ON THE # METOO MOVEMENT

WHM: “We’ve crossed a threshold and there’s no going back, hopefully.” SF: “I think this movement is about taking back the power that we’ve always assumed is there but hasn’t actually been there.”

AAB: “I posted my own #MeToo story on Facebook. I think those conversations need to happen in our communities as well—especially because of the history of residential-school abuse. We had federal day schools up here. Many people were exposed to sexual, physical and verbal abuse, cultural denial and having their mouths washed out with soap for speaking their language. It’s still very hush-hush up here. I don’t know if the indigenous world is having an effect on the #MeToo movement, but I hope the #MeToo movement will have an effect on the indigenous world.”

SF: “We haven’t heard enough from indigenous women. I’ve heard ‘If I out someone in my community, then I’m outing my community, so we will deal with it on the inside,’ which is totally opposite to the #MeToo movement. I want to scream at the top of my lungs about a few things, and I’m waiting for permission—which is very indigenousstyle. We always have to be backed by our communities; until someone decides that this is the time, I don’t think we’ll see a massive push like in the mainstream.” WHM: “When I was working with the national inquiry, I kept hearing that we don’t want to hurt our own people, but what do we do with the pain that’s inflicted? We want to honour the pain of people who have gone through colonization, but we’re also trying to do something for the victims.”