Promoting political involvement among Indigenous women

Very little is known about the political involvement of Indigenous women in Québec. A recent report by Suzy Basile, a researcher in the School of Indigenous Studies at the Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (UQAT), sheds light on this topic.

Indigenos women obtained the right to vote and participate in band councils in 1951. Currently, they represent about 40% of elected band council members, but only 25% of chiefs.

Suzy Basile and her team interviewed 20 Indigenous women elected or formerly elected in politics from various First Nations in Québec and conducted a literature search to learn about the place of Indigenous women in traditional governance and the impact of colonization on their role. 2021 was a particularly fruitful year for Indigenous women in politics, with, among others, the appointment of an Indigenous woman as Governor General of Canada, a new female Indigenous senator, and the election of the first female Grand Chief of the Cree Nation.

The researcher noted that many of the women entered politics after gaining extensive professional experience. At least a quarter of them said that they were encouraged to run by other women in office. The existence of the Assembly of First Nations Quebec–Labrador (AFNQL) Council of Elected Women facilitates women's political involvement and allows them to discuss issues specific to them.

Women's political leadership seems to be characterized by a capacity for conciliation, empathy, and collaboration, as well as a focus on social issues. However, women politicians continue to face gender discrimination, harassment, and intimidation. They are less likely to be assigned territorial and economic files and are rarely invited to participate in discussions with non-Indigenous governments.

Suzy Basile made 15 recommendations to promote and facilitate political engagement among Indigenous women, including a suggestion to band councils to aim for gender parity.