This week, as we celebrate the accomplishments of women and the advancement of women’s issues thanks to Wednesday’s International Women’s Day, it’s interesting to note the role that aboriginal women once played (and likely still do play today) in their tribes.

In First Nations’ culture—much of which was eradicated from our history books—women played a powerful role. In certain tribes they selected the future chief. Women were seen as among the most powerful people in their nations, for they gave birth, creating life. They were the matriarchs and honoured as such.

Now, as we attempt to come to terms with Canada’s ugly history when it comes to First Nations and try to reconcile the wrongs that were done, it seems the struggle of women to find equality can be linked back to the attempted eradication of an entire people, the first people to live in our country.

Governments not only ran rough-shod over First Nations, women also took a back seat, for years not even able to vote. Today women are still not paid as much as men, they continue to fight for equality and the struggle is real.

However First Nations in Canada are fighting a much tougher fight.

When white settlers arrived in Canada and brought with them the British model of governance, it tore apart the fabric of indigenous governance, where women played key roles with significant powers and authority within their nations.

Instead First Nations were taken from their land—a land that they cherished above self—and put on reserves where they were not allowed to leave. Only males over the age of 21 could run for or be elected to band councils and only males were allowed to vote.

It was just one of the many ways that the governments of Canada attempted to destroy the soul and spirit of a culture that once governed vast tracts of its own lands and who we can learn so much from.

Today it is heartening that the true history of First Nations in Canada is beginning to be taught in B.C. schools (Page A5). As someone who grew up in northern B.C., we were taught by society that First Nations were all manner of terrible things.

It’s shameful now, but we didn’t call them First Nations. No there were many names for these spiritual people and none of them were very nice. A friend of First Nations descent tried to keep his family background hidden from us for fear we would find out he was Indian. We just didn’t know any different.

Today we do know different. It’s imperative our children learn the true history of our country so we can move forward as a nation. First Nations had it right in so many ways: From cherishing the role of women, to honouring the land and living spiritual lives.

As a country, we have much to learn from them.

—Kevin Parnell