By Shaynna Roan
Maskwacis resident Shaynna Roan was able to take part in a positive trip to Ottawa recently and she speaks to the experience. Roan is also the granddaughter of Chief Wilton Littlechild, also a former MP.
Being selected as a delegate for the Equal Voice, Daughters of the Vote was such an honour and one of the most significant learning experiences.
I believe taking part in this event is important not only for women but especially as an Indigenous woman. The program was created specifically to encourage more women being elected into parliament and getting more women involved into politics but it grew into so much more than that throughout the week.
We were selected to represent our riding and meet and listen to our Ministers of Parliament speak and although MP Blaine Calkins did not attend I was able to learn so much from other MPs and women who attended.
All of us were able to bring fourth our own personal struggles and stories to a national level within parliament such as issues in Indigenous communities, mental health, women and abuse, education and issues involving racism such as Islamophobia and discrimination against women of colour.
The experience was truly eye opening and important to not only speak out my own concerns and struggles I face as an Indigenous woman, but listening to the struggles others face and knowing we all stand together.
I believe Equal Voice made a huge impact in helping me and others who listened and spoke to us, such as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and former Prime Minister Kim Campbell, understand the importance of equity and equality in our country and how all of us standing together can help achieve that.