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L'auteure démontre la façon dont sa mère, ses tantes, ses grands-mères, ses cousines et ses amies ont été les meilleurs modèles pour les femmes fortes, des Ashinaabe-kwe. Par leur enseignement les ainées de cette tribu ont influencé leur cheminement pour devenir une "bonne" femme. L'auteure insiste sur l'importance d'observer les femmes de leur famille et les aïnées qui les ont devancées et qui ont donné l'exemple d'une Anashnaabe-kwe responsable qui peut aider sa famille, sa communauté, sa nation.
Aanii. Renée Elizabeth Mzinegiizhigo-kwe Bédard ndizhinikaaz. Waabzheshii ndodem. Dokis First Nation ndoonjibaa. I was always told to introduce myself by my Elders and my family. My name is Renée Bédard. I am Ojibwe (Anishinaabe-kwe) and Marten Clan, from Dokis First Nation, along the French River. I am an Indigenous Studies Ph.D. Candidate at Trent University, studying the creative processes of Anishinaabe women artists. I write and paint about the Anishinaabe women I know, grew up with, and see in Anishinaabe communities. My passion as an Anishinaabe woman scholar and artist is to highlight the voices and experiences of Indigenous women in a positive manner.
I send out a miigwech (thank you) to all the Indigenous women who have crossed my path, offering knowledge and experience on how to be a "good" Indigenous woman. I have had many Indigenous women role models. My mother, my aunties, my granny or grannies, my cousins, my sisters, and my friends were my best role models on how to be a strong Anishinaabe-kwe (woman) . Anishinaabe women Elders have also been influential role models for learning what is the best path to being a "good" woman. The Elders speak of the concept of mino-bimaadiziwin, which speaks of a "good mind," a "good way," or a "good path" that an individual takes in order to live a healthy and well-rounded life as an Anishinaabe. I look to the women in my family and the Anishinaabe women Elders who have walked before me for examples of how to live mino-bimaadiziwin, as well as grow into a responsible Anishinaabe-kwe who can help her family, community, and Nation.
In the Anishinaabe seven stages of life, I am still in somewhat of the "wandering and wondering" stage , full of questions, looking for teachers and answers...