Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This being International Day for Women, I thought every day was a day for women.
I want to say a few things about our women. No, I’m not going to sing the Shania Twain song, titled “Man, I Feel Like a Woman.”
---Laughter
Our women have come a long way in today’s society. From the traditional roles of raising and guiding our precious little children to becoming world leaders in our country, there has been a cultural change. As a matter of fact, it was a woman who helped save a nation of Aboriginal people in the Southern Plains tribe legend, according to the elders’ story about the white buffalo woman.
In our small communities, growing up, our aunties, our grandmothers, our mothers, our elderly women, our cousins, we were given instructions by our grandmothers, how women were to play a role in our men’s lives in our communities.
Change has happened and our women have adapted to that change and life changes too. Our women have become community leaders, regional leaders and Canada’s leaders. We have two sitting in this House right now. We have Ms. Ethel Blondin-Andrew, we have Ms. Nellie Cournoyea, as Mrs. Groenewegen eloquently named a lot of good women who are in the political life, and we also have community leaders. All made a choice to better their families and communities, and the families are the seeds of the future.
It’s time to reflect on the role of our women today as they continue to raise their children, work today in government, private business or just volunteering their time. At the same time, they have time to cook, wash clothes, shop and, at the end of the day, to be a good partner. Surely today is their day.
I want to say women have a role in life. As my late grandmother would often say, they have a role in life. Respect them.
I’ll have questions later today about how women have a role our government. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.
