Truth with Reconciliation A Healing Framework Conference, Nov. 13, 2024
Jody Harbour, Grandmothers Voice
Opening Address
We gather today not only to confront the epidemic of intimate partner violence but to face an undeniable truth: the violence and oppression we are here to address are not relics of the past.
Colonization is not history—it is an ongoing process. Active colonization, systemic racism, and forms of apartheid exist in Canada today, perpetuating the cycles of violence, inequality, and erasure faced by Indigenous people, particularly Women, Girls, Two-Spirit and Gender Diverse people.
Before colonization, Indigenous communities thrived on systems of respect and reciprocity. Women were held as sacred—the life-givers, nurturers, and wisdom keepers of their communities. Colonization shattered these values, replacing them with systems designed to control and marginalize. Today, those systems remain in place, ensuring that Indigenous peoples are excluded, oppressed, and denied the opportunities to thrive. This lives strong in our region today.
Let me share the story of my great grandmother, Mary Lickers. At just 17 years old, she was forced to sell her land she inherited by her father, to gain recognition and to assimilate into society, off reserve. She raised three children, grieved the loss of a fourth, and lived a life marked by resilience. Yet her death reveals the cruelty of these systems. Officially, it was said she died by suicide, but the truth is far darker: she was murdered by her husband, being a victim of intimate partner violence.
Her story is not an anomaly. It is a reflection of a society that fails to protect Indigenous women, that allows the epidemic of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) to continue unchecked. It is a reflection of a society that treats Indigenous women as disposable, perpetuating the belief that their lives do not matter.
Pamela Cross, in her book “And Sometimes They Kill You”, writes: “Violence against women is about power and control. It’s about silencing voices. It’s about deciding who matters and who doesn’t.”
In Canada, we see this every day. Indigenous women are disproportionately murdered, missing, and victimized. This is not an accident; the Grandmothers say it has happened since contact. They brought these ways to our lands because of the grief they carry, and it is the result of systems that were designed to marginalize and dehumanize. These systems—land theft, the Indian Act, residential schools, and the child welfare system—continue to function today under different names but with the same purpose: to deny Indigenous people their humanity, their autonomy, and their place in society.
This is apartheid. It may not look like South Africa’s, but it exists here in the segregation of reserves, the denial of clean water, the underfunding of health and education, and the criminalization of Indigenous land defenders. Colonization is not history—it is the present and it is affecting all people in our country, no longer only the original people of these lands.
But there is a path forward, and it lies in the teachings of this land. The Seven Grandfather Teachings—respect, love, courage, honesty, wisdom, humility, and truth—offer us a way to heal. The Seven Generations Teaching reminds us that our actions today will echo through the lives of those yet to come.
If there is anything but peace, love, and inner wisdom in our homes, we are not on the right track. If the rule is to control or hide women, it cannot be fixed. We will never find peace until we respect and uphold the traditional values of Indigenous people—values that honor women as sacred.
Allow me to share a story from our teachings:
When Sky Woman fell from the heavens, she carried the seeds of life. The animals below saw her fall and worked together to catch her. The great turtle rose from the waters, offering his back as a foundation. Sky Woman spread mud across the turtle’s shell, creating the land. She planted her seeds, nurturing them into the world we now share.
Sky Woman’s story reminds us of the sacredness of women as creators and nurturers. But when colonization disrupted this balance, it created chaos and violence. To heal, we must restore that balance and reconnect with the teachings that honor the sacredness of women.
Today, I hold and burn this candle for my Grandmother, for the women who came before her, and for the generations to come. This is a call to action.
We must dismantle the systems that perpetuate violence and rebuild our communities with respect, love, and truth at their core. Indigenous men and all men must reclaim their role as protectors of this sacredness, and society as a whole must take responsibility for the harm that has been done.
This is not just about Indigenous women. It is about all women, girls, diverse genders, all communities, and the future we hope to create. We cannot rest until every woman is valued, until no woman is seen as disposable, and until the epidemic of MMIWG is no longer a reality.
In the spirit of truth and reconciliation, let us honor the spirit of Sky Woman, the wisdom of Indigenous teachings, and the voices of our Grandmothers. Let us work toward a future where every woman is safe, every life is valued, and every voice is heard.
Advancement of Women Halton 