In recognition of International Women’s Day and Women’s History month, the National Farmers Union and the Government of Saskatchewan are hosting two events in the Northwest in March.
The theme of the events is Strength and Resilience of Indigenous Women and they will be hosted in Cut Knife March 19 and North Battleford March 25.
Participants are invited to explore the issue of ending violence against women through sharing circles, stories, art and song. The two evenings will also feature flea markets and those attending are invited to bring art for display and sale. A meal will also be shared.
The venues are Cut Knife Senior Center and Pioneer Hall in North Battleford. For more information contact Marcella Pedersen at 306-398-2795 or 306-480-2610.
International Women’s Day was first designated on March 8, 1975 by the United Nations.
“This year’s theme is ‘Strength and Resilience of Indigenous Women,’” says Marcella Pedersen, National Farmers Union Region No. 6 (Sask.) Women’s Advisory chairperson in a press release.
“Let us show our support for our indigenous women as we celebrate their achievements. Attending an IWD event is a great neutral way to meet your brothers and sisters, and break barriers in our community.”
According to the release, since its birth in the socialist movement in 1918, International Women's Day has grown to become a global day of recognition and celebration across developed and developing countries alike.
Only 100 years ago, women got the vote and were recognized legally as persons in 1929. First Nation people got the vote in 1960.
Women's organizations and governments around the world have observed IWD annually on March 8 by holding large-scale events that honour women's advancement, while emphasizing the continued vigilance and action required to ensure women's equality is gained and maintained in all aspects of life, Pedersen says
“Younger women today may think the battles have all been won for women, while many feminists from the 1970s know only too well the longevity and ingrained complexity of patriarchy,” she adds.
“With more women in the boardroom, greater equality in legislative rights and an increased critical mass of women's visibility as impressive role models in every aspect of life, one could think that women have gained true equality. The unfortunate fact is that women are still not paid equally [compared to] their male counterparts, women still are not present in equal numbers in business or politics, and globally, women's education, health and the violence against them is worse than that against men and there are still many problems where women are not valued.”
According to Pedersen, society has witnessed significant change and attitudinal shift in both women’s and society’s thoughts about women’s equality and emancipation. Great improvements have been made, she asserts.
“We do have female astronauts and prime ministers, school girls are welcomed into university, women can work and have a family, women have real choices. And so the tone and nature of IWD has, for the past few years, moved from being a reminder about the negatives to a celebration of the positives.”
