She is Indigenous
The She is Indigenous campaign is raising awareness about the strengths and diversity of First Nations, Inuit and Métis women in Ontario and the rest of Canada.
With funding from the Province of Ontario, the She is Indigenous campaign is being led by Les Femmes Michif Otipemisiwak (LFMO), and is supported by numerous national and Ontario-based Indigenous organizations.
Les Femmes Michif Otipemisiwak (LFMO) is dedicated to uplifting Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ individuals through celebrating their unique gifts, voices, and experiences.
The She is Indigenous campaign allows Metis and other Indigenous women and 2SLGBTQQIA+ individuals to submit a story of strength about themselves or a role model, using their own voices to share their lived experiences to uplift and inspire others.
She is Indigenous is a strengths-based campaign that honours the everyday contributions of Indigenous women across the country and provides resources to educate non-Indigenous Canadians about First Nations, Inuit, and Métis history and culture.
This campaign is the outcome of consultation with national and provincial Indigenous advisory groups working towards ending gender-based violence against Indigenous women and girls. The guidance they provided was to hear and share the voices of Indigenous women and to challenge the negative stereotypes about Indigenous women.
Micki Belcourt
Micki Belcourt is a Two-Spirit Métis person from Midland, Ontario – the traditional territory of the Huron-Wendat Nation and of the Anishinaabek people. She has reshaped her life by walking the Red Road for more than a decade.
After a 20-year battle with addiction, Micki embraced sobriety at the age of 59. She has been living a sober life for the past 13 years – a gift she wants to share with others.
Micki is currently pursuing an education in Native Community Work and Traditional Healing Methods at the Anishnabek Educational Institute in North Bay, Ontario. Through her education, she hopes to gain the knowledge and skills to help others in her community to walk the Red Road.
As a Survivor of abuse who has experienced homelessness, Micki suffers from PTSD. She uses her experiences as a lesson to others. Aided by the Creator’s guiding hand and her own determination to heal, Micki confronted her trauma and recovered from addiction. Micki aspires to be an example to other Métis who are struggling, and hopes to one day open a healing centre for Métis Two-Spirit youth.
Amanda L. Rossiter
Born and raised on the traditional territory of the Snuneymuxw First Nation (also known as Nanaimo, B.C), Amanda L. Rossiter is a proud Métis woman, community leader and mother of four.
Driven by her passion for Indigenous Education and leadership, Amanda has dedicated her life to working with children and families. She currently works for the Metis Nation of British Columbia Ministry of Education. Amanda is guided by the traditional knowledge of her Elders in the endeavor to spread generational wellness to Metis communities.
Amanda is passing along Metis cultural values to her children through traditions like making bannock together, celebrating cultural events and supporting the Metis community with solidarity and positivity.
Through their passion for visual art, music, and dance, Amanda and her family live by Louis Riel’s words: “My people will sleep for one hundred years, but when they awake, it will be the artists who give them their spirit back.”
Amanda aspires to raise her kids as cultural leaders and to help raise up all generations of Metis people by sharing her knowledge of Metis history.
Cheryl Doreen Dodman
Cheryl Doreen Dodman is a Metis wife, mother, and grandmother who was born in southern Alberta and raised in Kelowna BC. Cheryl’s Metis
father never spoke of their Indigenous heritage, but later in life she discovered her Metis ancestors were significant leaders of the Metis Nation.
One of those ancestors is Cuthbert Grant, one of the founders of the Metis Nation who led the Metis to victory at the Battle of Seven Oaks. Cheryl is also descended from the Chartrand, Whitford, Lacerte, Vandal, Gladue, Ross, Breland, and Oulette families.
Cheryl has established her own reputation as a leader in her community, serving on the Board of Directors for the Kelowna Metis Association since 2006. She later became Vice President of the Association, and is now serving a four-year-term as President.
A dedicated champion for Metis women, Cheryl has been a MNBC Regional Women’s Representative for 7 years. She works full time with Metis families and children to support their need for a connection with Metis culture, to each other and to the Metis nation by advocating for the growth of Metis-specific cultural services and helping others become aware of the many supports available to Metis people.
Cheryl has dedicated her life to educating all people about the Metis heritage and why Metis identity should be a source of pride. She believes disrespect of Metis cultural heritage is born from a lack of education. Her mission is to spread information about the continuing contributions Metis people have made to Canadian society.
Want to share your story? Email communications@metiswomen.org
Related Resources
The following resources are associated with this project. Click ‘View All’ to explore our Resource Library.
