Big Idea Summary

Upon much deliberation, the final topic that I wish to centre my Big Idea Project around is Indigenous feminism in Canada, with an emphasis on the notion of intersectionality – the interconnection of social categorizations (in this case, gender and race) which inevitably create an overlap of disadvantage. I hope to highlight the idea of “double marginalization” that Indigenous women face, in being a part of two oppressed and marginalized groups, while facing two systemic and powerful institutions – colonialism and the patriarchy. I hope to delve into the intricacies of each institution and analyze how they directly (and most often legally) affect the everyday lives of Indigenous women in Canada, using examples such as their contribution to the greater imprisonment rates, poorer living standards, lower literacy, higher unemployment, poorer health, lower incomes, and greater food insecurity of Indigenous women compared to any other race in Canada.

I also wish to use this as an opportunity to bring a pressing national issue to light – the tragic yet continuous obstacle of abused, missing, and murdered Indigenous women in Canada. This has been a problem for decades, yet has only recently become a more widely known public issue with the help of many courageous voices. The rates of abuse against Indigenous women in Canada are far higher than any other race or ethnicity, and in addition there are estimations of between 500 and 1,000 cases of missing and/or murdered Indigenous women, an extraordinarily disproportionate number compared to the general population. My intention with this assignment is not to sulk in the tragedy of these events, but rather highlight what is currently being done to amend these injustices, as well as what can be done in the future. The backlash and outcries that have resulted from the many cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women have brought Indigenous feminism to the forefront, and although stemming from a tragedy, the abuse of these women has become one of Indigenous feminism’s greatest allies in the fight for equality.

While all Indigenous peoples in Canada face ample oppression alone, women have to bear an extra load of discrimination, and I hope to bring forward the perspectives of some Indigenous feminists in to highlight and critique this inequality. Indigenous feminism in Canada is an expanding movement, gaining strength with every statistic and every voice being heard by the media, the government, and the general population. I aim to approach each assignment with a critical, analytical, and unbiased perception of the injustices Indigenous women in Canada face, and bring a better understanding to the movement as a whole using the works of various sources and scholars.