Honours recognize commitment to a cause

Two women dedicated to increasing awareness about the rights of First Nations people are among the newest recipients to be awarded one of Canada’s highest honours.

Dr. Viola Robinson and artist Shirley Bear were two of the 39 people named to the Order of Canada on Nov. 4.

“It was an honour. The impact of how great it was didn’t hit me until later,” Robinson said, recalling being told last summer that she would receive the award.

“I was totally shocked,” she admitted. “I couldn’t imagine how I’d been selected,” she said.

But Robinson’s 30-year commitment to First Nation political issues earned her the nod from Canada.
The Mi’kmaq First Nation woman from Yarmouth, N.S. has been called a role model and leader for her dedication to the advancement of the rights of First Nations peoples across Canada. She has also been instrumental in negotiating a process for the implementation of governance and treaty rights for Mi’kmaq communities and has ardently fought to end discrimination against Aboriginal women nationally.

As well as her commitment to First Nation and human rights, Robinson has also been a member of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, which she says was where she did some of her most important work.

“I’ve been quite active in this work since 1975 and I’ve been continuous,” she said.

Robinson, a mother and grandmother, decided to go to law school after raising a family because she wanted to “bring some accreditation to the work that I had done,” she said, referring to her role in the Aboriginal political arena.

Soon after graduating from law school, Robinson was approached by various groups for advisor and committee positions.

“It just grew and grew and grew,” she said of her early activism and political work.

Today her work continues to grow.

Just one week before receiving the Order of Canada, Robinson was given the role of lead negotiator for the Mi’kmaq Rights Initiative; an organization responsible for treaty negotiations between the Mi’kmaq people, the Province of Nova Scotia and the Government of Canada.
Robinson said she felt “doubly honoured”, adding that her treaty work is a labour of love for her people.

“It’s work that I have a passion for,” she stated.

“I think [treaty negotiations] is the most important thing for the Mi’kmaq Nation,” she added.

“With negotiations, it involves just about everything in Mi’kmaq life. You’re looking at the future of your children.”

She has great hope for that future, and especially the future success of women.

“I think that for younger Aboriginal women, they need to know that anything is possible,” explained Robinson.
“The potential for an Aboriginal woman to be successful is there. All they have to do is go after it,” she added.
“You have to be persistent and not let anything pull you back or bring you down,” she encouraged.

But while she applauds First Nations women for being successful, Robinson rejects being labeled a feminist and activist and instead chooses to adopt a humanistic approach to her successes.

“I never considered ever calling myself an activist [but] everyone else did,” she said. “And I have never considered myself a feminist,” she added. “I was just trying to do something for people who were struggling.”
“I look at equality and I look at equal opportunity,” she said. “Everything I did wasn’t just for women but for everybody equally.”

The other First Nation recipient of the 2011 Order of Canada is Shirley Bear, a member of the Tobique First Nation in New Brunswick.

Bear, who is an artist, activist and curator, has helped bring social awareness to the importance of First Nation arts in Canada. Her own paintings are admired for honouring the wisdom, strength and spirituality of Aboriginal women and her activism for the rights of Indigenous women has been commended.

Like Robinson, Bear says she was shocked to learn she had been chosen.

“It was a surprise she said,” explaining that she later realized a member of her community nominated her.
Unlike Robinson, however, Bear does not shy away from being called a ‘feminist’ or ‘activist.’

“I’m fearless, so I’m not careful,” she said, pointing to the trailblazing mentality and true grit she possesses in the face of indifference and opposition to her causes.

“You don’t back down,” she explained.

“I’ve struggled to gain respect for what I do,” she continued, adding that often times she felt she wasn’t taken seriously as a First Nations artist and as a woman.
But Bear said she thinks progress regarding women’s and First Nations rights is occurring through the younger generation.

“I think they’re making strides,” she said. “There are a lot [of Aboriginal women] that are outspoken, and that’s wonderful.”

Asked how Bear thinks the honour of being an Order of Canada recipient will affect her life, she shrugs.

“Ask me in six months,” she said with a chuckle.

“I suppose I could take full advantage of it and run around saying ‘I’ve got the Order of Canada,’ but I’m not like that.”

“It was the last thing I expected because I never knew I made any movement happen,” she said humbly.

Established in 1967 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the Order of Canada recognizes a lifetime of outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation. The order recognizes people in all sectors of Canadian society.

The three levels of the Order of Canada are: Companion, which recognizes a lifetime of outstanding achievement and merit of the highest degree. Officer, which recognizes a lifetime of achievement and merit of a high degree and Member, which recognizes a lifetime of distinguished service in or to a particular community, group or field of activity.

This year 28 Members, 10 Officers and one Companion were chosen.

Robinson was appointed an Officer.

“It feels like you’ve just reached the top,” she said.

“To be honoured in your province is a great honour, but to be acknowledged throughout the country is truly an honor,” she said.