophecy of Manu and Renewal: Teonis Giveaway Book Two. Another Seal Books First Novel Award winner (1986) is JOANNE WILLIA BENNETT for Downfall People. Other short story collections t look for include: Mohawk Trail by BETH BRANT; If Only We Could Drive Like This Forever, by ELISABETH HARVOR; and Stories by Canadian Women and More Stories by Canadian Women edited by ROSEMARY SULLIVAN. The growth of Canadian women's writing is so wonderful to experience In case you have missed them, we will also mention a few of the works of some of our established writers. JOAN BARFOOT: Abra, Duet for Three. ANNE CAMERON: Daughters of Copper Woman, Dzelarons, Child of Her People, The Journey. MARIAN ENGEL: The Glassy Sea, Bear, The Honeyman Festival. MAVIS GALLANT: (newest work) In Transit. KATHERINE GOVIER: Fables of. Brunswick Avenue, Random Descent. ALICE MUNRO: Progress of Love, Dance of the Happy Shades. JANE RULE: Desert of the Heart, Outlander, Theme for Diverse Instr ments, Memory Board. AUDREY THOMAS: Goodbye Harold, Goodluck, Real Mothers, Intertidal Life. ADELE WISEMAN: Crackpot. MatgaAet Phittio 4.4 a member o4 the NORTHERN WOMAN JOURNAL cottective and owner o4 the No' thekn Woman'6 Boolvsto,te READERS PLEASE NOTE Rising production costs necessitates a rise in JOURNAL rates. Effective this issue the NORTHERN WOMAN .JOURNAL subscriptions are $6 for 4 issues for individuals, $12 for inThe stitutions, single copy $1.75. JOURNAL survives on subscriptions, please renew yours promptly and encourage others to become a regular reader of the NORTHERN WOMAN. S -M PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Second Class Mail Registration No. 5697 MAIL TO: INSIDE: Don't forget to renew your SUBSCRIPTION p2 EDITORIAL p3 RED FLAG: Bill 124 p4 LONG DISTANCE DELIVERY P5 ONTARIO WOMEN'S DIRECTORATE p6 PAY EQUITY p8 THE WOMEN'S MOVEMENT & STRUGGLES IN THE PHILIPPINES pll THE RED MAIDEN'S TALE p14 BOOK REVIEWS p16 BOOKS FOR SUMMER READING NAME ADDRESS POSTAL CODE Coven, De6ign by Peggy Hamet $ 6.00 Institutional $12.00 Individual RETURN TO: NORTHERN WOMAN JOURNAL PO Box 144 Thunder Bay Ontario P7C 4V5 THE NORTHERN WOMAN JOURNAL P.O. BOX 144 THUNDER BAY, ONTARIO P7C 4V5 Return Postage Guaranteed Northern Woman Journal FOUR ISSUES $ 6.00 $12.00 Business or Institution' lo 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 12 No 1 Description An account of the resource Vol. 12, No. 1 (July 1989) Title: Northern Woman Journal Topics include: Free trade Children’s Law Act amendment Child custody Natal care access Travelling to give birth Thunder Bay Immigrant Women’s Planning Committee Pay Equity Women’s movement in the Philllipines Transnational solidarity Radical feminism Anti-capitalism Poetry Thunder Bay Patient’s Rights Group Wen-do Feminist book review of Honour the Sun by Ruby Slipperjack Feminist book review of Many Tender Ties by Sylvia Van Kirk Feminist book list Authors/Contributors: Maude Barlow Leni Untinen Holly Rupert Ontario Women’s Directorate Lynn Beak Josie Wallenius Gert Beadle Alice Riives-Sabourin Kit Minor Margaret Phillips Peggy Harper 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 1989-07 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Published on this site with permission. Language A language of the resource English