The Influence of Indigenous Women in Canadian Government and Politics

Although this research is on-going, it attempts to draw conclusions to various critical questions regarding the desire of Indigenous women to join and participate in electoral politics. In trying to understand the challenges Indigenous women experience during their work in politics as well as the types of policies they push to implement and influence, we can perhaps better examine and address the types of issues Indigenous women and their communities face. The colonial project continues to oppress Indigenous communities and nations across Canada. While there has been a large increase in research involving Indigenous-settler relations, awareness of the colonial project and its strategies against Indigenous people continues to be dismissed as a historical event. However, it is critical to understand the past, analyze historical movements, and work towards repairing the harm these events have caused and continue to cause to Indigenous peoples. During the 2015 federal elections, many speculated that Indigenous women were encouraged to join politics due to the Liberal Party’s “reconciliation agenda” under Justin Trudeau. This research examines whether this is true or what the underlying reasons Indigenous women consider when joining electoral politics in Canada.