Plastic Medicine People title

That's what the title of my blog is and for the longest time, I wonder if this was an appropriate title. As I've done my research on the matter of how society in general treats indigenous girls and indigenous women, I've also realized to that the side effects are seen within our indigenous men. I had four brothers. Each with their having their own set of fault like we all do; however, each coped with them differently.

About a week ago, I was talking with an indigenous lady who works in the hospitality industry. We got into a discuss about attitudes indigenous men have over us indigenous women. As you see for decades it was fine for an indigenous man to marry a non-indigenous woman whilst his sister was discriminated against if she were to marry a non-indigenous man. Yes! This was the plan of the formal document called the "Indian Act." It gave way to so many negative attitudes towards indigenous women that we as indigenous women are writing about its effects on us. I mean literally writing a thesis. 

I'm digesting somewhat cause this is old news for some and yet for some of my readers the silencing or the attempts to "tame" our indigenous female sexuality as gone on with a culture of silence towards sexual assaults. In recent days I've read some very humbling comments from young indigenous men who apology for not saying anything knowing that someone was being silenced. We see it all the time and I think for some indigenous men who work with indigenous single moms. They get tired of their stories of abuse and barriers.

I sometimes think that the more and more women talk about their lives that harder it is for our indigenous men to cope. Sometimes I get the feeling that they just want to burying everything. Yet, as I've mentioned, it's we as indigenous women who reveal our personality disorders more. I believe its because as indigenous women who are moms, its a way of surviving. It's not to say that its a bad thing, it just means that for some indigenous women rather than talking they continue to remain silent.

As for the men, I find that they find themselves feeling guilty for not supporting their sisters. Or, that the support they give their sisters is all that they can do because their wives have greater emotional problems. So, what does this mean for the indigenous man. Well, from what my friend told me. She see indigenous men whom she's known throughout her life change. She said that they come to her hotel in fancy cars with their non-indigenous woman as if she's a prize to behold. All the while she is smiling he has an indigenous woman on the side as his mistress.

Another female friend says to me that through her years working along side indigenous men she's seen them become successful yet very lonely men. She says that they are missing something. She believes its a childhood trauma that has gone on unresolved. And, rightfully so, as indigenous women we can not afford to hide our trauma because our children are depending on us to get it right. In fact, our whole society is depending on us to get it right. Then, why are we losing so many of our sisters to family violence or just violence in a time of peace is an unanswered question.

I will be interviewing three indigenous women who all have a place within my home community. They have a direct connection to the very heart and soul of our community. I hope that within these interviews you will get a sense of purpose that each one of these ladies has. I am very fortunate to know the matriarch of their family and will start of with her explaining the "woman's tall feather hat."

From this I will establish a YouTube link to my account where I will post these interview along with a "woman's song." I feel that its important to focus on the positive things we as indigenous women do for our communities. For too long our indigenous men, not all have played the "plastic medicine man" role. This trend needs to stop by first identifying what the abuse is that these men are practicing.

It's difficult because as human beings we tend to walk into danger rather than listen to our own minds with thoughts telling us there is danger.
 

Child Brides

From GIRLSNOTBRIDES.ORG

"20,000 girls are forced into marriage everyday. It's a common practice around the world; however, non-profit organizations are trying to educate people in third world countries about this form of child abuse.

Get this 1/3 of girls in developing countries are married before they are 18 years old. These children:

1. forced to drop out of school
2. experience domestic violence

West and Central Africa have the highest rate of child marriage:

1. 1.7 million child brides per year

It's a severe violation of human rights. It's one of the worst forms of child abuse.

Its due to these factors:

1. poverty
2. illiteracy
3. social norms
4. traditional norms

The health Factors:

1. Pregnancy is one of the leading causes of death for girls ages 15 to 19.

This practice is common in the United States

• 27 States have no minimum age for marriage
• girls as young as 12 can be brides often to men who are decades older than they are

Nepal banned such practice 50 years ago but 30% of underage girls continue to get married illegally.

Indiah this practice still continues in rural communities despite it being made illegal in 2006.

Ending child marriage is very important because one are girls maximize their full potential and contribute towards national development or towards sustainable development goals."

Historically, there are factors that come into play with the deep psychological abuse that indigenous women endeared in these Indian Residential Schools. At the beginning, I thought I would request a list of students who attended St. Dunstan's Industrial School in Calgary. I contacted (National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation) nactr@umanitoba.ca. They emailed me back saying that Industrial Schools did not fall under Indian Residential Schools; however, there were documents based on another person's research paper that stated these Industrial School were basically setup of indigenous boys.

Basically, the Canadian government created the Indian Act to justify killing off the indigenous peoples of Canada. Indigenous women are writing about this Indian Act and its effort to "Tame Indigenous women's sexuality"